Visit Local Farms for Tasty Fall Treats & Family Fun

By Jamie Kaun

Here in southern Ohio, it’s finally feeling like fall! Mornings are cooler, leaves are changing color and it’s a great time to pick your own apples and pumpkins or visit a local farm for family fun.

We are blessed to have some wonderful local orchards and farms with all the fall favorites located throughout our area. Be sure to visit their websites or Facebook pages before you go for info on hours, what’s offered, pricing and more.

Windmill Farm Market
Go up and down hills and through the mud on their adventurous wagon ride. Buy goodies in the market, pick up a pumpkin, visit farm animals and more at this 37-acre Springboro farm.

Kleather’s Pumpkin Patch
This Springboro family-run business has been offering fall goodness for 45 years, including pumpkins, gourds, straw bales, apple cider and more. They have some props that make great photo ops, like a life-size pumpkin carriage, pumpkin train and Wizard of Oz characters.

Lucas Brothers Farm & Fall Fest
Find your way out of the 6-acre corn maze, take a hayride, pick a pumpkin, buy goodies at the market or play in the children’s area at this Bellbrook farm.

Waynesville Fall Fest
Located off 73 in Waynesville, this fall festival is one of the newer options in the area. Spend just a few hours or all-day playing carnival games and mini golf, exploring the ghost town, visiting animals, going through the 5-acre corn maze and more.

Jackson Family Farm
This Middletown family opens up their farm to others in the fall for hayrides, a corn maze, pumpkin jump pad and other fun activities along with tasty apple and pumpkin treats.

Peifer Orchards
Located in Yellow Springs, the orchard offers apple U-pick hours on Saturdays and Sundays during October.

Monin Fruit Farm
Enjoy Amish baked goods and pick over 20 varieties of apples at this Dayton farm.

Hidden Valley Orchards
HVO in Lebanon offers various U-pick options throughout the year. There is a play area for kids along with animals to pet. They also have a market filled with fresh baked goods, jams and other canned/jarred foods and of course, apple cider.

Irons Fruit Farms
Located in Lebanon, you can find your way out of the corn maize, take a hayride to pick pumpkins or visit farm animals.

Brumbaugh Fruit Farm
Fresh fruit, delicious desserts, man-made mountain, fishing and more are available at this 45-acre farm in Arcanum.

Schappacher Farms
Take a hayride to pick your own pumpkin, ride the train, and visit the animals in Wilmington.

Tukens Orchard & Farm Market
Pick your own apples from more than 30 varieties in West Alexandria.

Blooms & Berries Farm
Hayrides, pumpkin bounce pad, corn maze, a petting zoo and more at this Loveland farm.

These are just a few of the fall activities available in the Dayton area. The Y is also hosting some fall fun, like the South Y’s Trunk or Treat on Oct. 22. You can find some additional suggestions on fall family fun in this Dayton YMCA blog post. If you want to travel beyond our general area, you can find an extensive list of festivals throughout Ohio here. And if you need an idea of what to make with the pumpkins you pick up, try this delicious bread.

Happy fall, y’all!