As summer fades into crisp autumn days, Shores & Islands Ohio comes alive with a vibrant lineup of festivals, celebrations, and seasonal fun. September and October are the perfect time to experience the region’s coastal charm paired with the warmth of fall traditions. From harvest festivals and Halloween thrills to live music, local markets, and waterfront gatherings, communities along Lake Erie and its islands invite you to enjoy the best of the season. Whether you’re seeking family-friendly activities, festive flavors, or a scenic getaway, there’s no shortage of ways to make fall unforgettable in Shores & Islands Ohio.
Milan Melon Festival
Aug 29-Sep 1, 2025
Milan
The annual fest rolls its way back into the Milan Square with the delicious melon and cantaloupe ice cream, fun rides, and unique vendors! Where else can you see things like the Melon Eating Contest and a two-hour grand parade? The Melon Festival provides that, plus bands, arts and crafts, antique car show, and more. Oh, and plenty of melons in all shapes, sizes, and forms!
Historic Weekend
Sep 5-7
Put-in-Bay
Commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie! This weekend offers activities, small arms and artillery demonstrations, historic encampment, performances, and a parade.
Annual Friends of Stone Lab Open House
Sep 6
Gibraltar Island
Stone Lab is The Ohio State University’s island campus and the oldest freshwater biological field station in the US.
Treasure Island Day
Sep 6
Kelleys Island
Treasure Island Day features sales hosted by the local community and businesses. You are bound to find some unique treasures.
Elmore's Farmers Market
Sep 9 and Oct 14, 2025
Elmore
Come support local artisans, enjoy live music, savor delicious foods, and try something new.
Cedar Point's HalloWeekends 2025!
Sep 11-Nov 1 (Thu-Sun)
Sandusky
It’s family fun by day and fright by night as HalloWeekends returns! With daytime family activities, plus nighttime haunted mazes, scare zones and entertainment, HalloWeekends will send chills down the spine.
Lake Erie Arms Freedom Fest
Sep 11-14, 2025
Milan
Join Lake Erie Arms for a four-day celebration of fun, community, and shooting sports! Whether you're looking for hands-on range activities, family-friendly entertainment, or evening socializing, this unforgettable event has something for everyone.
Honeys and Sunnies: A Harvest Celebration
Sep 13, 2025
Berlin Heights
You’re invited to venture into the picturesque orchards and fields of Quarry Hill to pick your own Honeycrisp apples and farm-grown sunflowers. Come for prime pick-your-own Honeycrisp apples by the 1/2 bushel, stay for a glass of Quarry Hill Winery wine or apple cider at their pop-up bar in the sunflower field. The fall festivities continue in their Market Barn, which is full of the season’s best, like apples, pumpkins, apple fritters, mums, sweet treats and more.
Second Annual Put-in-Bay Monarch Fest
Sep 13
Put-in-Bay
Monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles annually from their summer breeding grounds to their overwintering homes. The festival features activities, games, food and music. There will be butterfly races for the kids with wings! There will be nets available that families can use to assist with catching butterflies as part of a greater effort to increase Monarch migration tracking.
Wine, Art & Food Fair
Sep 13
Kelleys Island
Wander the island's wineries, grab a glass of wine and shop the beautiful artists tents that dot the properties.
Put-in-Bay Road Races Reunion
Sep 16-18
Put-in-Bay
Experience the thrill of vintage car racing at the airport, this event revives the island’s historic road races with vintage MGs, Porsches, Triumphs, and other classic sports cars. Embracing not only the vehicles but also the vintage style and fashion of racing’s golden era. Join racing enthusiasts and spectators for this free event.
Boaters Education Q&A
Sep 18
Sandusky
Boaters’ discussion with industry professionals. Panel will consist of people from a variety of areas related to the Marine Industry. Learn about the most frequently asked questions, common mistakes or misinformation, and where to find resources.
3rd Thursday Music, Flowers, and a Sunset
Sep 18
Vermilion
There is exciting free musical entertainment with bands scattered throughout downtown. Do some shopping, grab something to eat, or enjoy some ice cream and be a part of this fantastic event!
Strongman Champions League Competition
Sep 20
Sandusky
The Strongman Champions League is an elite global competition series featuring thrilling events hosted across the world. For the first time in SCL history, athletes will be competing in downtown Sandusky! This competition will be free to watch.
2025 Fall Festival: Applechella
Sep 21-Oct 26, 2025
Berlin Heights
This fall, Burnham Orchards is bringing festival vibes to the farm with Applechella—a six-weekend celebration of music, flavor, and orchard fun. Each weekend has its own unique theme, inspired by your favorite artists, playlists, and all the things we love about autumn. From acoustic mornings in the orchard to rockin’ apple cannon blasts, every corner of the farm will be alive with music, delicious eats, and interactive experiences for the whole family.
Rural Roots
Oct 4, 2025
Berlin Heights
Join in your boots – to celebrate Quarry Hill's roots – a first annual special event dedicated to experiencing the farm in a new old way. Rural Roots is their time capsule weekend with vendors, demonstrations, and activities curated to highlight their rural community and delights of the season including draft horse rides, historical society demonstrations, and Chuckwagon Chili! Boots, jeans and a hat are recommended to learn how to live off the land!
The 53rd Annual Woollybear Festival
Oct 5, 2025
Vermilion
A Fuzzy Forecast of Fun! Presented by the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce & FOX 8 Cleveland. Ohio’s quirkiest and most beloved one-day bash is BACK, and fuzzier than ever! Join for the 53rd Annual Woollybear Festival, where woollybear caterpillars take center stage as we celebrate the heart, humor, and legacy of Dick Goddard, the legendary Fox 8 meteorologist, animal advocate, and founder of this whimsical tradition. Highlights Include: Woollybear 500 Caterpillar Race, Animal Look-a-Like Costume Contest, Kids Costume Contest with the crowning of the 2025 Woollybear King & Queen, The Famous Woollybear Parade, Live Entertainment, FOX 8’s Official Winter Weather Prediction, Food & Craft vendors.
Oak Harbor Apple Festival
Oct 10-12, 2025
Oak Harbor
This family friendly festival features a grand parade, baking contest, cornhole tournament, candy apple cutie contest, car show, 5K/kids one mile fun run, beer garden, local entertainment, mechanical rides, over 125 vendors, and many other activities! Enjoy fresh apple butter, various apples, apple pies, apple dumplings, apple cookies, and more!
Apple Peak Harvest Gathering
Oct 11, 2025
Berlin Heights
Quarry Hill Orchards has teamed up with local and regional favorites to bring a full day of flavors, engaging activities, and unique keepsakes for all ages. Here’s what you can expect: Apple Picking, Wagon Rides, Pumpkin Palace and Haystack Tower, Food Trucks, Quarry Hill Wine, Vendor Market, Live Music, Face Painting, Fall Crafts and more!
9th Annual Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival
Oct 11
Marblehead
This peninsula-wide event includes fun for the whole family: tours of the Marblehead Lighthouse and the Wolcott Keeper’s House, live entertainment, children’s games and crafts, pumpkin-decorating contest, over 100 vendors, farmers’ market, hayrides, and more.
Family Halloween
Oct 11
Kelleys Island
Join for the kids Halloween Festivities and enjoy Story Time, Pumpkin Carving, Spooky Putt-Putt, Trick or Treat, and the Terror at the Town Hall!
Adult Halloween
Oct 18
Kelleys Island
Kelleys Island establishments welcome adult revelers costumed and un-costumed! Check out the bars and restaurants for special prizes, costume contests, and more!
Sandusky Witches' Walk 2025
Oct 18
Sandusky
Celebrating 14 magical years! Enjoy mystical tunes! Taste the potions available at cauldron stops. Show off your witchy finest in the costume contest and see who will win The Golden Broom! Frolic through magical local shops and the Enchanted Market!
Skelly Hunt
Oct 18
Put-in-Bay
Head over to the Bay and try to find as many skeletons as you can and win prizes.
Brew-Haha
Oct 25, 2025
Milan
The Milan Museum BREW-HAHA is back! Ticket sales and silent auction sales will help support community programming and projects and will help the museum continue to grow and thrive! Admission includes a souvenir keepsake glass, 4 tasting tickets and 1 pint ticket.
Pumpkin Palooza
Oct 26, 2025
Milan
Come and join the Milan Museum for pumpkin decorating, pumpkin-themed games, costume contest, and much more. All activities are free!
Spooky Stories Walk
Oct 30, 2025
Elmore
As part of the Outdoor Hiking Challenge, join a guided walk along the North Coast Inland Trail and enjoy spooky train stories and other local lore with staff of the Park District of Ottawa County.
Get details about these events and plan your late-summer and fall fun at SHORESandISLANDS.com.
