27 Fall Festivals Near Dayton, Ohio, to Enjoy in 2026
Fall festival season has arrived in the Dayton, Ohio, area!
As summer gives way to cooler temperatures and colorful leaves, communities throughout the Miami Valley come alive with festivals celebrating food, music, art, history and local traditions.
From the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival and Yellow Springs Porchfest to the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival and Fairborn Halloween Festival, there is something happening nearly every weekend in September and October.
These events offer more than an enjoyable day out. They showcase the individual character of the cities, villages and neighborhoods that make the Miami Valley such an appealing place to live. If you recently moved to the area, are relocating to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base or are considering purchasing a home in Greater Dayton, attending a local festival is a great way to experience a community firsthand.
Here are 27 of our favorite fall festivals near Dayton, Ohio, for 2026.
*Festival dates, hours and activities may change. Check the event organizer’s website or social media page before traveling.*
September 2026 Festivals Near Dayton
1. AlterFest in Kettering
September 4–6, 2026
Archbishop Alter High School, Kettering
Labor Day weekend begins with AlterFest, a longstanding Kettering tradition featuring carnival rides, games, food, entertainment and activities for all ages.
Kettering is one of the largest suburban communities in Montgomery County. It is known for its established neighborhoods, mature trees, parks, recreation programs and convenient access to downtown Dayton, I-675 and many of the area’s major employers.
People exploring homes for sale in Kettering, Ohio, will find everything from charming mid-century homes and traditional subdivisions to condominiums and larger custom homes.
2. Ohio Renaissance Festival Near Waynesville
Weekends and Labor Day, September 5–November 1, 2026
10542 East State Route 73, Waynesville, OH
Step back in time as a 30-acre permanent village comes alive with costumed performers, jousting, music, food, demonstrations, games, and themed weekends. This festival was recently recognized as the best Renaissance Festival in the country!
The Ohio Renaissance Festival is one of the region’s most distinctive seasonal attractions. The 2026 season runs weekends and Labor Day from September 5 through November 1.
Nearby Waynesville is frequently called the “Antiques Capital of the Midwest.” Its historic downtown features antique shops, locally owned businesses, and restaurants surrounded by the scenic countryside of Warren County.
Those considering Waynesville, Ohio, real estate will find historic houses, newer neighborhoods, rural homes and properties with acreage.
3. CedarFest in Cedarville
September 5–7, 2026
Cedarville, OH
CedarFest fills Labor Day weekend with community activities, entertainment, food and longtime local traditions. Events are held at locations throughout the village, culminating in Monday’s CedarFest parade.
Cedarville offers a welcoming small-town atmosphere in eastern Greene County. Cedarville University is an important part of the community, and the village is surrounded by farmland and beautiful rural scenery.
Buyers searching for homes for sale in Cedarville, Ohio, may find traditional village homes, building lots, rural residences and properties with additional acreage. Cedarville also provides convenient access to Xenia, Springfield and the surrounding Greene County communities.
4. Italian Fall Festa in Kettering
September 11–13, 2026
Bella Villa Hall, 2625 County Line Road, Kettering, OH
Celebrate Italian heritage with a weekend of homemade food, Italian music, bocce and family activities.
Presented by the John Pirelli Lodge of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the Italian Fall Festa traditionally offers favorites such as pasta, calzones, Italian beef, meatball sandwiches, pizza, cannoli and other homemade dishes.
Admission, parking and shuttle service are free. The event’s shaded grounds and community atmosphere have helped make it a favorite September tradition in the Dayton area.
5. Dayton Greek Festival
September 11–13, 2026
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park North, Dayton
The Dayton Greek Festival brings the food, music, dancing and cultural traditions of Greece to the historic Grafton Hill neighborhood.
Visitors can enjoy Greek dishes and pastries, including gyros, moussaka and baklava, while learning more about Greek culture. Tours of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church offer an opportunity to see one of the city’s beautiful religious landmarks.
Admission is $5 and is good for the entire weekend. Admission is free until 3 p.m. Friday and free throughout the weekend for children 12 and under, active-duty military members and veterans.
Grafton Hill is one of Dayton’s distinctive historic neighborhoods, offering beautiful architecture and convenient access to downtown, the Great Miami River and the Dayton Art Institute. Buyers interested in historic homes in Dayton, often appreciate the craftsmanship and character found in this part of the city.
6. Lantern Fest at Cox Arboretum
September 11, 2026
Cox Arboretum MetroPark, Dayton
Lantern Fest offers an evening experience in the beautiful natural surroundings of Cox Arboretum MetroPark.
Cox Arboretum is one of the Miami Valley’s most recognizable outdoor destinations, featuring gardens, ponds, wooded trails and the Tree Tower. Its location near the Dayton Mall places it close to Miami Township, West Carrollton, Miamisburg and Washington Township.
The surrounding area provides a wide variety of housing choices including homes in West Carrollton and Miamisburg. Buyers researching homes near Cox Arboretum can explore established neighborhoods, condominiums, newer communities and properties with quick access to I-75 and I-675.
7. Springboro Oktoberfest
September 11–12, 2026
Springboro United Church of Christ, 5 West Mill Street, Springboro
Springboro Oktoberfest celebrates the community’s German heritage with food, beverages, live entertainment and festival activities. Proceeds from the event help support charitable organizations and community causes.
Springboro sits between Dayton and Cincinnati and is known for its historic downtown, beautiful residential neighborhoods like Settlers Walk, parks and access to both I-75 and State Route 741.
The community offers a broad selection of housing, including historic residences, condominiums, traditional subdivisions and newer luxury homes. This variety continues to attract people searching to Springboro, Ohio. Click here to learn morn about Springboro.
8. Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest
September 11–12, 2026
Vandalia Sports Complex
German food, music, dancing, beer, arts and crafts take center stage at the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest.
The event celebrates Vandalia’s relationship with its sister city of Lichtenfels, Germany. Festival favorites include brats, schnitzel, cabbage rolls, German potato salad, sauerkraut and pretzels.
Vandalia is located near the intersection of I-70 and I-75, making it one of the most conveniently situated communities in the Dayton region. The city offers established neighborhoods, parks and proximity to Dayton International Airport.
People moving to the northern Miami Valley may want to explore homes for sale in Vandalia, Ohio, as well as nearby Butler Township, Englewood and Tipp City.
9. Beavercreek Popcorn Festival
September 12–13, 2026
Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek
Few local events are more closely associated with their community than the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival.
Held along Dayton-Xenia Road, the festival includes hundreds of vendors, live entertainment, a car show, children’s activities and popcorn prepared in more ways than most people could imagine.
Beavercreek is one of Greene County’s largest communities and is conveniently located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Wright State University, The Mall at Fairfield Commons and I-675.
Its housing ranges from established neighborhoods and condominiums to new construction, luxury homes and properties with acreage. These options make Beavercreek, Ohio, real estate especially popular with military households, local professionals and people relocating to the Dayton area.
10. Dayton Hispanic Heritage Festival
September 19, 2026
RiverScape MetroPark, downtown Dayton
The Dayton Hispanic Heritage Festival brings music, dancing, food, cultural exhibits and community celebration to RiverScape MetroPark.
Hosted by PACO—the Puerto Rican, American and Caribbean Organization—the free festival recognizes the diversity and traditions of Hispanic and Latino cultures. The 2026 event is scheduled from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.
RiverScape is located along the Great Miami River in downtown Dayton. Visitors can easily explore nearby restaurants, entertainment venues, bike trails, performing arts destinations and professional sports.
Those interested in living in Downtown Dayton can find lofts, apartments, condominiums and historic neighborhoods offering an urban lifestyle close to many of the city’s leading attractions.
11. Yellow Springs Porchfest
September 19, 2026
Throughout Yellow Springs
During Yellow Springs Porchfest, porches throughout the village become stages for musicians representing a wide variety of styles.
This free, community-driven event allows visitors to walk from performance to performance while exploring local shops, restaurants and residential streets.
Yellow Springs is one of the Miami Valley’s most distinctive communities. It is known for its independent businesses, arts community, outdoor recreation and proximity to Glen Helen Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park.
Housing in the village is often in high demand. Buyers searching for homes for sale in Yellow Springs, Ohio, will encounter historic homes, architecturally interesting residences, wooded properties and rural acreage surrounding the village.
12. Lucas Brothers Fall Festival in Bellbrook
September 25–October 25, 2026
Lucas Brothers Farms at Candlebrook Farms, 3269 Ferry Road, Bellbrook
The Lucas Brothers Fall Festival offers five weekends of seasonal fun in a country setting.
The festival is open Friday evenings and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors can expect fall activities, food and live music on Friday nights.
The farm is located near Bellbrook and Sugarcreek Township, an area appreciated for its rolling countryside, wooded properties and access to Bellbrook, Centerville and Beavercreek.
Buyers exploring Bellbrook homes for sale or Sugarcreek Township real estate will find established neighborhoods, newer developments, luxury homes, equestrian properties and houses on larger wooded lots.
13. Dayton Art Institute Oktoberfest
September 25–27, 2026
Dayton Art Institute
Established in 1971, Oktoberfest at the Dayton Art Institute is southwestern Ohio’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebration and the museum’s largest annual fundraiser.
The weekend features live music, food, family activities, a Weingarten, more than 50 craft and international beers, and a curated marketplace of artists and artisans.
The museum overlooks downtown Dayton from its prominent location near Grafton Hill. Oktoberfest offers visitors an excellent reason to explore Dayton’s riverfront, restaurants, cultural institutions and historic neighborhoods.
The city’s combination of arts, recreation, employment opportunities and comparatively attainable housing continues to generate interest in Dayton, Ohio, homes for sale.
14. Country Applefest in Lebanon
September 26–27, 2026
Warren County Fairgrounds, Lebanon
Country Applefest brings more than 300 craft and food vendors to the Warren County Fairgrounds. Apple treats, handcrafted merchandise and live entertainment make it a popular destination for an early fall weekend.
Lebanon is the county seat of Warren County and is known for its historic downtown, locally owned businesses and the Golden Lamb, one of Ohio’s best-known historic inns.
People searching for Warren County homes for sale, can choose from historic residences, established neighborhoods, newer developments and rural properties outside the city.
15. Tipp City Mum Festival
September 26–27, 2026
Downtown Tipp City and City Park
The Tipp City Mum Festival is a full weekend celebrating community pride, local businesses and the arrival of fall.
Events traditionally include the Mum Festival parade, entertainment, crafts, food, children’s activities, a car show and the Run for the Mums. Festival activities extend from Tipp City’s historic downtown to City Park.
Tipp City is located along I-75 north of Dayton and offers a walkable downtown, distinctive older homes, growing residential areas and convenient access to Troy, Vandalia and Dayton International Airport.
These qualities make Tipp City, Ohio, real estate worth considering for buyers moving to northern Montgomery or Miami County.
16. Germantown Pretzel Festival
September 26–27, 2026
Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Germantown
Established in 1980, the Germantown Pretzel Festival has become one of southwestern Montgomery County’s favorite community traditions.
Festival visitors can enjoy pretzels, additional food vendors, arts and crafts, live entertainment and activities for children. Admission is free.
Germantown was settled by German-speaking families in 1804, and its historic downtown remains an important part of the community’s identity. Residents also enjoy access to the Twin Creek trail and the wooded trails and natural areas of Germantown MetroPark.
People researching Germantown, Ohio, real estate will find historic houses, traditional neighborhoods, rural homes and properties with acreage.
17. Windmill Farm Market Spooktacular Fall Festival
Weekends, September 26–October 31, 2026
Windmill Farm Market, 11871 North Hamilton-Lebanon Road, Springboro
The Spooktacular Fall Festival provides several weekends of seasonal fun at Windmill Farm Market. When our kids were young we would take them to this festival every year for a hayride and pumpkins!
Its location east of Springboro places it near Clearcreek Township and the rural areas between Springboro, Waynesville and Lebanon. This part of Warren County is known for a blend of residential neighborhoods, farmland and country properties.
Buyers who want additional space while remaining within commuting distance of Dayton and Cincinnati frequently explore Clearcreek Township homes for sale and properties in the Springboro area.
October 2026 Festivals Near Dayton
18. Heritage of Flight Festival in New Carlisle
October 2–4, 2026
Downtown New Carlisle
New Carlisle celebrates the Dayton region’s aviation heritage with a three-day festival in its downtown business district.
The event begins Friday with a large classic cruise-in. Weekend activities include carnival rides, food, live entertainment, vendors, the Parade of Planes and Saturday night fireworks.
New Carlisle is located northeast of Dayton and west of Springfield. The community provides a small-town setting with access to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Springfield and communities throughout western Clark County.
Those considering a move to the area can explore homes for sale in New Carlisle, Ohio, as well as nearby Bethel Township and Park Layne.
19. Centerville Fall Fest
October 3, 2026
Stubbs Park, Centerville
Centerville Fall Fest returns to Stubbs Park with free seasonal activities, vendors, food trucks and live entertainment.
The 2026 festival is scheduled from noon until 8 p.m. Activities include an expanded children’s area, carnival games, inflatables, a corn pit, petting zoo, crafts and thousands of free pumpkins while supplies last. Live music continues into the evening at the Stubbs Park Amphitheater.
Centerville is known for its historic downtown, Washington Township neighborhoods, parks, restaurants and convenient access to I-675.
Housing choices range from historic homes near downtown to condominiums, established subdivisions and luxury properties. Buyers frequently search for both Centerville homes for sale and Washington Township real estate when considering this part of southern Montgomery County.
20. Spring Valley Potato Festival
October 3–4, 2026
Spring Valley Walton Park
The Spring Valley Potato Festival celebrates its agricultural roots with two days of food, vendors, entertainment and community activities.
Spring Valley is a small Greene County village surrounded by farmland, equestrian properties and scenic countryside. It is located near the Little Miami Scenic Trail and provides convenient access to Xenia, Bellbrook, Waynesville and southern Greene County.
Those looking for Spring Valley, Ohio, homes for sale may discover village residences, country homes, hobby farms and equestrian properties near Dayton.
21. Lebanon Oktoberfest
October 9–10, 2026
Downtown Lebanon
Lebanon brings German-inspired food, music and fall celebration to its historic downtown during the annual Lebanon Oktoberfest.
Festivalgoers can combine the event with a visit to downtown shops, restaurants and notable historic destinations. Lebanon’s location between Dayton and Cincinnati gives residents access to the employment, entertainment and amenities of both metropolitan areas.
The surrounding area offers traditional neighborhoods, new construction, luxury communities, country homes and acreage, creating a broad selection of Lebanon, Ohio, homes for sale.
22. Enon Apple Butter Festival
October 10–11, 2026
Downtown Enon
The Enon Apple Butter Festival celebrates its 46th year in 2026. The event is organized by the Enon Community Historical Society and is often described as the community’s hometown reunion.
Enon is located east of Dayton near Fairborn, Springfield and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The village offers a small-town atmosphere with convenient routes to employment centers in both Clark and Greene counties. This little town is a hidden gem of affordable homes near Wright Patterson AFB.
Homebuyers interested in this portion of the Miami Valley can explore homes for sale in Enon, Ohio, as well as nearby Greenon, Mad River Township and western Clark County.
23. Ohio Sauerkraut Festival in Waynesville
October 10–11, 2026
Downtown Waynesville
Downtown Waynesville welcomes visitors for one of Ohio’s largest and best-known fall festivals.
The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival features hundreds of artisans and an impressive variety of foods, including traditional sauerkraut dishes and several surprisingly creative variations. Admission is free.
The festival provides an opportunity to explore Waynesville’s historic downtown and local shops. Outside the village, the surrounding countryside includes farms, wooded properties and homes with acreage.
Those who enjoy small-town living and outdoor space may want to investigate Waynesville homes for sale.
24. Vandalia Fall Festival
October 10, 2026
Vandalia Recreation Center
The Vandalia Fall Festival offers an afternoon of seasonal activities, local vendors, food and live music.
Scheduled activities include a pumpkin patch, corn pit, inflatables, games, crafts and food trucks. It gives residents another opportunity to gather after the city’s September Oktoberfest.
Vandalia’s access to I-70, I-75, Dayton International Airport and northern Montgomery County employment centers makes it a practical location for people who travel throughout the region.
25. Bradford Pumpkin Show
October 13–17, 2026
Downtown Bradford
The Bradford Pumpkin Show offers five days of parades, rides, displays, entertainment, contests and community traditions.
Bradford is a small village located northwest of Dayton near the Miami and Darke County line. Its location provides a rural, small-town setting with access to Troy, Piqua and Greenville.
Buyers looking beyond the immediate Dayton suburbs may find more space and a relaxed pace among homes for sale in Bradford, Ohio, and rural properties throughout western Miami County.
26. Fairborn Halloween Festival
October 16–18, 2026
Downtown Fairborn
Downtown Fairborn embraces Halloween with three days of costumes, entertainment, food, vendors and seasonal activities. The festival traditionally includes the Spooktacular Parade, a costume contest, live music, a beer garden and trick-or-treating at vendor booths.
Fairborn is located beside Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University, making it an important destination for military households and people relocating for work or education.
The city offers established neighborhoods, condominiums, investment properties and newer residential communities. Our experience with Fairborn, Ohio, real estate and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base relocation allows us to help buyers compare Fairborn with Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Xenia and other nearby communities.
27. Chocolate Festival in Xenia
October 17, 2026
Greene County Expo Center, Xenia
The Chocolate Festival may be the sweetest way to conclude the fall festival season. Held at the Greene County Expo Center, the free event features chocolate treats, vendors and live entertainment. Free parking is also available.
Xenia is the county seat of Greene County and is known as a hub of the regional paved-trail network. Its central location provides access to Beavercreek, Yellow Springs, Cedarville, Bellbrook and communities throughout the county.
Buyers searching for **homes for sale in Xenia, Ohio**, can find historic residences, established neighborhoods, new construction, rural homes and properties with acreage.
Fall Is a Wonderful Time to Explore the Miami Valley
A community’s personality is not found only in its houses, streets or buildings. It can also be found in its traditions, local businesses, volunteers and the events that bring people together.
That is what makes fall festival season such a wonderful time to explore Greater Dayton. You can experience the energy of downtown Dayton, the historic charm of Lebanon and Waynesville, the creativity of Yellow Springs, the country atmosphere of Spring Valley and Germantown, and the strong community traditions of Beavercreek, Fairborn, Centerville, Kettering and many other Miami Valley communities.
If you are considering buying or selling a home in the Dayton area, Don and Cyndi Shurts of Miami Valley Dream Homes would be honored to help.
We have been helping people buy and sell homes throughout Greater Dayton since 2004. Whether you are moving across town, relocating to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, searching for a home with acreage or preparing to sell a longtime family home, we provide experienced local guidance from your first conversation through closing.
Explore Dayton-area homes for sale, learn more about living in the Miami Valley, or contact Don and Cyndi Shurts to begin planning your next move.