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 Cleveland activities that you can’t miss during the fall season.

Check out the Foliage Whether it’s on a drive, a hike, a bike ride or a trail, there are a plethora of great places to see the changing of the colors in Northeast Ohio. There’s about a month when the colors are at their peak. Don’t waste it. Credit: @CleveMetroparks/Instagram
Boo at the Zoo 4101 Fulton Pkwy., Cleveland The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has a kid-friendly halloween event that might not be as scary as some of the other places on this list, but it’s a great place for the whole family to go. Boo at the Zoo features a character dinner, movies, train rides and more. The dates are Fridays through Sundays from October 11th through the 27th. Credit: Boo at the Zoo/Facebook
Go Camping Real campers know camping in the summer is for the weak. It’s the fall where you truly feel one with nature, when you wake up and you’re so cold you need to sit around the fire but crack open that first brew and you’re good to go. And if you can’t handle the elements, try glamping. Credit: @Cessna.Marie/Instagram
Do Something (Safe) in the Metroparks The Emerald Necklace is one of Northeast Ohio’s most treasured assets and the envy of tons of other big cities. There’s something for everyone. Walk, hike, bike, rollerblade, skip, jump, bird watch, sleep, picnic, lounge, golf — whatever. It’s nature, and it’s magnificent. Just don’t do anything too crazy when you’re high. Credit: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad/Facebook
Cuyahoga Valley National Park We have a National Park right in our own backyard – you’re damn right it has perfect views. Photo via Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad/Facebook Credit: Courtesy Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Lake Metroparks Farmpark Corn and Pumpkin Festival 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland “Stalk” through this 3-acre corn maze daily through October 17th from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition to the daily corn maze, two Corn and Pumpkin weekends are taking place on October 8th and 9th, 15th, 16th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can help husk, shell and grind the corn plus make homemade corn husk dolls and paint pumpkins. Credit: Lake Metroparks Farm/Facebook
Hit Up A Corn Maze Corn mazes, yes corn mazes are big things. I mean, we live in Ohio, what else do you expect? Credit: Derthick Farms/Facebook
Go For a Scenic Drive There’s nothing like going for a drive through the countryside during the fall. The cool breeze in the air, the leaves changing colors, you can see your breath but it’s hopefully not too chilly. Get in your car, take a drive and stop some place quaint.
Go Apple Picking Fall means apple-picking season and luckily for Northeast Ohioans, there are a ton of great orchards to pick apples from. This fun fall activity makes for a great time for the whole family. Credit: Geig’s Orchard/Facebook
Geneva If there’s anywhere in Ohio that could be considered wine country, it’s definitely Geneva on the Lake. With close to 20 wineries in a pretty small area, it’s an oenophile’s dream and it’s the perfect destination to see the beautiful fall foliage.
HalloWeekends at Cedar Point 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky There is no haunted Halloween experience with more events and attractions than HalloWeekends at Cedar Point. With multiple mazes, scare zones, shows and experiences, there is surely something that will scare anyone willing to make the trip to Sandusky. It’s open every Friday through Sunday through the end of October. Credit: @HalloWeekends/Instagram
Go To a Fall Festival There are a lot of options for Fall Festivals around Northeast Ohio for adults and to take the whole family to. Pumpkin fests, Oktoberfests, tree fests, it’s all available. Credit: Laura Kreider and USAG Italy/Flickr
Stay In A Treehouse Treehouse camping through Airbnb and other vacation rental sites are more popular than ever. WIthin Northeast Ohio, there are a plethora of options where you’ll feel like a kid again. Credit: @TheMohicans/Instagram
Harvest Festival at Hale Farm & Village A Cuyahoga Valley tradition. Watch food be prepared for winter while utilizing the farm equipment to press apple cider, grind and shell corn, and make your own apple butter. Grab some kettle corn and walk the barnyards full of chicken, oxen, hogs, and sheep. Join in the harvest activities of pumpkin painting and wagon rides, or jump in the haystacks. October 1-2 & 8-9. (10-5pm). Credit: @pleaseselect/Instagram
12 Hours of Terror at the Capitol Theatre 1390 West 65th St., Cleveland Cleveland Cinemas’ beloved annual horror movie marathon “12 Hours of Terror” returns to the Capitol Theatre Oct. 15 after a pandemic hiatus. Two films adapted from the fictional work of Stephen King, The Mist and Carrie headline this year’s extravaganza, which runs from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the three-screen venue in Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District. Additional titles include Graduation Day (1981), Bride of Re-Animator (1990), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), and Jason X (2002). As usual, the mini-festival will include a surprise screening that guests won’t know until it begins. Credit: 12 Hours of Terror/Facebook
Visit One of the Top Haunted Sites In Northeast Ohio There are a ton of haunted spots around Northeast Ohio, from Franklin’s Castle and Gray’s Armory to the Federal Reserve and more. We’ve compiled a list of the most haunted sites, and you can visit most year round but the best time is the fall.
Haunted Cleveland Lakefront Ghost Tour Visit the famous sites of exorcisms, haunted houses and more on this tour. Tickets are $52 per person.
Holden Arboretum 9550 Sperry Rd., Kirtland Out east in the Kirtland/Mentor area, you’ll find Holden Arboretum, home to over 3,500 hundred acres of trees, plants, wildlife and scenic views. With over 200 miles of trails, you can certainly find a great spot to yell as loud as you can. Credit: Holden Arboretum/Facebook
Visit Lake View Cemetery 12316 Euclid Ave., Cleveland It may be a little creepy to visit a cemetery when you’re stoned but in the best way possible The final resting place of John D. Rockefeller, Eliot Ness, Revolutionary War soldiers, Ray Chapman and more famous and influential people than we have time to name, Lake View Cemetery is also, of course, home to the President Garfield memorial. The view from the second floor balcony is one of the most majestic and underrated in the whole city. Credit: Scene Archives
Try A Seasonal Brew There are a ton of breweries around town and they all have seasonal ales. Great Lakes’ Oktoberfest lager is a popular one and so is their Nosferatu, along with Market Garden’s Old Zahm Oktoberfest and Franklin Castle Pumpkin Spice Ale, Fathead’s Spooky Tooth Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Masthead’s Haunted Hayride Pumpkin Ale, Strangeville Spiced Ale and Oktofest from Brew Kettle, Saucy Brew Works’ Imperial Pumpkin Ale and Fiestbier, Brick and Barrel’s Roasted Out of My Gord Pumpkin Porter, Goldhorn’s Oktoberfest lager. A few more good ones are Sibling Revelry Brewing’s Ohio Native Oktoberfest, Working Class Brewery’s Barman’s Oktoberfest and many more from the other awesome breweries in town.
Tailgate for a Football Game Fall in Cleveland means its football season. If you’re a diehard fan, a casual or someone who doesn’t even love football, tailgating is still a hell of a time, especially in the Muni Lot. The diehards will be out there in the blistering cold but trust us, the fall is much better for tailgating. Credit: Emanuel Wallace
Visit a Pumpkin Patch Pumpkin patches just epitomize fall in Northeast Ohio. Get the whole family together and go to a pumpkin patch. Put them on display at home, toss them after Halloween and do it all again next year. Credit: Rufener Hilltop Farms/Facebook
Grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte or other Fall Drink From a Local Coffee Shop Cleveland boasts a number of great coffee and tea shops. Check one out to see their spin on fall with a pumpkin spice latte or some type of maple drink.
Cleveland is not a walkable city. Credit: Scene Archives
Go To a Haunted House If you want to get the shit scared out of you, or just have a good time with friends, a haunted house is a great place to visit. In a recent finding, according to the Haunted Attraction Association, Northeast Ohio is home to four of the top 49 haunted houses in the nation. Credit: Lake Erie Fear Fest/Facebook