19 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (Oct. 2-4)

FRIDAY OCT. 2

Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week
Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week returns Sept. 28-Oct. 4, offering a variety of specially crafted three-course dinners (and sometimes lunches) at your favorite local restaurants. Pricing runs the gamut from $16 for a lunch trio to $46 for a multi-course dinner and each restaurant has its own policy about whether or not the GCRW specials are dine-in only or can be picked-up for carry-out as well. Plus: $1 from each $26, $36 or $46 3-course meal will benefit Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Through Oct. 4. $26-$46. Check out a full list of menus and details at greatercincinnatirestaurantweek.com.
Photo: Subito

FRIDAY OCT. 2

Blumpkin Release and Horror Art Show
That's right, y'all: Blumpkin season is back. For all you folks who spent a little too much time on Urban Dictionary growing up, get your mind out of the damn gutter: We're talking about the seasonal black pumpkin ale from Bellevue's Darkness Brewing! The brewery is welcoming back their fall brew with a Blumpkin Release and Horror Art Show on Oct. 2, coinciding with Bellevue's monthly First Friday celebration that takes place along Fairfield Avenue. Darkness Brewing's party will feature live music, live art and plenty of beer, including their Blumpkin release, plus variants and barrel-aged brews. The brewery invites guests to don their Halloween duds and celebrate the season with them — in a socially distanced fashion. For more information, visit their Facebook event page. For what the hell a blumpkin is, you'll have to look that up yourself — or maybe just live in ignorant bliss. 5-10 p.m. Oct. 2. Darkness Brewing, 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, darknessbrewing.beer.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

FRIDAY OCT. 2

Dent Schoolhouse
The Dent Schoolhouse's homicidal Charlie the Janitor is turning into Mr. Clean this Halloween season. The West Side haunted house welcomes guests to visit their "scary, safe, and fun experience," which continues with general admission tickets and special nights like lights-on for kids, lights-off for extra thrill seekers, and construction and ghost tours. Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $20-$25. Guests have the option to purchase an additional $20 "fast pass" or a $30 "front of the line" ticket. Through Nov. 13. Dent Schoolhouse, 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com.
Photo: Olive Collins Niesz

SATURDAY OCT. 3

Gorman Heritage Farm Sunflower "Fest"
Evendale's Gorman Heritage Farm is making some changes to its annual Sunflower Festival this year in light of COVID. The 23rd-annual fest itself has been canceled, but they are still offering visitors the opportunity to visit their sunflower field Oct. 3, 4, 10 and 11. Advance $5 tickets are required (children under 3 and members are free, but registration is still necessary); there will be no tickets for sale at the door. In addition to opportunities to explore the sunflower field and snap some photos, entry includes access to the farm and the ability to cut your own sunflowers, buy some pumpkins, walk through corn and sunflower "mazes" and visit the farm animals. Staggered timed admission from 10 a.m.-noon, 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. each day, except for on Saturday, Oct. 10, which only has one admission time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $5. Gorman Heritage Farm, 10052 Reading Road, Evendale, gormanfarm.org.
Photo: Provided by Gorman Heritage Farm

SATURDAY OCT. 3

BAKED Pop-Up at Northside's Dojo Gelato
The neighborhood Italian-style creamery is hosting a pop-up bakery on Saturday, Oct. 3, offering scratch-made biscuit sandwiches and pastries by Doug Faulkner. Visitors can expect biscuit sammies made with ham, cheddar and apple raisin compote; goetta and house grape jam; and fig and Parmigiano. Additionally, their pastry offering will include fruit kolache; "Little Chubbie" kolache with sausage and cheddar; sweet and savory scones; and buttermilk biscuits with Carriage House wildflower honey butter. The baked goods will be available until sold out, in addition to the shop's full menu of gelato and espresso drinks. 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 3. Dojo Gelato, 1735 Blue Rock St., Northside, facebook.com/dojogelato.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

SATURDAY OCT. 3

Cincinnati Pops Digital Season Opener
While you can't be at Music Hall in person, you can watch the Cincinnati Pops launch their symphonic season online. The digital opener will stream the Pops live from Music Hall to your computer, phone and on a big screen at Fountain Square. According to a description, "John Morris Russell conducts Jazz 'classics' from early ragtime to a new reduced orchestration Rhapsody in Blue with Aaron Diehl as soloist and a celebration of Charlie Parker’s 100th birthday with saxophonist Sharel Cassity and vocalist Adia Dobbins." 8 p.m. Oct. 3. Free. Online at cincinnatisymphony.org.
Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Pops

SATURDAY OCT. 3

Kings Island’s Tricks and Treats Fall Fest
Tricks and Treats Fall Fest at Kings Island is promising to be your one-stop-shop for all the fall fun (instead of their annual Halloween Haunt event). It offers plenty of treats to fill your bellies and spirits, like spooky-themed snacks and activities for kids including tractor rides and corn mazes. So get dressed up, decorate your own pumpkin and go trick-or-treating. Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. $30 for admission and six tastings. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com.
Photo: Facebook.com/VisitKingsIsland

SATURDAY OCT. 3

Graeter’s Pumpkin Pie Ale Tapping at Braxton Brewing Co.
Braxton Brewing Co, and Graeter's have once again teamed up for a sweet seasonal beer release: Grater's Pumpkin Pie Ale. The beer, inspired by the scoop shop's Pumpkin Pie ice cream flavor, is brewed with fresh pumpkins, lactose and pumpkin pie spices. The brewery says, "Notes of golden brown pie crust are created by brown sugar and a combination of malts, making this beer an ode to a timeless harvest staple and your favorite flavors of fall." The brewery will be celebrating the limited seasonal release with a Pumpkin Pie Ale tapping at the Covington taproom at noon on Oct. 3. They'll also be dishing out various flavors of Graeter's ice cream. Braxton Brewing Co., 27 W. Seventh St., Covington, braxtonbrewing.com.
Photo: Provided by Braxton Brewing Co.

SATURDAY OCT. 3

All Hallows Eve Terror Town
The former grounds of the Old West Fest have been transformed into a Dodge City ghost town — literally. Well, almost literally. A prop fabrication and haunted attraction team has transformed the space into an immersive 19th-century Terror Town with shops, vendors, restaurants, bars and an outdoor movie theater screening classic horror films. There are also theater performances, games and a 30-minute haunted trail based on Wild West folklore. Due to COVID-19 the park will have social distancing guidelines help ensure safety such as requiring a mask. Through Nov. 14th. $25 general admission. 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg, allhallowsevellc.com.
Photo: facebook.com/AllHallowsEveAttraction

SATURDAY OCT. 3

Art, Climb, VOTE at the Cincinnati Art Museum's Art Climb
The Cincinnati Art Museum is transforming its nine-story outdoor staircase the Art Climb into a voting activity hub on Saturday, Oct. 3. ArtWorks' Hear Me Out (a youth-driven voting empowerment initiative) will be stationed at the bottom of the Art Climb at Gilbert Avenue and Eden Park Drive to help anyone and everyone complete their voting registration. (There will also be a second voter registration hub in the CAM's front lobby during museum hours through Sunday, Oct. 4.) In addition to civic duties, visitors can also paint a VOTE sign; enjoy free moon cakes from the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association in honor of the Moon Festival/Mid-Autumn Festival; and grab some tamales from The Welcome Project. You'll also be able to snag a free yard sign from PSA (Public Service Artists) and coloring pages from Art On The Streets. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 3. Free. Art Climb, Gilbert Avenue and Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams/Eden Park, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

SATURDAY OCT. 3

A Splendid Century: Cincinnati Art 1820-1920 at the Taft Museum of Art
A Splendid Century: Cincinnati Art 1820-1920 opens in the Taft's Fifth Third Gallery Oct. 3 and features "Cincinnati art and artists spanning the first 100 years of the house’s existence including rarely seen works from local private collections and museums from around the region," says the Taft. Artists include Hiram Powers, Robert S. Duncanson, Elizabeth Nourse, Frank Duveneck, Henry Farny, Dixie Selden and work from Rookwood Pottery. Through Jan. 24, 2021. $12 adults; $10 seniors; free for members and free for all on Sundays. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.
Photo: Excerpt of Lilly Martin Spencer, Self-Portrait, about 1840, oil on canvas, 30 1/4 x 25 1/2 in. On loan from the Ohio History Connection, Columbus, Ohio

SUNDAY OCT. 4

Visit Ajani Joe the Baby Black Rhino at the Cincinnati Zoo
The Cincinnati Zoo's new baby black rhino boy has officially been named. Say "hello" to Ajani Joe, a thoughtful name that combines zoo supporter Martha Wolf's dad's name and an African word that means "he who wins the struggle." Ajani Joe is "spunky and curious" and has spent plenty of time exploring his new space and offering occasional appearances to zoo visitors. Stop by for a visit and you just might catch a glimpse of the zoo's cute new addition. Advance tickets/reservations are still required. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
Photo: Mark Dumont

SUNDAY OCT. 4

Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at Paul Brown Stadium
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has adjusted the state's sports order to allow a limited number of fans into Paul Brown Stadium during two Bengals homes games this season: against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 4 and against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 25. According to a statement from the governor, up to 6,000 spectators will be allowed at the two home games, with "no more than 1,500 spectators in each side of the stadium." The Bengals have also released their own COVID safety protocols to keep people safe during the game, including mandatory masks and no tailgating. 1 p.m. Oct. 4. Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown, bengals.com.
Photo: Craig Weiglen