Fall is nearly upon us and that means pumpkin and apple picking, hay rides, corn mazes, haunted trails and fall-flavored treats will soon be here…and we’re not complaining. After all, the Midwest truly shines in the autumnal season. Here’s a few Greater Cincinnati activities that you can’t miss during the fall season.

Blooms & Berries Farm Market and Garden Center Fall on the Farm kicked off Sept. 21. Events include a themed five-acre corn maze, cow train rides, fresh apple cider, hayrides, pumpkin bounce pad, corn maze, caramel apples, duck races and a farm animal petting zoo. There’s also a craft beer garden for grown-ups. Because of COVID-19, Fall on the Farm requires online reservations. 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Through Nov. 1. $10 Monday-Friday; $12 Saturday-Sunday. 9669 S. State Route 48, Loveland, bloomsandberries.com. Photo: Facebook.com/BloomsandBerriesFarmMarket Photo: Facebook.com/bloomsandberries
HallZOOween 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Select weekends in October. Go wild at the Cincinnati Zoo while gathering candy and seeing some animals. Kids can dress up in costumes and bring their own treat bags to fill up with goodies at different trick-or-treat stations. There will be Halloween-themed animal enrichment to watch plus a Hogwarts Express train ride and a Scare-ousel. Photo: Michelle Peters, The Cincinnati Zoo
Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Through Nov. 2 Choose from multiple haunted attractions such as Phobia, Temple of Terror, Killer Klowns, or Big Mamma’ s Revenge for a night full of terror. There will be sweet treats, live entertainment, freak shows and madmen, according to Land of Illusion’s website. Photo: facebook.com/LandofIllusion
Niederman Family Farm 5110 Lesourdsville West Chester Road, Liberty Township. Open Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 23-Oct. 30 Find your way through a corn maze, go on a hayride, or let the little ones enjoy time with barnyard animals. Or, walk to the pumpkin paradise to select your own pumpkin (priced by size), or indulge in some cinnamon-sugar donuts, caramel apples plus apple cider. Guests can also rent bonfire pits with benches. Niederman lights the bonfire, you provide the snacks to roast over the open flame. Photo: facebook.com/niedermanfamilyfarm
Red River Gorge, Kentucky Distance: 2 hours and 15 minutes In east central Kentucky, you’ll find the Red River Gorge, where the land is rich with sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, natural bridges and trails that draw in hundreds of hikers and campers every year. The large amount of sandstone has made “the Red” one of the most popular rock-climbing destinations in the world. You also can’t forget to stop by Miguel’s Pizza on Natural Bridge Road while you’re there — a Red River Gorge tradition. Photo: facebook.com/OfficialRedRiverGorge
Irons Fruit Farm 1640 Stubbs Mills Rd., Lebanon. Open through December Take a tractor-driven hayride to pick your own pumpkins at this fourth-generation family farm — then feast on apple fritters, cinnamon-cider donuts, cookies, pies and more from the bakery. There is also a themed corn maze, pumpkin patch, apples available for purchase and friendly farm animals. Photo: facebook.com/IronsFruitFarm
Country Pumpkins 1835 Sherman Mt. Zion Rd., Dry Ridge, Kentucky. Open daily Sept. 10-Oct. 30. Country Pumpkins began selling single pumpkins by the road back in 2000 on the Alpine Hills Dairy Farm. Now, the business has turned into a fall destination, complete with a fall festival and tour. Open Sept. 10 through Oct. 30, Country Pumpkins features a festival with farm animals, a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin picking, vendors and more. Photo: facebook.com/countrypumpkinsky
Enjoy A Fall Train Ride There are several spots that offer seasonal train rides around the city. The Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad has the Pumpkin Patch Express that takes kiddos (or anyone of any age) out to a pumpkin patch where they can pick the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin. If you’re willing to drive a bit, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway hosts a Fall Foliage ride where you can see the changing of the leaves. Photo: facebook.com/hvsry
Photo: Tony Frank
Cliff Dweller Campton, Kentucky $261 per night | Hosts 4 Guests ”It doesn’t get more extreme or unique than this folks! Bolted high above the canopy in the Red River Gorge, KY, Cliff Dweller is now our most extreme and athletic place to spend the night! After a journey up several hundred suspended stairs, welcome to your cliff kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for four. The rocks, the views, the adventure, the solitude. This has it all!” — airbnb.com Photo: airbnb.com
Hidden Valley Orchards This 60-year-old fruit farm (formerly Hidden Valley Fruit Farm) got a makeover in 2018 as Hidden Valley Orchards with a coffee bar, bakery, The Crate Room taproom, and the COOP Ice Cream barn. Fill up on all things apple — cider, dumplings, cobbler, fritters, and donuts — pick a pumpkin, take a hayride and find more family fun every weekend in September and October. Check the website to plan for upcoming events and see the weekly menu. There’s a Fall Comfort Food Cooking Class Oct. 5, a Pumpkin Palooza Week starting Oct. 8 and HVO Fall Family Fun Fest Oct. 23-24. Noon-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 5474 State Route 48, Lebanon, hiddenvalleyorchards.com. Photo: Facebook.com/HiddenValleyOrchards Photo: Facebook.com/HiddenValleyOrchards
McGlasson Farms 5832 Hebron Rd., Hebron, Kentucky. Open daily. This roadside farm has been family-owned for six generations, serving fresh-grown fruits and vegetables from the farm. The farm, which is open from July through November, offers produce such as berries, green beans and sweet corn. During the fall, the farm specializes in apples, apple cider, gourds, potatoes and classic pumpkins. During the fall season, the farm hosts an annual Fall Music Festival, with live bluegrass performances and fall festivities near the Ohio River. Photo: facebook.com/McGlasson-Farms
Kings Island Halloween Haunt 6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason. Select Nights Sept. 23-Oct. 29 Head to Kings Island for a frightening night to remember. Choose from a variety of haunted houses to get your haunting fix. Multiple roller coasters will remain open during Halloween Haunt. Recommended for those over 13. No re-entry is allowed after leaving the park at 6 p.m. Photo: provided by Kings Island
Hollmeyers Orchard 3241 Fiddlers Green Rd., Westside. Open daily. Over 100 years old, Hollmeyer Orchard offers a variety of farm-fresh classics like apples, cider, peaches, plums, eggs and a range of vegetables. Photo: facebook.com/HollmeyerOrchard
See the Leaves Changing The southern Ohio area won’t see the changing of the leaves until mid-October, but once they do, there is a brief time before they die and winter begins. The Farmers Almanac suggests Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and Buckhorn Lake State Park in Kentucky as some of the best places in the country to watch the leaves change. If you’re willing to go on a real road trip up north they also suggest foliage viewing in Traverse City, Michigan. Photo: Facebook.com/MammothCaveNPS
Enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte If you’re looking for a pumpkin spice latte (PSL for short) around Cincinnati, you’ll definitely find it at Starbucks, but if you’re wanting to go somewhere local, we’ve got some inspiration for you. From cappuccinos to Americanos or the simply perfect piping hot cup o’ joe, there are plenty of top-notch local options for coffee fiends in the Queen City. Looking to skip Starbucks to support your local coffee shop? We’ve got you covered. Or, should we say, “caffeinated.” Click the link for some Queen City caffeine inspiration. Photo: facebook.com/DeeperRootsCoffee
Weber’s Farm Market 6085 Kilby Rd., Harrison. Open daily. Weber’s Farm Market is a fifth-generation farm that was originally established in 1899. The market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, with pumpkins available soon. On Oct. 15-16, the farm will host its annual Pumpkin Festival. The tradition brings families from many areas of the region together for a weekend of fall fun. Photo: facebook.com/WebersFarmMarket
Karnes Orchard 8200 Worley Mill Road, Hillsboro. Open Mondays-Saturdays through mid-November. This family-owned orchard market has been operating since 1876, offering picks of fresh fruit from July through November. The orchard is known for their wide variety of apples, which are swapped out when they are best in-season. Their website offers tips for which type of apple is best for a specific preparation, such as applesauce, salads or simple snacking. Check their Facebook page for updated fruit availability. Photo: facebook.com/karnesorchard
Jack O’Lantern Junction at EnterTRAINment Junction 7379 Squire Court, West Chester. Sept. 24-Oct. 31 Train museum and education center EnterTRAINment Junction hosts an annual Jack O’Lantern Junction for Halloween. This kid-friendly celebration offers trick-or-treating plus a maze filled with ghosts and skeletons. The miniature train displays that run throughout the space will also have Halloween themes. Photo: facebook.com/EnterTRAINmentJunction
Black Barn 1161 W Main St, Lebanon. Open daily. The historic Black Barn is open for its 50th season. The barn boasts 16 on-site greenhouses that allow for a wide variety of produce to be sold. Take your pick of ripe fruits and vegetables that range from sweet corn and peppers to cherries, watermelon and blackberries. Photo: facebook.com/The-Black-Barn
Kinman Farm Market 4175 Burlington Pike, Burlington, Kentucky. Open daily through Christmas. Kinman Farms rings in the fall season with its weekend fall festivals when Pumpkins, mums, corn, apples, vegetables and decor are available to purchase. Photo: facebook.com/KinmanFarmMarket
Burger Farm & Garden Center 7849 Main St., Newtown. Open daily. On Saturdays and Sundays beginning Sept. 24, Burger Farm hosts a Fall Fun at the Farm event. This year, the farm will celebrate its 49th annual farm festival with hay rides, puppet shows, pumpkins, apple cider, farm animals, crafts and music. Photo: facebook.com/burgerfarmandgardencenter
A&M Farm Orchard 22141 State Route 251, Midland. Open daily. A&M Farm Orchard is a U-pick paradise. With an apple orchard, apple house and a pumpkin patch, as well as fall treats including jams, jellies, apple butter, fresh cider and squash, A&M has everything to fit your needs. Photo: facebook.com/AM-Farm-Orchard