Best Things to Do This Weekend in Cincinnati

Enjoy this list of the best local events and things to do this weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio. This list includes Oktoberfest events, fall festivals, pumpkin themed activities, shows, family friendly things to do, and more weekend events.

All event details were accurate at the time of this posting but event details do occasionally change. You should always double check with the event source before you head out the door.

The Book Bus parked inside the Book Depot

Things to Do This Weekend in Cincinnati, October 4-6:

Lots of Fall Farm Fests are happening this weekend.
See the full list of Fall Festivals (with details) here.

Fall on the Farm at Blooms and Berries
Fall Family Weekends at Brown’s Family Market

Fall Fun at the Farm event at Burger Farm
Fall Family Fun at Burwinkel Farms
Fall Festival at Country Pumpkins
Fall Fest at Kinman Farm Market
Neltner’s Farm Festival
Fall Festival at Niederman Family Farm
Shaw’s Pumpkin Times
Hidden Valley Orchard

FRIDAY, OCT. 4:

It’s officially Oktoberfest Season! See the full Oktoberfest season line-up here. Donauschwaben Oktoberfest is happening all weekend (Friday – Sunday).

Booklovers rejoice! The Cincy Bookstore Crawl is happening this weekend (Friday – Sunday). Indie bookstores from all over Cincinnati and NKy will be participating. Plan your route and discover some new bookshops this weekend! Be sure to pick up your passport at your first stop!

Head to Stanbery Park for Cinema @ Stanbery. This week’s feature is Inside Out 2, starting at dusk. Bring your chair or blankets and enjoy this movie on the lawn.

Enjoy any one of the free Friday Outdoor Concert Series (weather dependent):

Indie Friday at Fountain Square, Saving Escape, 7-10pm
Autumn Acoustics at Washington Park, Aprina Johnson, 6-9pm
Amped Up October at Sawyer Point, Retrovention, 6-9pm

Find out what’s playing at our local Drive In Theaters when you click here

SATURDAY, OCT. 5:

It’s officially Oktoberfest Season! See the full Oktoberfest season line-up here. Donauschwaben Oktoberfest is happening all weekend (Friday – Sunday).

Holiday Craft Show Season starts this weekend! Find our list of all the great craft shows and markets here. Grab your list, check it twice, and head to the Lakota West Craft Show this weekend (Sat. and Sun.)!

The Sunflower Festival will be happening at Gorman Heritage Farm on Saturday and Sunday. The event features cut your own sunflowers, farm encounters, hayrides, live music, craft vendors, food trucks, a crop maze, and more. Gorman Farm says this on Facebook: “While recent winds from the hurricane gave some of our taller flowers a bit of a tilt, the fields are still as beautiful as ever!” Purchase tickets online and save a few bucks.

The Union Township Fireworks Celebration will light up the sky on Saturday evening. This event was re-scheduled from last weekend. This community event includes food and drink tasting stations beginning at 4 p.m., Touch-A-Truck available at 4:30 p.m., and a Block Party beginning at 6 p.m. Bring your family and friends for a fireworks show presented by Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks at approximately 8:30 p.m. The event takes place along Eastgate South Drive, in partnership with RJ Cinema Distillery & Taproom, Jungle Jim’s International Market, and Crossroads East Side.

Maker’s Mart ’24 will be at Brink Brewing on Saturday starting at noon (re-scheduled from last Saturday). The biggest party of the year brings 50+ local artists, crafters, and makers of all sorts together to create an outdoor marketplace of incredible Cincinnati originals. Live music, local eats, and Brink beer turn shopping into an all-day party!

Loveland-Symmes Community Firefighters’ Association’s 2024 Kidfest will take place on Saturday, 2-4pm. The event kicks off with a Kids Halloween Costume Parade. They’ll also have games and activities, hot dogs, inflatables, and trick or treat. Kidfest will be at Nisbet Park (126 S. Karl Brown Way).

The Taste of New Richmond Car Show and Food Festival will be happening along Front Street. Head to this river town for a day filled with spectacular cars, captivating art, and scrumptious food.

Puppy Tails on the Trails will be taking place at Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve on Saturday, 10-11am. Join a certified dog trainer on their paved trails for a 2 mile guided walk. Meet other dog owners and learn some dog walking etiquette as we explore a different trail each month. Dogs must remain on a 4-6ft leash. Bringing your own dog treats is strongly recommended. To find the details on this event, click the link above and when you see their calendar, click Oct. 5.

Tomas and The Library Lady, an “Off the Hill Touring Play” from Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, will be at the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Public Library on Saturday starting at 11am.

Owls Nest Park Jam Fest is happening at Owls Nest Park on Saturday, 2-6pm. Enjoy a crisp fall walk down to Owls Nest Park on Saturday, Oct 5 and join Cincinnati Parks, Cincinnati Parks Foundation, and neighborhood community partners for an afternoon of fun. The event will include a live band, vendors, children’s activities, food, and more.

Ohio Renaissance Festival has themed weekends all season and this weekend’s theme is “Viking Weekend”. Be part of the Viking horde and explore the cultural heritage of these legendary seafarers. Experience an authentic reenactment of Viking life and traditions, bringing you closer to the world of Vikings like never before.

Brew Ash will be covering the lawn at Summit Park on Saturday, 1-8pm. Throughout the evening, indulge in a wide selection of craft brews from top-notch local breweries, including Higher Gravity (brewed by West Side Brewing), Fifty West, High Grain, MadTree, Streetside, Urban Artifact, Fretboard, Jackie O’s, 3 Floyds, and more.

Enjoy any one of the free Saturday Outdoor Concert Series (weather dependent):

Fifth and Vine Live at Fountain Square, Soul Pocket, 7-10pm
Summit Park (Brew Ash event), The Michelle Robinson Band and Varner Netherton Revival
Amped Up October at Sawyer Point, Dangerous Jim and the Slims, 6-9pm

SUNDAY, OCT. 6:

It’s officially Oktoberfest Season! See the full Oktoberfest season line-up here. Donauschwaben Oktoberfest is happening all weekend (Friday – Sunday).

Safety Town is happening at Winton Woods on Sunday, 1-4pm. Safety Town encourages kids ages 4-12 to learn all about traffic safety in a fun and engaging way. Through interactive education stations, children will explore vehicle and pedestrian safety. They can even test their skills on our driving course and earn a prize after completing all activities. Scroll down on the page (link above) to find the event.

Liberty Township hosts Spot a Truck on Sunday at Liberty Center, 10am-noon.

Performing Arts:

Playhouse in the Park: Mr. Parent, Sept. 7- Oct. 6
Ensemble Theatre: The Garbologists, Sept. 14-Oct. 6

Tours Offered This Weekend:

Take a free Public Tour of the Cincinnati Art Museum, offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. No need to register – meet in the lobby.

Union Terminal Rotunda Tours are offered by Heritage Program docents at Cincinnati Museum Center on Fridays – Sundays. During a 45-minute tour of the 1933 train station, docents explain the architecture, construction and art of one of the finest examples of the Art Deco style. Hear details about the world-famous mosaic murals. These limited capacity public tours are first come, first served and will depend on availability. Tours are free; there is a charge to park.

Rookwood Pottery offers Behind the Scenes Tours of Rookwood on most Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets required.

Take a tour with Cincinnati Food Tours and savor some local food and culture. Times vary, but tasting tours are offered weekly at Findlay Market and in other delicious neighborhoods. Information and reservations at www.cincinnatifoodtours.com.

Special Exhibitions and Season-Long Events:

Cincinnati Zoo: Jack O’Lantern Glow, October 3-6, Oct. 11-13, and Oct. 18-31

Krohn Conservatory: Mum’s the Word, Aug. 31 – Oct. 13

Cincinnati Art Museum: Discovering Ansel Adams, now thru Jan. 19, 2025

Cincinnati Museum Center: Lens of History: A Celebration of People, Spaces and Emotion explores the rich tapestry of Black history in Cincinnati, now thru Oct. 14

NOTE: The Contemporary Arts Center, 21C Museum Hotel, and the Weston Art Gallery (events listed below) are all within walking distance of one another. Make a day of it!

Contemporary Arts Center: The Illustrated Memoir Project (thru Nov. 10), Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project (thru Jan. 5), Kahill Robert Irving: Ground Water from screen Falls Street (thru Dec. 30)

21C Museum Hotel Galleries: The SuperNatural (thru Sept.) and Queen City of the West (thru Dec.)

Weston Art Gallery: Rachel Banks: The Trail of the Dead, Sept. 20-Nov. 3

Root for the Home Team!

FC Cincinnati (home): FCC vs. Orlando, Saturday at 7:30pm

Cincinnati Bengals (home): Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sunday at 1pm. Bengals’ site says it will be broadcast on CBS/Paramount+.

University of Cincinnati: next game is Oct. 12

All events were accurate at the time of this posting but things do happen and events do occasionally get canceled or postponed. You should always double check with the event source before you head out the door. Links for each event are provided so that you can be sure the date is still accurate before you head out.