It’s almost Fall, y’all! Athens might be known among Ohio college culture as the destination for Halloween, but that’s not nearly all we’ve got going on. And of course, there’s more to Autumn than the ubiquitous Starbucks PSL. As harvest season turns to spooky season and the days get shorter, the whole community comes together to savor these last warm, sunny days, and appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Appalachian foothills as the trees turn all hues of red and yellow before finally “falling” asleep for Winter. Nice pun, right?
Anyway – now that Ohio Brew Week has passed and we’ve got the Union Street Arts Festival under our belts, let’s look at what we have to look forward to this Fall –
Stroud’s Run in September
Fun at Stroud’s doesn’t stop with Summer. Honestly, we love Stroud’s all year-round, but September and October are great times for relaxing and kayaking on the lake while admiring the changing colors of the hills. It’s easy to rent a boat at Stroud’s, or even a paddleboard. Fall hiking at this awesome local park is also nice as the days cool and the breezes change. It’s also a great opportunity to cook out at the lakeside shelters when it’s not 95 degrees outside.
Nelsonville Music Fest
You can’t talk about Fall in Athens without talking about Nelsonville Music Fest. The first weekend in September, people come from all over the tristate area to experience the air of the Hocking Hills region and the culture of diverse, alternative music. You can commute each day from your uptown Athens apartment, or you can camp out at the festival. Whatever you choose, Nelsonville Music Fest is a musical experience unique to Southeast Ohio.
The Annual Ohio PawPaw Festival
So named for this little-known/only native Ohio fruit, the Annual Ohio PawPaw Festival is a mix of celebrating the PawPaw as well as local artisan culture. Regional musicians, artists, flint knappers, local breweries selling beer brewed with the eponymous fruit, food trucks galore – this second weekend in September is something the whole town looks forward to. Bonus points if you try on the famous PawPaw mascot costume.
Best Places to View the Turning Leaves
We’re going to get nerdy for, like, two seconds. This side of the Appalachians is cool because, since we’re in the foothills, the soils change as the geology underneath it does. That means different flora, which means completely different, equally beautiful, Fall scenery everywhere. Just within a short drive of Athens, you can experience all the different ways that Autumn presents itself in Southeast Ohio:
Burr Oak Lake at Burr Oak State Park
Moonville Tunnel in Vinton County
Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County
Stroud’s Run Lake at Stroud’s Run State Park
Radar Hill at The Ridges
Bong Hill in Athens (Not that we’re suggesting anything; that’s just what it’s called.)
Haunted Ohio: The Ridges
Visiting a famous defunct Kirkbride psychiatric hospital in the Fall… is there anything more appropriate? While we love The Ridges all year round, we love it even more during spooky season. And while it no longer houses the mentally ill or women who annoyed their husbands too much, that’s not to say the complex isn’t still bustling with activity.
Unfortunately, they don’t let people in to see the famous cement stain or sit in the barred-window bedrooms still scrawled with schizophrenic thoughts of long-term patients anymore. But they do still do outdoor walking tours all through September and October. It’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone – get your haunted-stuff fix and view the beautiful turning trees of Athens in Autumn.
Color in the Hills Festival
Designed so that adults and kids of all ages can engage with Appalachian culture, the Color in the Hills Festival is a great way to kick off the cooler seasons. Held the first weekend in October, there’s everything from family arts and crafts, to local animal encounters, Appalachian music, and a car show.
HallOUween: The Athens Ohio Halloween Block Party
Okay, so we’ve finally gotten to HallOUween. A dedicated post on this extreme Fall Fest to come, HallOUween brings literally thousands of college students from across the state each year. Straight up – crowds have been as big as 30,000 people in the past. And you’ve never seen a costume party like this one. Founded in 1974, The Athens Ohio Halloween Block Party, colloquially known fondly as HallOUween, completely takes over Court Street (and all the cell phone service) each and every Halloween weekend. Well, except 2020 and 2021, because COVID.
Getting to Know the Essence of Athens
Fall is the perfect time to get introduced to your new home. Many leases for Athens rental housing tend to coincide with the start of Fall Semester, and school takes a bit of time to ramp up. Between move-in and midterms, you’ve got time for a few small adventures; and there are plenty to find right in our backyard.