Ohio offers a variety of fall events, ranging from offbeat to scenic to scary. Stop by Waynesville for free entertainment and all the sauerkraut you can eat. Hop aboard a vintage train in Nelsonville for a relaxing way to admire the autumn leaves. Get in the Halloween spirit by heading over to Sandusky to enjoy a thrilling combination of roller coasters and haunted houses.
The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival takes over Main Street in Waynesville every year on the second full weekend of October. The festival, which started as part of a sidewalk sale in 1970, draws food and arts and crafts vendors from as far away as Hawaii. Participants compete to win the sauerkraut recipe and cabbage contests, which serve as a traditional part of this annual celebration. Live musical performances are also featured. The festival is free of charge. Click the link in Resources below or call (513) 897-8855 for further information.
Waynesville Area Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 281
Waynesville, Ohio 45068
(513) 897-8855
http://www.waynesvilleohio.com
Take a scenic 22-mile ride past historic landmarks and canal locks on a 1920s passenger train through Hocking Valley to admire the fall foliage. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, a nonprofit group that preserves and restores vintage railroad equipment, operates these annual tours. Trains depart from the Nelsonville Depot on 33 E. Canal St. on U.S. Route 33. During the 2009 season, trains run on Thursday through Sunday from Oct. 1 through Oct. 30. Due to high demand on the weekends, you should reserve seats for Saturday and Sunday rides ahead of time. As of 2009, tickets cost $16 for adults, $11 for kids between 3 and 12 and $14 for seniors over 60. Kids under 3 ride for free but must be seated on a parent or guardian's lap. You can purchase tickets at the Nelsonville Depot or by clicking the link in Resources below.
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
P. O. Box 427
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
(800) 967-7834
http://www.hvsry.org
Ghouls and monsters invade the midways at Cedar Point every fall during HalloWeekends. The annual event, which started in 1997, runs on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays from mid- to late-September through the beginning of November. HalloWeekends feature haunted houses and walk-throughs, costume parades and spooky music. Younger kids can enjoy the Magical House on Boo Hill. During the HalloWeekends 2009 season, the park is open from 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays, noon to midnight on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. As of 2009, general admission to Cedar Point costs $44.99 per person and $19.99 for kids 3 and up who are under 48 inches tall. There is no charge for kids 2 and under. If you plan on going after 6 p.m. on Fridays or 4 p.m. on Sundays, you can purchase a HalloWeekends Starlight admission ticket for $29.99.
Cedar Point
1 Cedar Point Dr.
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
(419) 627-2350
http://www.cedarpoint.com
