5 History-Focused Events This Month

History buffs, rejoice! Whether your interest is in old-time sports, creepy cryptids or 19th-century life, our state is rich with opportunities to step back into a bygone era this autumn. From a “winter camp” showcasing hallmarks of the Civil War era in Fremont to a tour traversing the grounds of a historic asylum in Athens, don’t miss these five events that will carry you through the end of October.

Vintage Base Ball: Cincinnati Buckeyes v. Cincinnati Red Stockings | Oct. 3
Play ball! Watch the two teams that call Dan Lyons Field home face off in an old-fashioned game at Sharonville’s Heritage Village Museum. The two Queen City-based teams are dedicated to re-creating “base ball” as it was played in 1869, the same year the Cincinnati Red Stockings introduced the game to America. Both teams don period-appropriate attire and equipment. One big difference between then and the mdoern game is that it used to be played without gloves.

Historic Walking Tour | Oct. 10
Join George Eberts, long time employee and local expert on the Athens Asylum, for an outdoor tour of this storied building’s grounds. Eberts has many insights on patient treatment, as well as stories, personal anecdotes and hidden locations around the property. Visitors to the program will learn about Kirkbride asylums and the evolution of mental health treatment over the institution’s 150-year existence. Participants can meet at the Kennedy Museum of Art to gather before the two-hour tour.

Historic Trade Fair & Fall Festival | Oct. 17–18
Step back in time to 18th-and-19th-century Ohio with costumed reenactors demonstrating period trades and crafts. Held at Piqua’s Johnston Farm & Indian Agency, this annual get-together is peppered with stands offering handmade goods and local food trucks serving a variety of cuisine. Visitors can take a canal boat ride for just $3.

Civil War Winter Camp 2026 | Oct. 24
Visit Fremont’s Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums for this super-realistic event returning for its second year. Camp-goers will love hearing the 2nd Cavalry Brigade Brass Band on horseback, as well as taking rides in a model-T and attending tours of the camp by Civil War-era reenactors. Little visitors can participate in period-appropriate games, play with Lincoln Logs and view a traveling trunk of Civil War replica items. Take a break with a root beer from Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor and a plate from Jimmy G’s Barbecue.

History on Tap: Cryptids and Curious Creatures | Oct. 29
History gets weird at this adults-only gathering held after hours at the Cleveland History Center. Visitors can investigate creatures and monsters said to haunt the Western Reserve, reading up on modern-day sightings and centuries-old folklore. First, head to the naturalist lab to examine specimens, pelts and skulls, plus learn about Ohio’s famous cryptids, with the help of local experts. Afterward, add your own encounters to an interactive map, or create a historic-inspired “protection pouch” using traditional folk magic ingredients.

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