Fantastic fall festivals worth the drive this weekend and beyond

It finally feels like fall.

It’s time to soak up the cooler autumn breezes. What better way than at some of the finest fall festivals in the region and a little beyond?

>> 25 festivals every Daytonian should experience

Here are some ideas for quick escapes for festival fun this weekend and beyond. Some are just on the outskirts of the Dayton area, while others are more of a day trip well worth the drive.

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

🍻MINSTER OKTOBERFEST

Oct. 4-6, 2019. Friday 6 p.m. to midnight. Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight. Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oktoberfest is located one block west of the intersection of SR-119 and SR-66 in Minster

This is one of the best Oktoberfests around and definitely worth the trek north. Organizers say more than 80,000 people flock to the Auglaize County village each year for this festival emphasizing the community's German heritage. Music, food, and, of course, beer are the stars of the event that has been a part of Minster since 1975. However, Minster's Oktoberfest offers unique twists like beer tray relays, a jug hoist, a car show, parade and a 10k run to help clear space for all those calories. Live music, German mass and pageants will also take place. For more information, visit http://www.minsteroktoberfest.com/

>> Why this small town’s Oktoberfest is worth the drive

Credit: Tom Gilliam Photography for Dayton.com

Credit: Tom Gilliam Photography for Dayton.com

🎃FALL FARM PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AT YOUNG’S DAIRY

October 5-6, 2019, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Young’s Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs.

Yellow Springs can be a quick trip or a longer haul dependin on where you live. If there's any fall weekend to head to Young's, this is it. Family fun featuring an opportunity to take your picture with Humongus Gus, and 800+ pound pumpkin, taste freshly made Pumpkin Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes, take a tour of the cheese making facility and watch cow milking. And the latest addition — pumpkin bowling. Festival held rain or shine. Free. For more information, visit www.youngsdairy.com.

>> This weekend’s Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival is biggest event of the year for Young’s Dairy

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

🥔SPRING VALLEY POTATO FESTIVAL

October 5-6, 2019, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. & Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Spring Valley

Arts & Crafts, live entertainment, 5K Tater Trot Run/Walk, carnival rides, children’s games, Kiddie Tractor Pull, Pet Parade and lots of food. Free.

>> Spring Valley’s 42nd annual Potato Festival a mash-up of fun

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

⚔️OHIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27, at Ohio Renaissance Festival, 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville.

Guests can step back in time in a 30-acre re-created 16th century English village. The festival features nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, over 135 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink fit for kings, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages. This weekend, it's fantasy weekend. Cost: Tickets range from $7.50 to $65. For more information, call 513-897-7000 or visit www.renfestival.com.

>> 30 ways to celebrate the Renaissance Festival’s big 3-OH

>> A weekend for everyone this season at the Ohio Renaissance Festival

>> PHOTOS: Did we spot you at the Ohio Renaissance Festival?

🔥JUNGLE JIM’S WEEKEND OF FIRE

October 5-6, 2019, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday & 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at The Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim’s International Market, 5440 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield

Weekend filled with fun, food and contests and more than 50 vendors and 300 samples. There will be sauces ranging from mild to wild. Costs start at $8. In the event the festival sells out, there will be no tickets sold at the door. For more information, call 513-674-6000 or visit www.junglejims.com.

>> HOT TICKET: Midwest’s biggest fiery food fest returns to Jungle Jim’s next weekend

🎃BRADFORD PUMPKIN SHOW

October 8-12, 2019, 4-10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 1-11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at Bradford Pumpkin Show, 115 N. Miami Ave., Bradford

Featuring food vendors, parades, games and rides, live entertainment. Parking available in several places around the village. Free; food and games prices vary. For more information, visit www.bradfordpumpkinshow.com.

>> Pumpkins have taken over this small town near Dayton as part of week-long festival

🎃HIDDEN VALLEY ORCHARD PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

October 12-13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Hidden Valley Orchards, 5474 N. State Rt. 48, Lebanon

Fun for the whole family with a pumpkin celebration, grill out, children’s activities and live entertainment. Free.

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

🥫OHIO SAUERKRAUT FESTIVAL

October 12-13, 2019, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday & 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at 10 B North Main St., Waynesville.

The streets come alive with more than 460 crafters & artists from all over the country; plus there's sauerkraut served in many traditional and non-traditional ways, such as Reubens, Cabbage Rolls, Sauerkraut Pizza and Sauerkraut Macaroni and Cheese. Free. For more information, visit www.sauerkrautfestival.com.

🍎ENON APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL

October 12-13, 2019, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday & 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Settler’s Park, Main Street and Xenia Street, Enon.

Live entertainment; enjoy the pleasant aroma of cooking apples, spices, and wood smoke at the festival where everything revolves around apple butter. No pets. Free. For more information, visit www.enonhistory.com.

🚜BOB EVANS FARM FESTIVAL

October 11-13, 2019 Open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Bob Evans Farm is located on State Route 588 just off U.S. Route 35 at 791 Farmview Road, Bidwell.

Head to Southwest Ohio along U.S. 35 to Rio Grande for the 49th annual Bob Evans Farm Festival, a weekend of family fun, arts and crafts, farm contests, live music and, of course, food. Food and treats include bean soup, kettle corn, apple dumplings, ice cream, Ohio-made cheese, cider slushies. Ride on the festival ferris wheel, enjoy live performances and shows, and see demonstrations of farm life all weekend long. The Columbus Zoo will be on hand with animals, there will be a stunt dog team of border collies and a skydiving team, and there will be a lumberjack show with chainsaw carving, axe throwing, log rolling and more. Camping options are available. Admission: $5 for adults; 5 and under are free Day Rides: $5 ages 12/under; $10 ages 13/over. For more information, visit bobevans.com/farm-festival

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

🎃CIRCLEVILLE PUMPKIN SHOW

October 16-19, 2019, 159 E. Franklin St., Circleville. View complete daily schedule here.

Located about 25 miles south of Columbus on U.S. Route 23, you'll discover one of Ohio's biggest pumpkin celebrations, celebrating 113  years. Feast on pumpkin pies, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin fudge, pumpkin burgers, pumpkin pizza, pumpkin chili, pumpkin cream puff, pumpkin pancakes and more. See pumpkins that weigh more than 1,000 pounds or the world's largest pumpkin pie that weighs in at more than 400 pounds. Entertainment includes rides, games, parades, music, arts and crafts and a hog calling contest. Free admission. For more information, visit www.pumpkinshow.com.

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