1. Operation Pumpkin
Giant pumpkins, pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin sculptors, more than 100 artisan and food vendors, live music all weekend, amusement rides, car show, farm market and enhanced kids’ zone with pumpkin painting, pumpkin derby and live entertainment. Popular pet parade and Lil’ Miss Punkin contests on Sunday.
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, High Street, Hamilton. Free admission. Operation-pumpkin.org.
2. Ohio Fresh Hop Fest
Nearly all beer around the world uses dried hops, but fresh hops are brewed within hours of harvest. This festival is a celebration of Ohio hop farms and fresh-hopped Ohio craft beer. More than a dozen Ohio breweries showcase their fresh hop beer for you to try.
Details: 1-8 p.m. Saturday, HighGrain Brewing, 6860 Plainfield Road, Silverton. $20-$45. Eventbrite.com.
3. Ohio Sauerkraut Festival
It’s sauerkraut galore this weekend in Waynesville. The fermented cabbage dish is packed with probiotics and helps boost your immune system, so hey, time to indulge! The festival also features live music and one of the Midwest’s largest craft fairs, boasting more than 460 craft vendors. Parking with shuttle service is available from Wayne High School (735 Dayton Road).
Details: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Downtown Waynesville. Free. Parking at Wayne HS is $5 per car. Sauerkrautfestival.waynesvilleohio.com.
4. Made In Camp
Artists and makers give visitors a chance to learn about and try their hand at artistic and technical skills, including chalk pastel demonstrations, soldering and sewing classes, neon sign making demonstrations, a fermenting workshop and more. American Sign Museum (1330 Monmouth St.) offers free admission, art making and tours, plus live music from Carriers at noon and Freekbass at 3 p.m. Other participating locations include Flag Studio (2936 Colerain Ave.) and CWURC garden (2951 Sidney Ave.).
Details: noon-4 p.m. Saturday, various venues throughout Camp Washington. Free. facebook.com.
5. Show of Hands Puppet Festival
The artistic community at Visionaries + Voices presents this festival, which highlights all things puppet.
The V+V Gallery (3841 Spring Grove Ave., Northside) hosts a puppet exhibit opening from 5-8 p.m. Thursday featuring a performance by Emily Schubert.
On Friday, the Show of Hands Puppet Cabaret takes place from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at Northside Lounge (3938 Spring Grove Ave.).
Saturday’s events begin at The Well (2868 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington) with a puppet show by Tom Lee followed by a Japanese traditional puppetry workshop. As part of Made In Camp, enjoy a puppet parade from Wave Pool Gallery (2940 Colerain Ave.) at 2 p.m., which concludes with a puppet slam back at The Well.
Details: 11 a.m. Saturday, The Well, 2868 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington. visionariesandvoices.com.
6. Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800-1960
Fashion, feminism and the history of female athletes unite in this collection of more than 60 sporting ensembles, which explores the evolution of women’s sporting attire in Western fashion over 160 years. Sporting Fashion is a traveling exhibition organized by the American Federation of Arts and the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. Runs Oct. 14-Jan. 14. $12, $10 seniors. Sundays always free. Taftmuseum.org.
7. Girlhood (It’s Complicated)
This new Smithsonian-produced exhibit explores how girls have changed history in five areas: news and politics, education, work, wellness and fashion, with artifacts spanning two centuries.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Monday, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Included with museum admission. Cincymuseum.org.
8. ‘Wrecking Ball’
This world premiere play by Zina Camblin finds a team of screenwriters attempting to adapt a beloved, yet controversial, classic play for a new TV series, but production halts when a shocking truth is revealed.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Cincinnati Shakespeare Co., 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Runs Oct. 13-28. Cincyshakes.com.
Every sandwich has a story at Clyde’s, a truck stop operated by a group of people recently released from prison. This new dramedy from Pulitzer-winning playwright Lynn Nottage explores community, connection and redemption.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Playhouse in the Park, Rouse Theatre, 962 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Runs Oct. 14-Nov. 5. Cincyplay.com.
10. Pleasant Ridge Tour of Homes
Enjoy nine distinct homes throughout the neighborhood, from historic Tudors to classic four squares to midcentury modern. Benefits Pleasant Ridge Community Council.
Details: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Community Happens Here, 6238 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge. $20, $15 advance. Pleasantridge.org.
11. Octoberfest action
- OktoberWest: Enjoy craft vendors, live music, Food trucks, beer garden, log-sawing and stein-holding competitions, family-friendly movie on big screen and other family-friendly fun.
- Details: 3-11 p.m. Saturday, Harvest Home Park, 3961 North Bend Road, Cheviot. Free admission. explorecheviotohio.com.
- Oxtoberfest: This German-themed festival includes live music, games and competitions, local artisans and vendors, family-friendly activities, local restaurants and food trucks, a biergarten and more.
- Lebanon Oktoberfest: Enjoy German-style music, food, German and local craft beer, kids’ zone and other attractions. Chicken dance takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by a parade at 4 p.m.
- Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday, Mulberry St., Lebanon. Lebanonohio.gov.
12. Queen Bee Half Marathon
This women’s half marathon promotes the fun of fitness while raising support and funds for local women-focused charities. The weekend includes the Bee-U-Tique Expo on Friday, followed by the half marathon, 4-miler and afterparty on Saturday.
Details: Expo 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. Free admission. Races: Half begins at 7:30 a.m. and 4-miler at 8 a.m. Saturday, Reading Road at Pendleton St., Downtown. Afterparty 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Sawyer Point Park, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. flypigmarathon.com.
13. ‘The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition’
SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world! Part of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati MainStage productions. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto lends his voice as the “French Narrator” in the show.
Details: 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. Runs Oct. 14-22. Thechildrenstheatre.com.
14. ‘Freaky Friday’
Based on the Mary Rodgers novel and the Disney films, this play tells the story of an overworked mother and her teenage daughter, who magically swap bodies and find out what it is like to spend a day in each other’s shoes.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, 4990 Glenway Ave., West Price Hill. Runs Oct. 12-Nov. 5. 513-241-6550; cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.
15. Shopping
- Burlington Antique Show: It’s the last show of the season and you’re sure to find some bargains. The show offers antiques, vintage merchandise, primitives, midcentury collectibles and one-of-a-kind finds.
- Details: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. $6 early bird admission (before 8 a.m.), $4 general. Free ages 12-under. Burlingtonantiqueshow.com.
- Junkin’ Trail Southeast Indiana: Get on the trail and explore the unique shops of southeast Indiana. Shops include Greenbriar Shop (19374 Collier Ridge, Guilford), Blue Willow House (9960 Front St., Dillsboro), Huntington Carriage House (110 Walnut St., Lawrenceburg), White Swan (13925 Bloom Road, Moore’s Hill), Second Time Around (311 Second St., Aurora), Milan Whistle Stop (201 S. Main St., Milan), Old Schubox (213 N. Walnut St., Batesville), Vevay Vintage Prop & Shop (321 Ferry St., Vevay), and Vevay Antique Mall (323 Ferry St., Vevay).
