The Division of Travel and Tourism complies news releases on a regular basis, including monthly events releases, releases on a theme and Ohio tourism trends.
Visit Ohio this October for Plenty of Awesome Autumn Adventures
Corn mazes, covered bridges, culinary creations and craft festivals complement Ohio’s fall colors
10/1/2008
CONTACT:
Tamara Brown, (614) 466-8591
Marty McDonald, (614) 383-1621
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Oct. 1, 2008) – With autumn officially underway, Ohio is the perfect place to plan a getaway scheduled to include fall foliage tours and harvest festivals. Throughout October, festivals entice visitors with delicious homemade apple butter, fresh wines from grape harvests and corn mazes for the whole family to enjoy. Haunted gatherings and other spooky events are a great way to celebrate the Halloween season, and outdoor events bring nature enthusiasts together to enjoy Ohio’s vibrant fall colors.
Following is just a sampling of the events available to Ohio visitors in October. Be sure to check out Ohio’s new Autumn Adventures
Web site where you’ll find all the resources you need to plan a great fall getaway to Ohio. For additional events, please go to
www.DiscoverOhio.com or call 1-800-BUCKEYE. Ohio is too much fun for just one day!
Family Fun
Iron Spring Farm Corn Maze, New Washington, Now through Oct. 31
Gather the family together and see if you can make it through the 10-acre maze with 8-foot-tall corn cutout trails! Afterward, pick your perfect pumpkin, enjoy an exciting hayride or have a meet-and-greet with the farm’s llamas, mini-horses, goats and peacocks.
Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival, Ashtabula County Fairgrounds, Jefferson, Oct. 11-12
Ashtabula is home to 17 covered bridges—including the nation’s longest covered bridge! Start at the fairgrounds where you’ll celebrate the festival’s 25th anniversary with a quilt show, pancake breakfast, entertainment, crafts, a farmer's market, draft horse pull and delicious food. Then embark on a peaceful, self-guided tour of the county’s covered bridges.
102nd Circleville Pumpkin Show, Circleville, Oct. 15-18
Enjoy the largest pumpkin contest (past pumpkins have been as large as 1,500 pounds!) or sample some of the many pumpkin-flavored delicacies. Live music, seven parades, amusement rides, 300 food booths, games and craft vendors are all on site to make this one memorable family event!
Arts and Culture
Ohio Mart, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron, Oct. 2-5
Spend a beautiful fall weekend shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts from more than 120 artisans at one of Ohio’s premier arts and crafts festivals! Or, enjoy your own adventure throughout Stan Hywet’s famed gardens during the fall foliage season, where the vibrant, leafy backdrop is the perfect setting for entertainment, children’s activities and appetizing foods.
Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, Waynesville, Oct. 11-12
The 39th annual Ohio Sauerkraut Festival provides visitors an opportunity to enjoy more than 30 food booths featuring unusual concoctions like sauerkraut fudge and pizza, or more traditional dishes such as reubens and kraut dogs. Stop by and see more than 460 selected craft vendors, music and entertainment!
90th Annual Toledo Area Arts Exhibition, Toledo Museum of Art, Oct. 24, 2008 – Jan. 4, 2009
For the past 90 years, the Toledo Area Arts Exhibition has been one of the most treasured art events in Ohio. Come get inspired and be intrigued by classic and innovative art from some of the best artists in the country!
Sports and Recreation
Apple Butter Festival, Mt. Gilead State Park, Morrow County, Oct. 3-4
Head down to Mt. Gilead State Park in beautiful Morrow County for a celebration of the fall season. Homemade samples of apple butter will make for a tasty treat. Afterward, gather the family together to enjoy hayrides, Halloween festivities, fall hikes, entertainment and ham and bean soup.
Autumn Lighthouse Festival, Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, Ottawa County, Oct. 11
Come see the Ohio lighthouse that was made famous on a U.S. postage stamp! The Marblehead Lighthouse will open up during the autumn season for tours. Other highlights include a celebration of the county’s coastal history with demonstrations, entertainment, crafts and food.
29th Annual Fall Hike, Lake Hope State Park, Vinton County, Oct. 18
Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage season when it’s at its peak at Lake Hope State Park during a moderate autumn hike. Before your three-mile course begins, try a delicious cup of sassafras tea and return to a tasty bean and cornbread dinner at Hope Furnace. Shuttles are available after the event to bring hikers back to their vehicles.
History and Heritage
Atwood Area Fall Festival, Mineral City, Oct. 3-5
The 26th annual Atwood Area Fall Festival is a celebration of the fall season, with a living history encampment and Indian pow-wow. Held on the grounds of Atwood Lake Park, the festival features something for everyone including live entertainment, a car show on Sunday and constant activities for children and adults to round out this memorable weekend.
Fall on the Farm, Archbold, Oct. 11
At Sauder Village, guests will have the opportunity to take a step back in time and help prepare the farm for the winter ahead. From making noodles, butter and cornhusk dolls to decorating pumpkins, pressing apples for cider, exploring a straw tunnel and harvesting sunflower seeds and vegetables from the garden, there are special activities for all ages to enjoy.
Harvest Fest & Gathering at Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village, Waynesville, Oct. 18-19
Come get a history lesson and celebrate a harvest as it was in the 19th century. The Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village will be making delicious apple butter, hominy (dried corn kernels), candles and more. Come enjoy some cider, and make this a harvest to remember.
Looking for additional October events? Visit
www.DiscoverOhio.com. The Ohio Travel Planner and Ohio Calendar of Events are both viewable online at
www.DiscoverOhio.com. To order your free copy of the 2008 Ohio Travel Planner, click on the Free Publications icon or call 1-800-BUCKEYE. For additional information, trained travel counselors are available at 1-800-BUCKEYE to assist callers weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
About the Ohio Tourism Division
The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio’s vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $38 billion in visitor sales in 2007 and 454,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division’s mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio’s unique travel opportunities and market the state’s outstanding quality of life.
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