Fall is doing the heavy lifting this week in southern Ohio. The Circleville Pumpkin Show opens with a brand-new preview night, Halloween events stack up from Chillicothe to New Boston to Franklin Furnace, and Saturday is the busiest day of the season — wrestling, ghost stories, a Beach Boys tribute, a free Rocky Horror screening and a fall color tour in the Hocking Hills, all on the same day. Here is what is on, day by day.
Monday, October 19
Monday Night Community Bike Rides! — 5:30-7 p.m., Fifty West, 1 N. Paint St., Chillicothe. A free, hour-long group ride around town led from the brewery, with a drink token for first-time riders. https://www.facebook.com/events/1997814464414422/
Monday Extreme Encounter Night — Dinner 5:30-6:30 p.m., worship at 6:30 p.m., 22783 State Route 93, Wellston. A community dinner and worship night whose meal proceeds support free kids’, senior and pantry meal programs. https://www.facebook.com/events/967638873055899/
Tuesday, October 20
119th Circleville Pumpkin Show — Preview Night — Opens 5 p.m., downtown Circleville. The Greatest Free Show on Earth adds an official preview night this year: midway, rides and concessions open at 5 p.m., an opening ceremony at Pumpkin Show Park, and a first-ever Tuesday parade at 7 p.m. celebrating 250 years of agriculture. The full show then runs Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, with the giant pumpkin weigh-in Wednesday and parades every day. https://pickaway.com/tag/central-ohio-events/
The Original Farmers Market — 7 a.m.-1 p.m., 215 Market St., Portsmouth. Morning market with local produce, flowers and Amish jarred goods across from the Market Street Cafe. https://www.facebook.com/events/1026303699833973/
Trunk or Treat — 5:30 p.m., 100 E. 8th St., Chillicothe. Homeland Credit Union and U.S. Paper Mill Company host a free family trunk-or-treat with a DJ, costume contest and cash prizes for the best decorated trunks. https://www.facebook.com/events/1075360771998097/
Trivia Tuesdays at Oddfellows — 6 p.m., 526 2nd St., Portsmouth. Four rounds of trivia; round winners earn free bowling and the top team takes a $25 gift card. https://www.facebook.com/events/2477733642691825/
Ohio River / Portsmouth Line Dancing — 7-9 p.m., New Boston Eagles 2271, 3200 Rhodes Ave., New Boston. Guided line-dance lessons mixed with social dancing, open to the public; $5 for members, $10 for non-members at the door. https://www.facebook.com/events/1512508754224149/
Wednesday, October 21
Fall 2026 Chillicothe Line Dance Nights — 6:30-9 p.m., American Legion Post 757, Chillicothe. Beginner instruction first, then experienced-level dancing; $10 entry, walk-in space is limited. https://www.facebook.com/events/24339321255745304/
Keri Sagraves Closing Art Show — 6:30 p.m., Old Capitol Brewing, 79 N. Paint St., Chillicothe. A closing-night look at work by the southern Ohio painter and Shawnee State graduate whose pieces draw on Appalachian culture and storytelling. https://www.facebook.com/events/1397026246818476/
The Pumpkin Show’s main run also opens Wednesday in downtown Circleville (see Tuesday).
Thursday, October 22
Trot-Or-Treat 2026 — 6-8 p.m., 400 Bobcat Lane, Franklin Furnace. A free trick-or-treat night inside a barn, with local businesses handing out candy from decorated stalls. https://www.facebook.com/events/1541984591009948/
Music Bingo Thursdays at Fifty West — 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1 N. Paint St., Chillicothe. Bingo played with songs instead of numbers, with gift cards for winners. https://www.facebook.com/events/1048352814294414/
Very Scary Name That Tune — 6:30 p.m., Old Capitol Brewing, 79 N. Paint St., Chillicothe. A Halloween edition of the team music-trivia night; teams of six play for bragging rights and a brewery gift card. https://www.facebook.com/events/2185516188699360/
Karaoke at The Grove of Pike County — 9 p.m., The Grove, Pike County. A late-night karaoke session to close out Thursday. https://www.facebook.com/events/1168761871678696/
Friday, October 23
Kindal Adaire Live @ OCB — 7 p.m., Old Capitol Brewing, 79 N. Paint St., Chillicothe. Local live music over a pint to start the weekend. https://www.facebook.com/events/28467768722915002/
Friday is also Pet Parade day at the Pumpkin Show in Circleville, with the Lodges, Civic & Fraternal Organizations Parade at 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 24
W.O.W. On The Prowl — 8 a.m.-noon, Chillicothe Farmers Market, 475 Western Ave., Chillicothe. The Ross County Park District brings its wildlife-on-wheels trailer to the market; suitable for all ages. https://www.facebook.com/events/1982904222596757/
Hocking Fall Color Tour — 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 19275 State Route 374, Rockbridge. A day in Hocking State Forest with wagon rides, tree identification, forest and wildlife management demos, a wildland fire engine and a chainsaw-skills display. https://www.facebook.com/events/1634233808098394/
Coffee & Chat — 10 a.m.-noon, Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library, Main Library, Chillicothe. A drop-in Saturday-morning coffee and conversation hour at the Library Annex, open to all ages. https://www.facebook.com/events/1565974911114396/
Circle C Call of Duty Zombies 2026 — Noon to midnight, Circle C Gameshop (town not listed in the event post). A free-entry zombie-mode tournament for solo players and duos, with cash and store-coupon prizes for the longest survivors. https://www.facebook.com/events/1609769100479289/
WCPBTW Slam-O-Ween 2 — Fan fest 2-6 p.m., live show 7 p.m., 101 University Dr., Chillicothe. A Halloween pro-wrestling super show with a meet-and-greet fan fest and a card featuring Demolition, Enzo, Tatanka, Carlito and Chris Masters. https://www.facebook.com/events/1568472511326018/
New Boston Halloween Party — 5-8 p.m., New Boston Stadium, New Boston. A returning village tradition, free for families: trunk-or-treat, a haunted house, hay rides, face painting and a costume contest. https://www.facebook.com/events/1673055687277062/
Dinner & Comedy Show with the Midwest Comedy Tour — Dinner 6:30 p.m., show 7:30 p.m., Portsmouth Brewing Company, Portsmouth. A dinner-and-stand-up package with the Midwest Comedy Tour; adult content and language. https://www.facebook.com/events/2250628599063646/
Haunted Histories — 7-9 p.m., Ross County Heritage Center, 45 W. 5th St., Chillicothe. Appalachian ghost stories in a Victorian parlor, a recreated 1800s séance in the log house, oddities from the museum collection, crafts and refreshments. Admission is $20 for members and $30 for non-members, and reservations are required. https://www.facebook.com/events/1108556348233935/
Rocky Horror Picture Show — Doors 8 p.m., movie 9 p.m., Flohr Lecture Hall, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth. A free, licensed screening with a live shadowcast; costumes and audience participation are encouraged, and prop bags will be on sale. https://www.facebook.com/events/1703154484287937/
Pet Sounds Live — A Tribute to The Beach Boys — Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe (start time was not listed in the event post — check with the theatre). A live, studio-musician recreation of the Beach Boys’ landmark album, presented as a behind-the-glass multimedia experience. https://www.facebook.com/events/1972757430015021/
Saturday is also the Pumpkin Show’s grand finale day in downtown Circleville, closing with the Queens Parade at 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 25
PCMP’s CrunchLabs STEM Night — 1-4 p.m., Paper City Coffee, Chillicothe. Enrolled Paper City Mentorship Project teens and their mentors build and code robotic machines from Mark Rober HackPacks; this one is for PCMP participants only, with food provided. https://www.facebook.com/events/2508459679634977/
No other southern Ohio events were listed for Sunday in this week’s searches.
