It’s the moment all of the fall fanatics have been waiting for — it’s finally the first weekend of October. To celebrate, there are a ton of fun local events — from a bookstore crawl to fall festivals and art shows — to fill your weekend.
If you’re looking for even more to do every day of the week, visit the CityBeat events calendar, which is free to use if you have something planned that you’d like to advertise to CityBeat readers.
House of Cards Carnivale at Factory 52
Oct. 3-5 at Factory 52, Norwood
Transforming Factory 52’s Eastern parking lot — in front of Fretboard Brewing — into Norwood’s very own pop-up amusement park, the House of Cards Carnivale is a five-day festival featuring rides, games, music, food and plenty of fall fun. The festival’s name is a nod to the site’s history as the United States Playing Card Company.
Oct. 3-5 at participating bookstores in Greater Cincinnati
Bookworms all over Greater Cincinnati will be trawling shelves and getting passports stamped for the third-annual Cincy Bookstore Crawl, happening Friday-Sunday, Oct. 3-5. This year’s crawl features 23 local bookstores.
Z is for Zebra at Know Theatre
Oct. 3-5 at Know Theatre, Over-the-Rhine
After a sold-out run during the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Z is for Zebra is back at Know Theatre for its OctKNOWber programming. Written by Katie Scarlett, Z is for Zebra follows Scarlett’s life as a disabled artist.
UNLEASHED: The Power of Love at Rhinegeist
Oct. 3 from 7-10 p.m. at Rhinegeist Clubhouse and Annex, Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnati Animal CARE, Hamilton County’s only open-intake animal shelter, is hosting its inaugural fundraiser, UNLEASHED: The Power of Love, at Rhinegeist’s event space on Friday night. The fundraiser will celebrate the mission of Cincinnati Animal CARE with live entertainment, restaurant partners, auctions and more.
Oct. 3 from 5-10 p.m. at Artsville, Madisonville
The film festival returns this weekend to explore Black LGBTQ+ storytelling through films that tell stories of resilience, love and community. The film festival will include screenings of Assembly, Chestbound and Them That’s Not. The festival is free and open to the public.
Essex Studios Fall Artwalk
Oct. 3 and 4 from 6-10 p.m. at Essex Studios, Walnut Hills
This seasonal art show at Essex Studios features resident artists and new, local artists.
Jungle Jim’s International Market’s Fall Kickoff Bash
Oct. 4 from 1-6 p.m. and Oct. 5 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Jungle Jim’s International Market, Fairfield
Celebrate the beginning of the fall season at Jungle Jim’s with this family-friendly event that includes seasonal mums and pumpkins, hard and non-alcoholic cider, concession-style food, face painting, seasonal beers, pumpkin toss and apple dipping games and more.
Contemporary Arts Center’s Family Fall Festival
Oct. 4 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Contemporary Arts Center, Downtown
Local artists Sarah Rodriguez and Julia Orquera Bianco will talk about the inspiration behind their work — Rodriguez’s community mural, “Family Function,” and Bianco’s installation, “PACHAS” — at this family-friendly festival, which also includes unique art and science projects.
Middletown Bourbon & Beer Festival
Oct. 4 from noon-6 p.m. in downtown Middletown
Sip your way through downtown Middletown with the return of the annual Bourbon & Beer Festival. The festival features 12 stops, each sponsored by a regional craft brewery or distillery, along with additional stops for hot and cold snacks and competitive games.
Gorman Heritage Farm’s Annual Sunflower Festival
Oct. 4 and 5 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Gorman Heritage Farm, Evendale
The Evendale nonprofit farm is gearing up for its annual sunflower celebration Saturday-Sunday. Oct. 4-5. During the festival, guests can roam through a four-acre sunflower field and cut their own for just $1 a stem.
In addition to crafting your own sunflower bouquet and snapping Instagram-worthy selfies, attendees can also enjoy other fall activities, including “Ready-Set-Grow” activity stations, hayrides, a crop maze and the chance to meet friendly farm animals like Eddie the Cow, sheep, goats, mules, miniature horses, turkeys and more. There will also be a craft market, featuring over 30 vendors and artisans, and you can sample food from over 10 food trucks and beer from HighGrain Brewing.
Oct. 5 from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds in Lawrencburg, Indiana
The Tri-State Antique Market is a huge antique and vintage-only market.