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.

The Midwest shines in the autumnal season. Here’s a few Greater Cincinnati spots that you can’t miss in the coming months.

Pick a pumpkin at Neltner’s Farm 6922 4 Mile Road, Melbourne, Kentucky Located in the rolling hills of Northern Kentucky, this family-owned farm has been offering seasonal, fresh produce and beautiful views for over a century. The farm hosts an annual Fall Fest which kicks off Sept. 25. In addition to their pick-your-own pumpkin patch, visitors can enjoy a petting zoo, horse-drawn carriage rides, corn mazes and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays. Sept. 25-Oct. 31. $5 weekends; free weekdays (not all activities are available). Photo: Facebook.com/NeltnersFarm
Take a selfie in a sunflower patch at Neiderman Family Farm 5110 LeSourdsville West Chester Road, Hamilton The Niederman Family Farm has been kept in the Niederman family since its inception in 1948. The farm has adapted over the years, offering many types of entertainment like paintball, corn mazes, hayrides and tours of the farm. Jaw-dropping rows of sunflowers as tall as you are just a small part of a gorgeous, quiet landscape that would make the trip out to the farm worth it. Visitors can purchase $12 tickets to visit the sunflower patch via their website. Photo: Facebook.com/neidermanfamilyfarm
Go for a hike at the Cincinnati Nature Center and enjoy the autumnal colors 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford Sitting just outside of the city center, the Cincinnati Nature Center offers over 1,700 acres of forest and 20 miles of trails to hike through to enjoy the colors of the season. You have the option of taking the trails on by yourself or, if you prefer, the Center offers plenty of programs that can guide you through at low fees, such as full moon walks. Tickets can be purchased on their website. They are asking you to mask up as you pass fellow hikers on the trails. Photo: Facebook.com/CincyNature
Try a pumpkin-flavored beer at Taft’s Brewpourium 4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village Hop on down to Taft’s Brewpourium and grab a pint of their seasonal pumpkin-flavored beer. This year, they’re teaming up with pumpkin pie experts Frisch’s and their famous secret recipe to bring a new experience to the season. Photo: Facebook.com/taftsbeer
Explore a spooky trail at Land of Illusion’s Haunted Scream Park 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown Why explore only one haunted attraction when you could have six? Land of Illusion has six frights to choose from: Killer Klowns, Temple of Terror, Phobia, Zombie Sniper Patrol, Middletown Haunted Trail and Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate, plus live music and/or DJs every Friday and Saturday. They also have a full bar. According to the website, they will be encouraging social distancing and will implement timed entry for each maze. Weekends only Sept. 11-Nov. 1. Tickets start at $20. Photo: Provided
Dress up and get wild at the Cincinnati Zoo’s HallZOOween 3400 Vine St., Avondale Time to get wild with the animals at the Cincinnati Zoo for HallZOOween. For two weekends in October you can watch your favorite animals receive a delicious pumpkin treat and get your very own treat bag. All this fun is included in the price of admission, so get dressed up and take a walk on the wild side. Due to COVID restrictions, reservations for tickets must be made online in advance. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25. Photo: Kathy Newton
Venture through a corn maze at Blooms & Berries Farm Market 9669 OH-48, Loveland Fall on the Farm at Loveland’s Blooms & Berries returns this year, inviting folks to explore their 7-acre corn maze, along with plenty of other autumnal activities like pumpkin picking and visits with farm animals. Adults can enjoy the new beer garden with a variety or beers, wines, ciders and seltzers while they watch the game. The farm is offering a contact-free ticketing platform — all tickets must be purchased online. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays Sept. 19-Nov. 1. $12 weekends; $10 weekdays (not all activities are available). Photo via Facebook.com/BloomsandBerries
Pick your own apples at Karnes Orchard 8200 Worley Mill Road, Hillsboro This Hillsboro fruit orchard has been in business since 1876. They specialize in growing a variety of different apples that can be purchased in large or small quantities — or folks can pick their very own. The orchard also makes their own ciders. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Photo via Facebook.com/KarnesOrchard
Pitch a tent and roast some weenies at East Fork Lake 43294 Elklick Road, Bethel, Ohio From rolling rocky hills to breezy meadows, it’s a surprise that East Fork Lake is only 25 miles outside of Cincinnati. With 376 campsites that offer electrical hook-ups, plenty of trails and picnic sites to keep you busy, East Fork Park offers an ideal getaway this fall. Currently a campsite requires a reservation, which can be made on their website. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Consume all things apple at Lebanon’s Country Applefest 665 N. Broadway St., Lebanon Take a bite out of Lebanon County’s Applefest this fall. The festival is filled with over 300 food and arts and crafts vendors to check out during the two-day festival. Plenty of apple-infused eats will be available, including chocolate or caramel covered apples, fritters and pies, plus non-appley eats like ribs, kettle corn, brats and more. Make sure to stick around for the live entertainment available on both days. All vendors, staff and attendees are required to wear masks unless actively eating or drinking. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 26; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 27. Photo via countryapplefest.com
Learn about the Queen City’s ghostly past on a Haunted Cincinnati Tour Multiple Cincinnati locations Hunt down ghosts at some of Cincinnati’s oldest locations with Haunted Cincinnati Tours. The tours will take you around some of the city’s most historic locations while telling some spooky stories about encounters with the otherside. Admission for the tours cost $29, they offer private group tours as well. You can book a bone-chilling tour or ghost hunt on their website. Photo: Facebook.com/hauntedcincytours
Roast some ‘mallows and make a s’more with local vegan Grateful Grahams Available at various local grocery stores Looking for a vegan or local substitute in your s’mores? Look no further than Grateful Grahams. A Cincinnati-based business that makes small-batch graham crackers with no animal products, so that everybody, even people with dietary restrictions, can join in the fun. Photo: Grateful Grahams’ Facebook
Celebrate Oktoberfest Zinzinnati “In Za House” or around town Multiple locations throughout Cincinnati It’s once again time to grab your lederhosen for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. The nation’s largest Oktoberfest and second largest in the world won’t be taking place in the streets of downtown this year. Instead, there will be opportunities to celebrate in bars, restaurants and online from Sept. 18-27. Participants can order special “zelebration packs” with items from Kroger and Sam Adams so that they can celebrate in their own homes. Photo: Adam Doty
Celebrate the season at Kings Island’s Tricks and Treats Fall Fest 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason Tricks and Treats Fall Fest at Kings Island is promising to be your one-stop-shop for all the fall fun (instead of their annual Halloween Haunt event). It offers plenty of treats to fill your bellies and spirits, like spooky-themed snacks and activities for kids including tractor rides and corn mazes. So get dressed up, decorate your own pumpkin and go trick-or-treating. Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 26-Nov. 1. Photo: Facebook.com/VisitKingsIsland
Go for a breezy bike ride along the Little Miami Scenic Trail Hop on at the Loveland Bike Trail Loveland Trail Head, 299-201 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland The Little Miami Scenic Trail is the longest trail in the Miami Valley Trail network, stretching 76 miles and traveling through five counties. With some of the trails having abundant tree coverage, it offers an excellent chance to take in all those stunning fall colors on a bike ride. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Visit Fairborn, Ohio’s quaint and creepy year-round Foy’s Halloween Stores 18 E. Main St., Fairborn, Ohio This small shop in Fairborn, Ohio is one of the oldest stores in the town and is still family-owned four generations later. Filled with candy, toys, costumes and decorations, this small shop has everything you need to have a spooktacular holiday. Noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Photo: Mackenzie Manley
Cut your own sunflower bouquet at Gorman Heritage Farm 10052 Reading Road, Evendale Evendale’s Gorman Heritage Farm is making some changes to its annual Sunflower Festival this year in light of COVID. The 23rd-annual fest itself has been canceled, but they are still offering visitors the opportunity to visit their sunflower field and farm for fun fall activities including you-pick bouquets, food trucks, a MadTree beer garden and friendly farm animals. Advance $5 tickets are required (children under 3 and members are free, but registration is still necessary); there will be no tickets for sale at the door. The event, which will be held rain or shine, offers staggered timed admission from 10 a.m.-noon, 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. each day, except for on Saturday, Oct. 10, which only has one admission time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, 10 and 11. Photo: Gorman Heritage Farm
Grab a slice of a Cincinnati seasonal classic: Frisch’s pumpkin pie Multiple Cincinnati locations The return of Frisch’s pumpkin pie is right around the corner and we are all excited to grab a slice. The recipe of envy is a well-kept secret and is only known by a few people in the company. The pie is known for its perfect blend of fall spices and creamy texture, so when it makes its grand return, grab yourself a slice. Photo: Facebook.com/frischbigboy
Go for a hayride at Iron’s Fruit Farm 1640 Stubbs Mills Road, Lebanon Iron’s Fruit Farm offers a fun and festive way to travel to their pumpkin patch and corn maze — by hayride, of course! There’s no better way to cozy into the fall spirit than an adventure through the farm as you make your way to the sprawling corn maze. After the tour is finished, they offer cinnamon donuts and cider to all. The rides start late September through October. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Photo: Facebook.com/IronFruitFarm
Grab a “Camp Legendary” party parcel from AGAR’s new EXPO and pitch a tent in the backyard Delivered to your home Get the full camping experience in a box. Camp Legendary is a kit you can purchase that includes all the essentials needed for up to six people, including a tent, snacks, drinks and fun activities for all ages, as well as some bandanas, merit pins and a directors guide. The price for this experience is $225 but it’s supposed to be split among six people so the average cost is $37. Take this trip to the wilderness or your very own backyard. Photo: expotoyou.com
Explore Fairfield County’s Trail of Scarecrows Various locations throughout Fairfield County See some scarily creative scarecrows in Fairfield County this fall. During the month of October, more than a dozen communities in Fairfield County erect homemade scarecrows to get in the spirit of the season, being dubbed “the scarecrow capital.” Take yourself through a self guided tour, snag some selfies and vote on your favorite one in each community. Photo: Belle Communication
Get freaked out at the Dent Schoolhouse 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent The Dent Schoolhouse’s homicidal Charlie the Janitor is turning into Mr. Clean this Halloween season. Kicking off Sept. 25, the West Side haunted house welcomes guests to visit their “scary, safe, and fun experience,” which continues with general admission tickets and special nights like lights-on for kids, lights-off for extra thrill seekers, and construction and ghost tours. Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $20-$25. Guests have the option to purchase an additional $20 “fast pass” or a $30 “front of the line” ticket. Sept. 25-Nov. 13. Photo: Dent Schoolhouse
Grab a caramel apple from McGlasson Farms 5832 River Road, Hebron This sixth-generation family-owned farm offers plenty of you-pick produce options — including pumpkins starting later in September. And if you don’t feel like going out into the field, they have fruits and veggies for sale at their roadside farm stand. Inside you’ll find their famous caramel apples and crowd-favorite apple cider for sale. Cash or check only. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends. Photo: McGlasson Farms Facebook
See the spooky side of Newport with a Newport is Haunted walking tour. Leaves from 18 E. Fifth St., Newport Led by American Legacy Tours, this haunted trek will “enthrall you with tales or murder, suicide and even decapitation. You will learn the horrifying of Bobby Mackey’s wicked haunting and discover the details of some of Newport’s most infamous unsolved crimes.” Through Oct. 24. $25 general admission. Photo: facebook.com/AmericanLegacyTours