August 19, 2026
Community
174 W. Main Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
174 W. Main Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
Southern Ohio Fall 2026 Community Calendar
August 17 through October 31, 2026
From the Scioto River Valley to the Appalachian foothills, Southern Ohio comes alive in late summer and fall with outdoor theater, bluegrass, county fairs, Appalachian heritage festivals, arts and crafts shows, fall foliage adventures, Halloween celebrations and some of Ohio’s best-known community festivals.
Here’s a roundup of events happening across Ross, Scioto, Jackson, Pike, Vinton, Hocking and Pickaway counties from August 17 through October 31, 2026.
Dates and details were checked against available 2026 event, tourism and organizer information.
LATE AUGUST
Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama
August 27–29 and September 1–6 & 11–12, 2026
Where: Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Road, Chillicothe
Experience the legendary outdoor drama depicting the life of Shawnee leader Tecumseh, featuring live actors, horses, cannon fire and an enormous outdoor stage beneath the stars.
Contact: Tecumseh Drama-(866) 775-0700
Website: tecumsehdrama.com
Hocking Hills Medieval Fest
August 29–30, 2026
Where: Hocking County Fairgrounds, Logan
Step into a world of knights, Vikings, merchants and medieval adventure. The family-friendly festival features armored combat, entertainment, vendors and historical/fantasy-themed activities.
SEPTEMBER
Route 23 Bluegrass Festival
September 2–6, 2026
Where: Pike County Fairgrounds, Piketon
Five days of bluegrass music celebrating Southern Ohio’s musical heritage, with national and regional performers, camping and festival activities.
The festival also includes the Route 23 Hop on September 2, with performances in the Piketon/Waverly area.
September 2–6 at the Pike County Fairgrounds.
Website: route23bluegrass.com
Portsmouth River Days
September 4–6, 2026
Where: Portsmouth riverfront/downtown Portsmouth
One of Southern Ohio’s major annual community celebrations, featuring live entertainment, food, vendors, family activities and other festival events.
September 4–6, 2026.
First Thursday Food Truck Fest
September 3 and October 1, 2026
Where: Downtown Chillicothe
A downtown gathering featuring food trucks, live music and community activities.
Hocking Hills Trail Run
September 12, 2026
Where: Hocking Hills State Park, Logan area
The 49th annual Hocking Hills Trail Run offers 50K, 20-mile, 10-mile, 5-mile and 5K courses through the Hocking Hills landscape.
September 12, 2026 and all five distances.
Hocking County Fair
September 14–19, 2026
Where: Hocking County Fairgrounds, 100 N. Homer Avenue, Logan
A full week of agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, midway rides, food and entertainment, along with events including demolition derby, motocross, tractor and truck pulls, ToughTruck, mud bog and auto-cross.
Jack Pine Glass Pumpkin Festival
September 18–20, 2026
Where: Jack Pine Studio, Hocking Hills/Laurelville area
Thousands of handblown glass pumpkins, live glassblowing demonstrations, more than 30 showcasing artists, live music, food and family-friendly activities.
VIP Preview Night: September 17
September 17 VIP preview.
Website: glasspumpkinfestival.com
Jackson Apple Festival
September 22–25, 2026
Where: Downtown Jackson
One of Southern Ohio’s signature fall festivals, featuring apples and apple butter, food, entertainment, rides, parades and other community activities.
Website: jacksonapplefestival.org
Hocking Hills Artists & Craftsmen Annual Fall Show
September 26–27, 2026
Where: Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center, 20020 State Route 664 S., Logan
A free fall arts and crafts show featuring work by regional artists and craftspeople. Admission and parking are free.
County: Hocking
John Roger Simon Sorghum Festival
September 26–27, 2026 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Historic John Roger Simon Farm, West Portsmouth
Celebrate Appalachian heritage with sorghum syrup making, traditional foods, heritage craft demonstrations and Appalachian music.
The Arc of Appalachia lists the 42nd annual festival for September 26–27.
Admission: Free
Lucasville Trade Days
September 11–13, 2026
Where: Scioto County Fairgrounds, 1193 Fairground Road, Lucasville
A large regional trade and flea-market-style event featuring vendors, collectibles and merchandise. Camping is available.
Website: lucasvilletradedays.com
OCTOBER
Nelsonville Bigfoot Festival
October 2–4, 2026
Where: Nelsonville Public Square
A new 2026 Bigfoot-themed festival featuring family entertainment, vendors and Bigfoot-related activities.
County: Hocking-area region
Grandma Gatewood’s Fall Colors Hike
October 10, 2026
Where: Hocking Hills State Park
A roughly six-mile fall hike along the Grandma Gatewood Trail from Old Man’s Cave toward Cedar Falls and back.
Admission: Free
Chillicothe Halloween Festival
October 9–11, 2026
Where: Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe
A three-day Halloween celebration featuring vendors, food, live entertainment, haunted attractions and family activities. The festival also includes costume activities, pumpkin events and other Halloween-themed attractions.
Midnight at Moonville Festival
October 9–10, 2026
Where: Moonville Tunnel / Zaleski area
A proposed Halloween-season event centered around Moonville’s legendary railroad history and paranormal reputation.
The original calendar described nighttime paranormal tours, campfire storytelling, acoustic music, wagon rides and artisans. I have not found sufficiently authoritative current 2026 information to confirm the event date or all of those activities.
Recommendation: Keep the listing in the working calendar, but do not publish the detailed description until the organizer confirms it.
Fall Festival of Leaves
October 16–18, 2026
Where: Downtown Bainbridge
A classic Southern Ohio fall festival featuring arts and crafts, food, entertainment, flea-market vendors, a midway and other community activities amid the autumn scenery of Ross County’s Appalachian foothills.
Circleville Pumpkin Show
October 21–24, 2026
Where: Downtown Circleville
“The Greatest Free Show on Earth” returns with giant pumpkins, parades, food vendors, entertainment, exhibits, contests and family activities.
Website: pumpkinshow.com
Pike County Halloween Campout
October 23–25, 2026
Where: Pike County Fairgrounds, Piketon
Proposed Halloween-season camping event featuring decorated campsites, trick-or-treating, entertainment and autumn activities.
The original calendar contains specific claims about campsite competitions, live bands and hayrides, but I have not found sufficiently authoritative current 2026 information to independently confirm the event or those details.
Conkle’s Hollow Fall Open House
October 24, 2026
Where: Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve, Hocking County
An autumn open-house event highlighting the natural scenery and geology of Conkle’s Hollow.
Status: CONFIRMED as an ODNR America 250 event currently listed for October 24, 2026.
FALL DRIVES, OUTDOOR ADVENTURES & CULTURAL DESTINATIONS
Shawnee State Forest Scenic Drives
August–October
The winding roads through Shawnee State Forest make an excellent late-summer and fall motorcycle or scenic-drive destination, particularly as fall color develops.
Suggested routes: SR-125 and surrounding forest roads.
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks — Hopeton Earthworks
August–October
Explore the ancient earthworks built by the Indigenous people of the Hopewell culture more than 2,000 years ago.
A.W. Marion State Park
August–October
A good destination for fall hiking, paddling, fishing, wildlife viewing and enjoying the scenery around Hargus Lake.
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Fall Foliage Rides
October
Fall foliage rides aboard the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway provide an easy way to experience the autumn scenery of the Hocking Hills region.
The following should remain in the working calendar, but I would contact the organizers before putting them into the public-facing version:
- First Thursday Food Truck Fest — September 3 & October 1
- Confirm 2026 dates and final programming.
- Midnight at Moonville Festival — October 9–10
- Confirm that the 2026 event is actually scheduled.
- Confirm location, activities and organizer.
- Pike County Halloween Campout — October 23–25
- Confirm event dates.
- Confirm that the fairgrounds are hosting it.
- Confirm activities before describing them.
- Nelsonville Bigfoot Festival — October 2–4
- Confirm final location, schedule and organizer because this is a new 2026 event.
📅 QUICK-REFERENCE CALENDAR
⚠️ EVENTS REQUIRING VERIFICATION – Explore more before making plans, to ensure these events are occuring as usual
| Date | Event | County | Status | ||
| Aug. 27–29 | Tecumseh! | Ross | |||
| Aug. 29–30 | Hocking Hills Medieval Fest | Hocking | |||
| Sept. 2–6 | Route 23 Bluegrass Festival | Pike | |||
| Sept. 3 | First Thursday Food Truck Fest | Ross | ⚠️ Verify | ||
| Sept. 4–6 | Portsmouth River Days | Scioto | |||
| Sept. 11–12 | Tecumseh! | Ross | |||
| Sept. 11–13 | Lucasville Trade Days | Scioto | |||
| Sept. 12 | Hocking Hills Trail Run | Hocking | |||
| Sept. 14–19 | Hocking County Fair | Hocking | |||
| Sept. 18–20 | Jack Pine Glass Pumpkin Festival | Hocking | |||
| Sept. 22–25 | Jackson Apple Festival | Jackson | |||
| Sept. 26–27 | Hocking Hills Artists & Craftsmen Show | Hocking | |||
| Sept. 26–27 | John Roger Simon Sorghum Festival | Scioto | |||
| Oct. 1 | First Thursday Food Truck Fest | Ross | ⚠️ Verify | ||
| Oct. 2–4 | Nelsonville Bigfoot Festival | Hocking area | ⚠️ Verify | ||
| Oct. 9–10 | Midnight at Moonville | Vinton | ⚠️ Verify | ||
| Oct. 9–11 | Chillicothe Halloween Festival | Ross | |||
| Oct. 10 | Grandma Gatewood Fall Colors Hike | Hocking | |||
| Oct. 16–18 | Fall Festival of Leaves | Ross | |||
| Oct. 21–24 | Circleville Pumpkin Show | Pickaway | |||
| Oct. 23–25 | Pike County Halloween Campout | Pike | ⚠️ Verify | ||
| Oct. 24 | Conkle’s Hollow Fall Open House | Hocking | |||
| October | Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Fall Foliage Rides | Hocking | |||
FALL WEEKEND DRIVES & DESTINATIONS
For those looking for something to do between festivals, Southern Ohio offers plenty of opportunities for fall road trips, motorcycle rides and outdoor exploration:
- Shawnee State Forest — Scioto County
- Hocking Hills State Park and State Forest — Hocking County
- Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks — Ross County
- A.W. Marion State Park — Pickaway County
- Hocking Valley Scenic Railway — Hocking County
- Moonville and the Vinton County forest region — Vinton County
Check individual park, attraction and event websites before traveling, as schedules, admission policies and weather-related plans can change.
Special thanks to Greg Shield for the featured image of the drying maple leaves…
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