Photo of orange pumpkins on brown grass on a sunny day.
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A guide to fall fun in Portage County

Maria McGinnis, Natalie Wolford and Wendy DiAlesandro··9 min read

The apples are ripe for the picking and the pumpkins are prepped for carving here in Portage County. From orchards to Halloween events and corn mazes, this is your go-to guide for all things fall. 

General fall and Halloween activities and events

  • Paws and Pals in the Park
    • Who: Friends of Streetsboro Parks
    • When: Sunday, Oct. 24, noon to 4 p.m.
    • Where: Streetsboro City Park, 8970 Kirby Lane, Streetsboro, OH 44241
    • Admission: Free
    • What: It’s a Halloween party for kids, dogs and everyone in between. There will be a demonstration by Streetsboro’s K9 unit, various themed activities like pumpkin painting and a pet costume contest, vendors for dog related business like Rose’s Rescue, food trucks, raffles and live music by Southern Cross. There will also be an opportunity for Halloween photos for kids, pets and family members for $25. For those interested in painting a pumpkin at the event, sign up to reserve a spot here. All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting Streetsboro’s parks and enhancing amenities. 
  • Rootstown Haunted Trail and Trunk or Treat
    • Who: Rootstown Haunted Trail
    • When: Trail is open now, trunk-or-treat is Oct. 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Where: Trail map here.
    • Admission: Free
    • What: The Rootstown Haunted Trail is a drive-thru experience following a route of houses decorated for Halloween. Along with the trail, the Rootstown Haunted Trail, Rootstown Chamber of Commerce and Rootstown Lions Club will host a trunk-or-treat on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rootstown Community Park. The rain or shine event will feature fun for all ages including costume contests, special guest appearance by Ms. Wheelchair USA and the Ms. Wheelchair USA ambassadors, as well as Fill a Truck donations for the Ravenna Center of Hope and The Dane Foundation.
  • Halloween Drive-Thru
    • Who: Ohio State Highway Patrol Ravenna Post
    • When: Thursday, Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
    • Where: Maplewood Career Center
    • Admission: Free
    • What: The Ohio State Highway Patrol Ravenna post will be hosting its third annual Halloween Drive-Thru event. Participants will remain in their vehicle the entire time and stop at the stations throughout the event route. Admission is free, but they will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items to benefit the Randolph-Suffield-Atwater Food Shelf.
  • Family Friendly Halloween
    • Who: Main Street Kent
    • When: Friday, Oct. 29, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Where: Throughout Downtown Kent. Home base for the event will be at the Hometown Bank Plaza
    • Admission: Free
    • What: At the advice of the city health commissioner, this year’s family friendly Halloween will just be an outdoor trick-or-treating event. Local businesses and organizations will be setting up stations outside throughout downtown so kids can get dressed up and collect their treats. It’s also a great opportunity to support some of the local businesses in Kent while trekking from station to station. DORA drinks will also be available for adults.
  • Don’t Get Spooked
    • Who: The Portage County Master Gardeners
    • When: Thursday, Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    • Where: Portage Soil and Water Conservation District, 6970 state Route 88, Ravenna, OH 44266
    • Admission: Free
    • What: Learn all about the bats, spiders and other spooky critters that play important ecological roles. The family-friendly event will showcase why bats, spiders and other insects need our protection and how to provide a safe habitat for them. Not so spooky after all. Registration is required.
  • Trunk-or-Treat
    • Who: Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities
    • When: Friday, Oct. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    • Where: Happy Day School, 2500 Brady Lake Road, Ravenna, OH 44266
    • Admission: Free
    • What: More than 20 vehicles will hand out treats, tote bags and information about local resources for developmentally disabled trunk-or-treaters and caregivers. Donations of hygiene products will be accepted for Miller Community House.
       
  • Drive-Thru Trunk-or-Treat
    • Who: Aurora Parks & Recreation and Aurora Chamber of Commerce
    • When: Saturday, Oct. 30, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Where: Hartman Park and Athletic Fields, 305 Townline Rd., Aurora, OH, 44202
    • Admission: Free
    • What: This is a rain or shine event. Attendees will drive through the Trunk-or-Treat and receive candy from the various vendors. There will be one entry and exit to ensure proper flow of traffic. Attendees must remain in their vehicles at all times. Family friendly costumes are encouraged. No buses, only cars, SUVs and trucks.
  • Trunk-or-Treat
    • Who: Portage Community Chapel
    • When: Sunday, Oct. 31, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Where: Portage Community Chapel, 6490 State Route 14, Ravenna, OH 44266
    • Admission: Free
    • What: Those wishing to pass out candy can register here by Oct. 24 to decorate their car for the event. Those registered to pass out candy should arrive by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event to prepare. Trick-or-treat  attendees can come to enjoy coffee, cider, treats and, weather permitting, a bonfire. 
  • Trunk-or-Treat
    • Who: Ravenna First Church of God
    • When: Oct. 30, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Where: Ravenna First Church of God, 237 New Milford Rd, Ravenna, OH 44266
    • Admission: Free
    • What: Fun and goodies at a classic trunk-or-treat event
  • Halloween Moonlight Movie Night
    • Who: City of Tallmadge
    • When: Saturday, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m.
    • Where: Tallmadge High School parking lot
    • Admission: Free
    • What: Come dressed up to participate in the Halloween costume parade at 6:30 p.m. Make sure you have your movie snacks for the showing of The Addam’s Family (PG) at 7 p.m. Sound will be provided via FM radio, similar to the Drive-in.
  • Hiram Village Fire Department Halloween Event
    • Who: Hiram Village Fire Department
    • When: Saturday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Where: Hiram Christian Church
    • Admission: Free
    • What: This year the Hiram Village Fire Department will be holding a drive-thru trick-or-treat even instead of the usual Halloween party. Police and fire department personnel will distribute candy to all attendees, whether they show up in cars or on foot.
  • Harvest Bazaar
    • Who: St. Peter of the Fields Catholic Church
    • When: Saturday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Where: St. Peter of the Fields Catholic Church
    • Admission: Free, but lunch is $7
    • What: This year’s annual Harvest Bazaar will feature a raffle, door prizes, a bake sale and 25 tables of vendors. There will also be a surprise visit from Santa with something special for each child at the event. The event is free and open to the public, but lunch (soup, a sandwich, cookie, chips and a drink) will be available to purchase for $7.
  • Walls Elementary School Trunk-or-Treat
    • Who: Let’s Grow Together Coalition
    • When: Thursday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Where: Walls Elementary School
    • Admission: Free
    • What: The Kent-based Let’s Grow Together Coalition works to produce healthier communities by uniting educators, civic leaders and community members in motivating and engaging activities for children to promote healthier lifestyles and greater sustainability. The Coalition will be hosting a Trunk-or-Treat to raise awareness for the Coalition and engage the community. Costumes are welcome and admission is free, but there will be a donation jar available at the event for those who wish to donate to the Coalition.
  • Rufener Hilltop Farms Fall Festival
    • Who: Rufener Hilltop Farms
    • When: Now until Oct. 31, weekdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., weekends, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Where: 1022 State Route 43, Mogadore, OH
    • Admission: Prices vary by package
    • What: The festival at Rufener Hilltop Farms offers a day full of fun activities for the whole family. There’s an eight acre corn maze and a junior corn maze, hayrides, train rides, a pumpkin cannon, an 80’ slide, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and more fall activities. Prices vary depending on the activity package, so check their website for details. Ticket sales end each day at 5:30 p.m.
  • Beckwith Orchards
    • Who: Beckwith Orchards
    • When: Everyday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Where: 1617 Lake Rockwell Rd., Kent, OH, 44240
    • Admission: Free
    • What: For those looking for a break from pumpkins, Beckwith Orchards is the place to go. While they do offer fall staples like pumpkins and gourds, apples are the main focus. Beckwith offers an extensive list of apple varieties, which can be found on their website. There’s also a gift shop, bakery and various activities like walking through the orchard or the nearby Portage Hike and Bike Trail and Towner’s Woods. There’s no corn maze this year, as they planted soybeans instead of corn this season, but they hope to bring the maze back next fall. 
  • Dussel Farm Pumpkin Festival
    • Who: Dussel Farm Feed Store
    • When: October hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Where: 1109 Old Forge Rd, Kent, OH 44240
    • Admission: Free
    • What: Dussel Farm offers pumpkins, gourds, mums, straw bales, corn stalks, Indian corn and anything else you may need to complete your fall decor. There are also various photo ops, a corn maze and less challenging tent maze for kids, a scary bus, face painting and a craft barn. There’s also hot and cold apple cider, kettle corn, caramel apples and other treats. 
  • Derthick’s Corn Maze
    • Who: Derthick’s Corn Maze
    • When: Now until Oct. 31, Friday 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Where: 5182 State Route 82, Mantua, OH 44255
    • Admission: Prices vary, see their website for details.
    • What: Derthick’s Corn Maze offers loads of fall fun for the family late into the evening. Derthick’s features four unique corn mazes, archery, air cannons, playground equipment, human foosball, 300’ ziplines and more. On Oct. 23, 24 and 31 there will be horse drawn wagon rides for $5 per person, weather permitting. Also on Oct. 31, it will be Dog Day at the maze. It will cost $5 per dog and proceeds will be donated to the Portage County APL. For information on pricing and rules for the maze, visit their website. To keep up with weather closures and other important updates, follow Derthick’s on Facebook.
  • Monroe’s Orchard
    • Who: Monroe’s Orchard and Farm Market
    • When: Hours vary and are updated frequently on the orchard’s Facebook page and website.
    • Where: 6313 Pioneer Trail, Hiram, OH 44234
    • Admission: Pumpkins are 45 cents per pound. Apple prices vary. Check online for more details.
    • What: Pumpkin, apples, fresh cider and local produce. Pick your own fall treats, or pick them up from the wagons outside the orchard’s market.
  • Boo with the Red, White & Blue
    • Who: Portage County Sheriff’s Office 
    • When: Saturday, Oct. 23, Sunday, Oct. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    • Where: Palmyra Park, Rootstown High School, Maplewood Career Center
    • Admission: Free
    • What: The Portage County Sheriff’s Office is hosting four nights of free trunk-or-treating in Rootstown, Mantua, Palmyra and Ravenna. Mantua’s event already passed, but check here for information on the other three events. Spaces are available for business, community organizations and schools that wish to pass out candy. To sign up for a spot, fill out this form. 
  • Fairhaven Church Trunk-or-Treat
    • Who: Fairhaven Church
    • When: Sunday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Where: Noah’s Ark Childcare and Preschool, 4524 Lynn Rd., Rootstown, OH 44312
    • Admission: Free
    • What: Fairhaven Church will be hosting an early trunk-or-treat prior to Rootstown’s community trick-or-treat, which starts at 3 p.m. All are welcome to show up in costume and grab some early candy before hitting the neighborhoods. 
  • Johnny Scott’s Second Annual Halloween Horror Fest
    • Who: Johnny Scott Comics & Games
    • When: Now until Saturday, Oct. 30
    • Where: Johnny Scott Comics & Games, 1703 E. Main St., Kent, OH 44240
    • Admission: Free
    • What: Every day until Oct. 30, Johnny Scott Comics & Games will show classic horror movies in the store to celebrate Halloween. The horror fest kicked off on Oct. 1 with 1931’s “Dracula,” starring Bela Lugosi, and will continue on until Oct. 30 with a marathon of John Carpenter’s “Halloween” movies.

Trick-or-Treat

Maria McGinnis
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Maria McGinnis is a contributing writer for The Portager.

Natalie Wolford
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Natalie Wolford is managing editor at The Portager. A native of Randolph, she studied film in New York City and is producing a feature-length documentary about her aunt, a small-town journalist.

Wendy DiAlesandro
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Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.

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