Spooky season is in full swing, the weather is cooperating and there are plenty of local events to celebrate the splendor of the season. There are plenty of Halloween-themed entertainment options in Cincinnati this weekend, including the nationally-ranked Dent Schoolhouse. On a lighter note, Corgipalooza is hosting one of the city’s largest dog meetups. You can safely view the partial solar eclipse thanks to the Cincinnati Observatory and the Cincinnati Preservation Association is hosting its annual fall forum. There are gallery openings, an event all about eating donuts and a women’s marathon race. Check out a few of our picks to liven up your weekend below.

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.

Findlay Market Fall Food Fest When: Oct. 15 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine What: More than 30 vendors showcasing autumnal goodies. Who: Findlay Market merchants, vendors and farmers. Why: Specialty eats by local vendors with a fall twist. Photo: Provided by Findlay Market
Queen Bee Half Marathon Weekend When: Oct. 14 at 7:30 a.m. Where: Starting line at Reading Road and Pendleton Street What: A women’s half marathon. Who: Championed by MedPace Why: It’s the 10th anniversary celebration of this women’s event. Photo: Ron Valle
Queen City Cabaret and The Carnegie’s Perfectly Marvelous When: Oct. 14 at 7 :30 p.m. Where: The Carnegie, Covington What: Songs from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel live on stage. Who: Queen City Cabaret, The Sketchy Dames and The Carnegie Why: Swingin’ songs from the ’50s and ’60s along with a bonus stand-up comedy act. Photo: Facebook.com/TheCarnegie
Ohio Sauerkraut Festival When: Oct. 14 & 15 at 9 a.m. Where: Main Street, downtown Waynesville What: 53rd annual sauerkraut celebration. How many ways can sauerkraut be served? Find out this weekend. Who: Ohio Sauerkraut Festival Why: It might be an acquired taste, but it’s in our German roots, Cincinnati. Photo: CityBeat archives
The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition When: Opening night Oct. 14 at 2 & 5 p.m. Where: Taft Theatre, Downtown What: Live action SpongeBob Who: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati cast Why: The show is narrated by Joey Votto. Photo: Cincinnati Children's Theater Facebook
OctoberWest When: Oct. 14 at 3 p.m. Where: Harvest Home Park, Cheviot What: A family-friendly festival of fun and celebration of the West Side with food, beer, live music and entertainment. Who: Explore Cheviot Why: Westside bestside. Photo: Provided
Donut Fest When: Oct. 15 from 12-4 p.m. Where: Location provided with ticket purchase. What: Donuts, beer and coffee: a Cincinnati pastry extravaganza. Who: Hospitality Fund Why: Vote for and name the city’s best donut during the event. Photo: Jesse Fox
Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing When: Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. Where: Cincinnati Observatory, Hyde Park What: Partial solar eclipse viewing conducted by professionals. Who: Cincinnati Observatory Why: This is probably your best, safest bet to see this astronomical event. Photo: Drew Rae, Pexels
Warsaw Federal Incline Theater’s Costume Sale When: Oct. 13 from 1-6 p.m. Where: Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, Price Hill What: Costumes for sale, right on time for Halloween. Who: Cincinnati Landmark Productions Why: You wont find anything like these garments at your average costume shop. Browse costumes once worn on stage for live productions. Photo: Provided by OutReels Film Festival
University of Cincinnati’s Homecoming Football Game When: Oct. 14 at 12 p.m. Where: University of Cincinnati What: UC Bearcats versus Iowa State. Who: University of Cincinnati Alumni Association Why: It’s the first Homecoming in the Big 12. Photo: instagram.com/GoBearcatsFB
Dent Schoolhouse Photo: Provided by Dent Schoolhouse
Horror Icons Show and Dance Party When: Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. Where: Good Judy’s, Northside What: Spooky drag show Who: Hosted by Stixen Stones and Manuka Honey Stix-Chimera featuring Natalia Marie Milian and Trayla Parks Why: Just one more fabulous way to get into the Halloween spirit. Photo: Katie Griffith
Rhythm Jam Weekend Skating Fest When: Oct. 14 from 7-10 p.m. & Oct. 15 at 12 p.m. Where: Riverfront Rink, Downtown What: Free skating workshops and skater showcase. Sunday’s festivities include a ticketed brunch event. Who: Skate Downtown Cincy, hosted by @GeminiDaSk8r & Reckless Sk8rs Why: It’s a chance to be part of the 2023 skater showcase. Photo: Skate Downtown Cincy Facebook
BBQ Pop-Up When: Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. Where: Just Q’in BBQ’s upcoming new location, College Hill What: A preview of Just Q’in BBQ’s new location in College Hill’s business district. Who: College Hill CURC and Just Q’in BBQ Why: A sneak peak at the barbecue joint’s new location, just before they begin renovations. Photo: Provided by Just Q'in BBQ
Nostalgia Night Out Concert Series Launch When: Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Where: Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine What: A concert series that travels to local, intimate locations to showcase national recording artists. Who: Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge and singer songwriter Durand Bernarr Why: Experience some of the best, hand-picked R&B/jazz vibes live. Photo: Provided by Creative Artists Agency
Corgipalooza When: Oct. 14 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: The BARk Park and Patio, Florence What: Annual meetup of Corgis (all dogs welcome). Who: Local pups and their owners Why: Cincy Corgis says it’s the largest dog meetup group in Greater Cincinnati with a community of over 2,000 people who love and own Corgis. Photo: Florencia Potter/Unsplash
Scary Movie Trivia When: Oct. 14 from 7-9 p.m. Where: 16 Lots Brewing, Mason What: Scary movie trivia with prizes for top teams. Who: Bacchus Entertainment Cincinnati, 16 Lots Brewing Company and Bill Marx Why: Finally an outlet for all the useless horror movie trivia trapped in your brain. Photo: film still, Compass International Pictures
Spooky Paint Nite When: Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. Where: Esoteric Brewing, Walnut Hills What: Guided painting experience. Who: Athena Dalsfoist, instructor at Palette Goddess Why: Paint a spooky Halloween tree with your own twist. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Opening Weekend of the Taft Museum’s Sporting Fashion Exhibit When: Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. Where: Taft Museum of Art, Downtown What: Exhibition of genuine wardrobes that highlight more than a century’s worth of fashion and feminism surrounding the history of female athletics. Who: The American Federation of Arts and the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Why: This exhibit is the first of its kind to focus on Western fashion in women’s sportswear through a 160-year period. Photo: Brian Davis © FIDM Museum. Courtesy American Federation of Arts.
Cincinnati Preservation Association Fall Forum When: Oct. 13 from 12-1 p.m. Where: Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Downtown What: Examination of sustainability plans for Cincinnati. Who: Cincinnati Preservation Association and speaker Dr. Bruce Stephenson Why: The event focuses on John Nolen, a pioneering city planner of Mariemont and how his vision continues to define sustainability practices today. Cincinnati Preservation Association Facebook
FRINGE Art Show When: Oct. 13 from 5-9 p.m. Where: Pause OFF Studio, Milford What: A group art show and open studio. Who: Pause OFF artists Noelle Dumont, Chris Clements, Lindsey Henderson, Peri Willoughby and Sam Zachary Why: Bonus live music by Jess Lamb. Photo: Katie Griffith

Katie Griffith is CityBeat’s arts and culture reporter. She proudly hails from the West Side of Cincinnati and studied journalism at the University of Cincinnati. After freelancing for CityBeat for many...