Hayrides, pumpkins, trains, crafts and tours are plentiful in October as we celebrate the harvest. So grab a cup of cider, a light jacket and your camera and sample the many fall festivities in the Findlay area.
Monday, October 15
Wee Ones: Bats
Discovery Center
Oakwoods Nature Preserve
1400 Oakwoods Ln. (off CR 144)
419-425-7275
www.hancockparks.com
Bats are a little spooky for some folks, but they are also beneficial. Learn about the bat’s place in nature, and maybe bust some bat myths as well. The program includes a story, activities and a craft. It’s recommended for children under three with an adult companion. 10am-1pm.
Sunday, October 28
Hands-On Nature: Fairy Fun
Discovery Center
Oakwoods Nature Preserve
1400 Oakwoods Ln. (off CR 144)
419-425-7275
www.hancockparks.com
Bring your family out to frolic with the fairies! Enjoy children’s activities centering around these little nature lovers and listen to some fairy tales, too. Search for fairy houses on a short hike, then come back to build your own fairy house. Feel free to come dressed as your favorite story book character or pixie. 1-4pm. open house, hike leaves at 2pm.
Tuesday, October 2
Pioneer Tyke Hikes
McKinnis Homestead
Litzenberg Memorial Woods
6100 U.S. 224 West
419-425-PARK
www.hancockparks.com
Here’s a great way to wear your little ones out — an adventure at the McKinnis Homestead. Children under three, with an adult, can help grind corn, make cider and meet a pioneer. 10am-2pm. 50 cents.
Saturday, October 20
14th Annual Enchanted Forest Walk
Discovery Center
Oakwoods Nature Preserve
1400 Oakwoods Ln. (off CR 144)
419-425-PARK
www.hancockparks.com
Take a walk through the woods without the spooky stuff! Tour a character-filled trail with a guide, who will point out the park’s after-dark inhabitants. Designed for ages 5 and up. 7-8:30pm, with tours leaving every 15 minutes. $2 per person, registration due October 18.
Saturday, October 20
horseback trick or treat
Project H.O.P.E.
6645 T.R. 215
419-469-0415
www.projecthope-equinetherapy.com
Raise funds for Project H.O.P.E. Equine Therapies, a private, non-profit organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding activities to area children, at this trick-or-treating on horseback event. Children of all ages are welcome to join, and costumes are not required. $5 donation. 1-5pm.
Saturdays and Sundays in October
2012 Corn Maze
Suter’s Produce
12200 Pandora Rd., Pandora
419-384-3331
www.suterproduce.com
The theme for Suter’s annual corn maze is Fun on the Farm, and is a non-scary way to add a little adventure to your life — no GPS allowed! Other fall fun includes hayrides and pumpkin picking, corn cannons, mini-mazes and the biggest ear of corn ever. 1-8pm, with the last admission at 7pm. $6, students kindergarten through college $4.50.
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October
Barnyard Fun and Corn Maze
Riehm Farms
7244 Ohio 53 North, Tiffin
419-992-4392
www.funacres.net
Cheer three little pigs to the finish line, launch veggies at targets, milk cows and burrow through a hay tunnel — there are a lot of ways to have fun at Riehms Farms. A corn maze and hayride round out the day. 4-7pm Fridays, noon-7pm Saturdays, and 2-6pm Sundays. $7 with free admission for those under two years old.
Through early November
Hay Rides at Riverbend
Recreation Area
16618 Township Rd. 208
419-425-7275
www.hancockparks.com
Get a group of 25 or less together and bring them to Riverbend for a fall color adventure on the back of an old-fashioned tractor-drawn hayride. Be sure to bring a blanket and bundle up for a trip through the park, where you might just spy wildlife enjoying the last bit of fall. Hayrides are available through early November, weather permitting, and can be reserved for $60 per load through the park district. Rides can be finished off by using the campground for a campfire or a shelter can be reserved for $40.
Sundays through October 28
HalloWeekends
Cedar Point
One Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky
419-627-2350
www.cedarpoint.com
Your favorite amusement park gets transformed into 10 haunted houses and nighttime attractions to add an extra scare to your weekend. During the daytime there is a parade and other fun for kids. Some rides and attractions will be closed Fridays. 6pm-midnight Fridays, 11am-midnight Saturdays and noon-9pm Sundays. HalloWeekends admission is free with regular park admission.
Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6
Nightfall Festival
Toledo Botanical Garden
5403 Elmer Dr., Toledo
www.toledogarden.org
A garden can be a thing of beauty, or a place filled with the strange and unusual. The Toledo Botanical Garden gets transformed for its annual festival, with trick-or-treating, art activities and a new fairy garden. Experience a spooky pumpkin patch, eerie lantern walking tour and The Creature of Crosby Lake. Horse-drawn wagon rides will also be available. 4-10pm. $8 for adults, $7 for students and seniors 60 and over, and $6 for garden members. Those under 12 are admitted free.
Thursday, October 18 and Friday, October 19
Little Boo at the Zoo
Toledo Zoo
2700 Broadway St., Toledo
419-385-5721
www.toledozoo.org
The Toledo Zoo becomes a Halloween haven for tiny trick-or-treaters. Costumes are encouraged at this event, which is smaller in scope so little legs won’t tire as easily as children visit trick or treat stations around the amphitheater. Please bring a bag or bucket for all those treats! 10am-3pm. Admission is the same as regular zoo admission: $14 for adults, $11 for seniors, $11 for children under 12; children under 2 admitted free.
Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20
All Hallows Eve Celebration
Seven Eagles Historical
Education Center
16486 Wapakoneta Rd., Grand Rapids
419-509-0095
www.seven-eagles.com
Costumed storytellers, bonfires, hayrides and lantern tours fill the center’s historical sites. All Hallows activities include hay rides, hands-on activities, food and entertainment. Come early on Saturday and make it a family event by picnicking, canoeing, cane-pole fishing or throwing tomahawks. 6-10 p.m. $2.50 for children and seniors, $5 for adults for $10 per family. Children under four are admitted free.
Saturday, October 20
Non-Scary Halloween
Hancock County
Fairgrounds
1017 East Sandusky St.
419-422-5415
www.campfireusa-nwohio.com
Halloween doesn’t have to be all ghosts and ghouls. The tenderest among us appreciate a non-scary event, too! You’ll find that at the annual Camp Fire USA event, which is geared to kids in preschool through fourth grade. Children get to play games, earn prizes, do a craft and go through a maze. Noon-4pm. $3 for children, who get 10 game tickets. Additional game tickets can be purchased for $1. Adults are admitted free with a child.
Saturday, October 20
Halloween Skate
Rolling Thunder Skating and Family Fun Center
2225 Keith Parkway
419-422-7227
www.rollingthunderskatefindlay.com
Rolling Thunder hosts its second Halloween skate, with themed music, a Jello eating contest and other family-friendly activities. Awards will be given for the best youth and adult costumes, judged by event sponsor Chase Bank. 7pm-midnight. $8.50 plus skate rental if applicable.
Friday, October 19 & Saturday, October 20
Boocentennial spooktacular!
618 S. Main St.
419-422-4624
www.artspartnership.com
Celebrate the spooky side of Findlay’s history at this weekend-long event. Friday, 5pm to Saturday, 11:30pm.
Saturday, October 20
Camp Fire’s 21st annual non-scary halloween
1017 E. Sandusky St.
419-422-5415
jtreece@campfirenwohio.com
Explore the Hancock County Fairgrounds Merchant’s Building for treats (no tricks here!). Halloween-themed games, face painting and pumpkins will be on hand, and there will even be a maze. 12-4pm. $3 for 10 tickets/adults free. Additional tickets are 10 for $1.
Friday October 5-7, 12, 19, 20-21, 26-28
Art Hour: Create a Mini Pumpkin
Toledo Museum of Art
2445 Monroe St., Toledo
419-254-5771 ext. 7448
www.toledomuseum.org
Create your Halloween work of art at the Toledo Museum of Art, where you can create a mini pumpkin. You’ll have to be patient, however, as most art will require a 24-hour finishing process. Call to register for the event, which is open to adults and children older than 14 when accompanied by an adult. $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers.
Wednesday, October 17
Spooky Movie
Findlay Hancock County Public Library
206 Broadway St.
419-422-1712
www.findlay.lib.oh.us
You’re never too old to dress up for Halloween. Teens can celebrate Teen Read Week with a spooky movie, accompanied by snacks and pop. Halloween costumes are encouraged! Teens must have a parent permission slip on file to attend. 5:30-8:30pm.
Thursday, October 18 and Tuesday, October 23
Zombie Box Creations
Findlay Hancock County Public Library
206 Broadway St.
419-422-1712
www.findlay.lib.oh.us
Are you ready to share your home with a zombie? Ready or not, teens can make their own Zombie boxes at the Arlington branch of the library from 3:30-4:30pm, October 18. The same scary creations can be made 7-8pm October 23 at the Findlay branch.
Saturday, October 20-21 & Saturday, October 27-28
Spooky Science
Imagination Station
1 Discovery Way (at Adams and Summit), Toledo
419-244-2675
www.imaginationstationtoledo.org
Now you can get gross, but for a good cause — science! Spooky Science will be filled with self-carving pumpkins, boo bubbles, magic potions, gooey slime and more spooky stuff with a scientific basis. Plus, you’ll learn how to do it all yourself so you can treat your friends to some really cool tricks. You can also dissect a cow’s eye, and have fun with dry ice. 10am-5pm Saturdays, noon-5pm Sundays. $9.50 for those 13 and older, $7.50 for kids 3 through 12, $8.50 for seniors over 65, and children two and under are free.
Saturday, October 20
Gingerbread Making and a Movie
Findlay Hancock County Public Library
206 Broadway St.
419-422-1712
www.findlay.lib.oh.us
Gingerbread isn’t just for Christmas! Teens and tweens in grades 4 through 12 are invited to make a haunted gingerbread house and watch a Halloween movie at the library’s main branch. Registration must be made by October 16 by calling the library. 12:30-4:30pm.
