What to do in Athens County this fall (Updated)

ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio –– The leaves are turning, easing southeast Ohio into a new season. Communities throughout Athens County –– and in the surrounding areas –– have fall events planned. This guide is your go-to resource to stay informed, so check back because we’ll update it as events come in. Reach out to info@athensindependent.com if you have something to add!

Festivals and parties

Wednesday, Oct. 1

• 5–8 p.m.: Spooky Party; disability-friendly party with costume contest, refreshments, raffle and more. Supports Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living. For questions or accommodations, contact 740-6689-1494 x205. Valley View Hills Winery, 29176 Klump Rd., Sugar Grove.

Saturday, Oct. 11

• 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.: Amesville Homecoming Festival; breakfast, pie contest, “anything legal” sale. Amesville.
• 10 a.m. through Oct. 12, 4 p.m.: Appalachian Color in the Hills Festival; car show and kids day activities. 20 High Street, Glouster.
• 10 a.m. through Oct. 12, 3 p.m.: Fall Fungi Festival; kids free, adult pricing options vary. A two-day, one-night celebration of all things mushrooms featuring inoculation and more. Tenderfoot Learning Lab, 9365 Five Points Rd., Athens.
• 11 a.m.: Oktoberfish 2025; live traditional German folk tunes starting 3 p.m., “stump game,” and stein hoist competition at 6 p.m. Little Fish Brewing Company, 8675 Armitage Road, Athens.
• 11 a.m.– 5 p.m.: Octoberfest 2025; sponsored by the Coolville Volunteer Fire Department. Car show, live music, and more. 2770 6th St., Coolville.
• Noon–8 p.m.: Stewart Living Traditions Southeast Ohio; demonstrations, music, quilting, food, papermaking, and more. Federal Valley Resource Center, 8225 SR 329, Stewart.

Friday, Oct. 17

• 10 a.m. through Oct. 19, 3 a.m.: Skatopia’s Backwoods Blowout ft. Mike V and The Rats; annual festival of “creation and destruction” at the most apocalyptic skatepark in the world. Skatopia/CIA, 34961 Hutton Road, Rutland.

Saturday, Oct. 18

• 11 a.m.–6 p.m.: Albany Fall Festival; live music, Stitch, Superman and Cinderella, pumpkin painting and more. Washington Street, Albany. 

Friday, Oct. 24

• 8–11 p.m.: Hard Rockin’ Rap (Costume Jam Party!); live music and dance party, $5. Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W. Union St., Athens.

Saturday, Oct. 25

• 1–4 p.m.: Athens Family Friendly Halloween Block Party; music, games, candy, kids bouldering wall, musical petting zoo, Athens Fire Department safety trailer, and more. Court Street between Union and Washington St.
• 5 p.m.: Honey for the Heart Parade, annual Passion Works event; stop by 4–4:30 p.m. to grab a costume and/or puppet, and get in line on Fern Street to party down Court Street! Passion Works, 29 E. Carpenter St., Athens.
• 6 p.m.: Frights & Flights Record Spinning Night with DJ Reuben Sauce; Halloween-themed tracks, along with 60’s/70’s/80’s rock. Free and open to all ages. Little Fish Brewing Company, 8675 Armitage Road, Athens.
• Athens Block Party; 50th anniversary of free event with live music. Court Street, Athens.

Monday, Oct. 27

• 4 p.m.: Q Café Halloween Celebration; a casual gathering for LGBTQ+ people to socialize, The Plains Public Library, 14 S. Plains Road, Athens. 

Friday, Oct. 31

• 7 p.m.–midnight.: Doug’s Vault Halloween Costume Party; costume winners announced at 9 p.m. Doug’s Carry Out and Grocery, 29539 SR 143, Albany.

Sunday, Nov. 2

• 5–7 p.m.: Autumn Harvest Festival; games, food, desserts. Richland Global Methodist Church, 60 Pomeroy Road, Athens.

Trick or Treat

We will continue to update this list as dates are announced.

• Albany: 6–7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30
• Athens: 5:30–7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
• Chauncey: 5:30–7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1
• Coolville: 5–7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
• Glouster: 6–7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30
• Jacksonville: 6–7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30
• Nelsonville: 6:30–7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31

Trunk or Treat

Wednesday, Oct. 22

• 6–7:30 p.m.: Kimes Nursing & Rehab Center, 75 Kimes Lane, Athens

Thursday, Oct. 23

• 6–7:30 p.m.: Athens County Fairgrounds, West Union Street, Athens

Wednesday, Oct. 22

• 5:30–7 p.m.: Doug’s 6th Annual Trunk or Treat; Doug’s Carry Out and Grocery, 29539 SR 143, Albany.

Thursday, Oct. 30

• 6–7 p.m.: Albany Baptist Church, 5331 State St., Albany.

Friday, Oct. 31

• 5:30–7:30 p.m.: The Market on State, 1002 E. State St., Athens

Spooky fun

Saturday, Oct. 4

• 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Last Company Owned Town; Red Row Holler bike tour of Hopperville and Haydenville sponsored by the Wayne National Forest and organized by Appalachian Understories. Bike rentals and adaptable bikes available. Register here. Nelsonville Public Library, 95 W. Washington St., Nelsonville.
• 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: Kindred Fall Flea Market; unique crafts, vintage clothes, upcycled goods. Vendor registration here. Kindred Market, 284 E. State St., Athens.
• 7:30–10 p.m.: Haunted Halls; $5/person. Fundraiser for Federal Hocking football. Not recommended for children under 10. Federal Valley Resource Center, 8225 SR 329, Stewart.
• 8 p.m.: Ghouls Gone Wild; $15/ages 18–20; $12 for 21+. Annual performance by Goddess Collective Burlesque. Adults only. The Union, 18 W. Union St., Athens. 

Thursday, Oct. 16

• 2–3 p.m.: Spooky Storytime for Adults; two classic scary stories by Southern weird fiction writer, Manly Wade Wellman. Coolville Public Library, 26401 Main St., Coolville.

Friday, Oct. 17

• Weekends through Nov. 2: Athens Scream Park. Ages under 17 must come with an adult; adult ID required. Parking available for $2. Buy tickets here. Bigfoot Hollow Paintball Park, 11950 Black Road, Glouster.

Friday, Oct. 24

• 9 p.m.: Creature Feature Halloween Drag Show; starring Kazma and The Side Pieces and special guest performers. Show starts at 10 p.m. 18+, $10/person. The Side Bar, 24 1/2 E. State St., Athens.
• 7–9 p.m.: Witches Ball at Serenity Roots; $12.51/person. Featuring $20 tarot, broom crafting and more. Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Road, Athens.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

• 6–8 p.m.: Community Bonfire and Costume Contest; enjoy hot dogs, smores, apple cider, music, games, and costume contest. Costume categories available through link. Chauncey Public Library, 29 Converse St., Chauncey. 
• 6:30–7:30 p.m.: Día de los Muertos and the Cempasúchil; explore “The Day of the Dead” and its sacred flower, the marigold, with guest speaker Gabriela Castañeda-Gleason, assistant professor of instruction in Linguistics at Ohio University and a native mexicana. Athens Public Library, 30 Home St., Athens.

Thursday, Oct. 30

• 4–5 p.m.: Dollhouse of Horrors; wear a costume to spook-i-fy dolls. All materials provided. Nelsonville Public Library, 95 W. Washington St., Nelsonville.

Friday, Oct. 31

• 5–7 p.m.: Outdoor Walking Tour of the Historic Athens Asylum. Athens Asylum, 100 Ridges Circle, Athens.

Sunday, Nov. 2

• 5:30–8:30: Witch Walk; family-friendly “spooky art trail” featuring glowing upcycled installations and community-made magic along the Ora Anderson Trail. The Dairy Barn, 7990 Dairy Lane, Athens.

Benefits and fundraisers

Saturday, Oct. 4

• 9 a.m.–1 p.m.: National Alliance on Mental Illness 3K Walk and 5K Run. Register here. Athens Photo Project, 17 Blue Line Dr., Athens.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

• 8 p.m.–midnight: Blackout presents The Halloween Cover-Up; $10 advance/$13 at the door/+3 for under 21. Athens Community Arts and Music Festival fundraiser featuring five local bands playing cover sets of their favorite artists from the 1970s. The Union, 18 W. Union St., Athens. 

Wellness

Sunday, Oct. 5

• 6–8 p.m.: October Hunter Super Full Moon Sound Journey; $25. Reiki, aromatherapy and more under a full moon. Cannabis Museum, 16050 Canaanville Road, Athens.

Sunday, Oct. 12

• 1–7 p.m.: 2nd Annual Retreat to Wellness; $129.89/person. Reiki, QiGong, Wakan Drums, Q’ero healing lecture, and more. Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Road, Athens.

Getting crafty

Tuesday, Oct. 7

• 4–5 p.m.: Teen/Kid Tuesdays – Halloween Suncatchers; youth use translucent materials to make spooky designs glow in the sunlight. Coolville Public Library, 26401 Main St., Coolville.
• 6–8 p.m.: Crochet a Pumpkin Class; $30 covers materials and includes a drink. Email nancyandnadineclasses@gmail.com to register. Big Run Kava Bar, 72 N. Court St., Athens.

Friday, Oct. 10

• 7 p.m.: Spooky Power Point Contest; register in-person by Oct. 8. Big Run Kava Bar, 72 N. Court St., Athens.

Monday, Oct. 13

• 7 p.m.: Paint and Sip Night: Swinging Ghost; guided painting session with Alyssa Lee Artworks. Email athens@bigrunkavabar.com to reserve tickets. $30/person, limited to eight participants. Adults only. Big Run Kava Bar, 72 N. Court St., Athens.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

• 4–5 p.m.: Teen/Kid Tuesdays – Spooky Dirt Cake; for youth to build an edible graveyard. Coolville Public Library, 26401 Main St., Coolville.

Saturday, Oct. 18

• 1–2:30 p.m.: After-Hours Pumpkin Painting for All Ages. Wells (Albany) Public Library, 5200 Washington Road, Albany.