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Fall is one of the most beautiful and pleasant times to be in the Midwest. I mean, what’s not to love about colorful foliage, crisp air, pumpkin ale, and apple picking? During fall in Cleveland, Ohio you’re guaranteed to find tons of fun seasonal activities to do.
As a longtime resident of the Cleveland suburbs, I’ve always gotten really into fall and love how many opportunities there are to enjoy this cozy season in northeast Ohio. Every year, I rejoice when jeans and sweatshirt weather returns and I can once again warm up with hot coffee at a local cafe.
If you think New England has everything that fall has to offer, think again. Northeast Ohio is full of parks with beautiful hiking trails for enjoying the changing leaves. Beer lovers will find endless breweries to explore all over the Cleveland area, many of which offer seasonal libations. Of course, Cleveland is also a huge football town, so the city is always full of energy when the Browns play.
To really dive into cozy season in Cleveland, this list provides all the best fall activities that the area has to offer. I’m sharing all the fall gems I’ve discovered in Northeast Ohio over time, many of which have become autumn traditions.
17 Best Fall Activities in Cleveland, Ohio
1. Go Apple and Pumpkin Picking
One great thing about downtown Cleveland is that it doesn’t take very long to get out of the city and into rural areas. This means fairly easy access to local farms that produce fresh pumpkins and apples each year.
There are countless local farms within 30 to 60 minutes of Cleveland, Ohio where you can find the best pumpkin and apple harvests of the season. Here are some of the top locations in the area for this classic fall bucket list activity:
- Miller Orchards (Vermilion, OH) – apple picking
- Hillcrest Orchards (Vermilion, OH) – apple picking
- Sage’s Apple Orchard (Chardon, OH) – apple picking
- Patterson Fruit Farm (Chesterland, OH) – apple picking and pumpkins
- Mapleside Farms (Brunswick, OH) – apple picking and pumpkins
- Pickering Hill Farms (Avon, OH) – pumpkin picking
- Rockin’-R-Ranch (Columbia Station, OH) – pumpkin picking
2. Wander Through a Corn Maze
What’s more fall than getting lost within the winding corridors of a corn maze? And no, adults, this is not just for kids! Here are two great hay maze options to check out this fall:
- Hillcrest Orchards: Get lost in the corners of this hay maze while learning about UFO sightings.
- Mapleside Farms: Adults will especially love attending Vino the Way, which offers a wine and beer tasting as you make your way through the maze.
3. Stroll Through Lakeview Cemetery
What’s spookier to do in the fall than wander through a cemetery? While you could do this basically anywhere, Lakeview Cemetery is especially worth your while. With striking monuments over graves where some of the most famous Clevelanders are buried, this iconic Cleveland landmark feels more like a park, having been inspired by the likes of Paris’s Pere Lachaise cemetery.
4. Visit Mitchell’s for Seasonal Ice Cream Flavors
Mitchell’s Homemade is hands-down my favorite place to get ice cream all year round. This local shop keep me coming back for its constant rotation of awesome seasonal flavors, with fall being no exception.
Once the autumnal equinox rolls around, head into Mitchell’s to find fall favorites including pumpkin spice, autumn caramel apple, and turtle brownie. I always like to get a single scoop in a cup of pumpkin spice with homemade whipped cream on top for ultimate pumpkin pie vibes.
5. Buy Fall Candles
You will find fall candles everywhere in the Cleveland area during fall. The most obvious place to look is at Bath and Body Works at Crocker Park, whose fragrances you can practically smell halfway down the block. The store’s fun seasonal displays always make it a fun atmosphere.
Alternatively, if you’d like to support a local business, you can find even more fun seasonal candles at Ohio Wick House in Olmsted Falls. If you step into this shop during fall, you will find the ultimate collection of spooky scents, many of which give witchy vibes. Per my conversation with the cashier, the owner gets more into Halloween than any other season.
As a person who’s made several return visits to the Witch City of Salem, Massachusetts, I was obsessed with this wicked selection and purchased four candles (for now).
6. Do a Fall Hike
You do not need to go far to find beautiful hiking trails near Cleveland, Ohio. In fact, about twenty miles south of the city is where you’ll find Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is stunning during the fall foliage season. Here are some must-do trails:
- Towpath Trail: This long flat path follows the original path of the Ohio and Erie Canal and is a favorite for joggers and bikers
- Ledges Trail: One of the most popular trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this 2-mile hike passes along giant rock ledges, which add excitement to this bumpy loop trail. The trail features a viewing point over the treetops that is especially pretty at sunset.
- Stanford House to Brandywine Falls: This 4-mile trail passes uphill through the woods to reach the elegant Brandywine Falls. If you prefer a shorter hike, it is possible to park closer to the falls and walk a shorter loop.
7. Take a Fall Stroll Through a Quaint Town Near Cleveland, Ohio
In fall, many of us nostalgic millennials like to chase Gilmore Girls vibes. By that, I mean adorable little towns that remind us of the close-knit New England village of Stars Hollow. While even Stars Hollow was just a film set and not a real place, we can still dream while wandering a charming Ohio town. Here are some of the more pleasant small Ohio towns that I’ve stumbled upon:
- Oberlin, Ohio: Delivers those scholastic, studious college campus vibes. We’ve always loved stopping in for a burger and tater tots at The Feve.
- Vermilion, Ohio: Gives old timey charm right on the shores of Lake Erie. The Wine Vault has always been one of my favorite restaurants for a casual, yet high quality meal.
- Olmsted Falls, Ohio: Will make you feel like you’ve left Ohio all together and landed in a tiny Vermont town. Take a photo at the Charles A. Harding Memorial Covered Bridge before enjoying a quaint cup of coffee and scone at Clementine’s.
8. Drink Pumpkin Ale
Many local brewery in Cleveland release an original version of pumpkin ale once cozy season rolls around. I mean, these days you can find pumpkin ale as early as August at local bars throughout the area. Here are the best local pumpkin ales to try in Cleveland, Ohio during the fall:
- Masthead: Haunted Hay Ride
- Fat Head’s: Spooky Tooth
- Butcher and the Brewer: Gourdy
- Saucy Brew Works: Boo Thang
9. Visit a Winery
There’s no denying that a glass of a bold red wine tastes better as the temperatures cool down. Why not venture out to a winery and get in on the harvest season action?
You can find wineries both east and west of Cleveland. The wineries in Madison, Ohio, including the likes of Hundley Cellars and Grand River Cellars, are known for white wines and lighter bodied red wines.
That said, my favorite hidden gem winery is Vermilion Vineyards in Vermilion, Ohio. This winery is tucked down a country road and nestled in between surrounding woods and farmland. While this winery is popular with locals, it tends to generally fly under the radar. I love spending afternoons on their patio overlooking a lovely pond on the property. While small snacks like hummus and veggies are always available, sometimes there is also a food truck.
To attend a giant wine tasting without traveling far from downtown Cleveland, consider going to Rozi’s Wine House in Lakewood for their annual Wine & Beer Tasting Extravaganza where you can taste over 85 different wines!
10. Attend a Brown’s Game
What feels more fall here in America than football season? While all sports are big in Cleveland, OH, no team brings downtown to life quite like the Browns do. To really get in on the action, tailgate before heading over to Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Muni Lot is best for noisy madness, while the Burke Lakefront Airport parking lot delivers a still loud, yet slightly tamer experience.
11. Do a Cleveland Dark History Walking Tour
Seasonally, Tours of Cleveland LLC offers a creepy twist on their typical downtown Cleveland walking tours. The Tales of Terror tour runs from October through the end of the month, taking you through some of the darkest REAL stories of Cleveland’s past, including a serial killer and tragic accidents.
12. Warm Up in a Local Coffee Shop
As the weather cools down, warm coffee drinks begin to sound increasingly enticing. While it’s totally acceptable to indulge in a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte or two, why not visit some new coffee shops in your local area?
I have to admit, the Cleveland area has absolutely exploded with trendy cafes over the past few years and I haven’t been able to keep up. That said, I do have my favorites that I’ll share here for you to check out:
- The Root Cafe (Lakewood, OH)
- Caffeine (Lakewood, OH) – try a croissant
- Good Kind Coffee (Lakewood, OH) – yummy cinnamon rolls
- The Judith – the closest feel to a traditional French cafe you’ll experience in Cleveland
- Phoenix Coffee Co – (downtown Cleveland)
- Rising Star Coffee Roasters (Cleveland and Lakewood locations)
13. Visit a Local Yarn Shop
Fall brings thoughts of cozy sweaters and knit hats as the evenings get chillier. If you feel the urge to try your hand at knitting (a scarf is the best place to start), seize the opportunity to support a local yarn shop. You might even find yarn spun or dyed right here in Ohio. As a fellow knitter, here are my favorite yarn shops:
- River Colors Studio – Lakewood
- Cast On Yarn Studio – Vermilion
- Peg’s Knit-N-Spin – Olmsted Falls
14. Conquer the 7 Floors of Hell
Although I’ve heard the 7 Floors of Hell haunted house advertised annually on the radio for what seems like forever, I have never visited. I don’t really do horror.
However, if being scared thrills you, then put this old Halloween standby on your list. Located at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Middleburg Heights, the 7 Floors of Hell has been a Halloween favorite of local thrill seekers for many years now. As the name suggests, there are seven themed haunted houses with elaborate sets and actors portraying the likes of an abandoned circus or a forgotten insane asylum. You can purchase your tickets here.
15. Run a Fall 5K in Cleveland, Ohio
When the crisp air of fall sets in, it’s time to get outside and run/walk a fall 5K. There are many fun options for fall races to run all over the Cleveland area. Here are a few of the most popular, which span from 5K’s to half marathons:
- River Run Half Marathon
- Cleveland Turkey Trot (5 mile, 5k, 1 mile walk)
- Towpath Marathon (Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K)
- Rock Hall Half Marathon (Half Marathon, 10K, 5K)
16. Attend a Fall Festival in Cleveland, Ohio
Enjoy the best of sweater weather in the Cleveland area at these popular local events:
- Spooky Pooch Parade (Lakewood) – don’t miss this puppy procession where you can see the cutest lineup of costumed canines ever.
- Cleveland Oktoberfest (Middleburg Heights) – see why this festival was recently named the best Oktoberfest celebration in America by USA Today.
- Johnny Appleseed Festival (Mapleside Farms in Brunswick) – visit the Pumpkin Village, ride in a hot air balloon, and maybe even participate in a donut eating contest (Joey Chestnut made an appearance in 2023!)
Check out this article for a number of other Northeast Ohio fall festivals in 2023!
Bonus: Go to HalloWeekends at Cedar Point
One of America’s best amusement parks, Cedar Point, is located just an hour’s drive from Cleveland, Ohio. Although the park’s hours do shorten as fall begins, they also kick off one of the best events of the year: HalloWeekends.
During the day, the park’s kid friendly atmosphere offers rides, a hay maze, corn maze, candy stations. and a magical house to explore. The evenings bring a more ghostly atmosphere, where visitors can ride Cedar Point’s best roller coasters while also navigating haunted mazes and wandering down foggy, spook-ridden paths.
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As you can see, there is no shortage of cozy things to do during fall in Cleveland, Ohio. This slate of activities will keep you busy from the lingering warm afternoons of late September to the shorter days and chilly nights of October. Whether you are headed to a park to watch the leaves change or into a bar to sip pumpkin ale, you’ll be immersed in autumnal bliss.
