At A Grade Ahead, we provide superior academic enrichment for our students. Time spent in our classrooms is vital to academic growth. While classroom time is important, time spent outside the classroom can also be a great learning opportunity. A Grade Ahead knows that learning happens everywhere. Our headquarters in Central Ohio is surrounded by endless opportunities for educational field trips. Join us for this article as we explore fun fall field trips in the Buckeye state!
Living in Central Ohio means experiencing all four seasons to their fullest. We have cold winters, hot summers, fresh springs, and crisp autumns. While I love each season in its own way, my personal favorite is fall. The vibrantly warm colors that come with the refreshingly cool temperatures are always a welcome part of my year. I also love embracing my inner child and celebrating Halloween with the whole family. Autumn in Central Ohio is full of fun ways to enjoy the season. From pumpkin patches and Halloween events, to apple orchards and haunted houses, fall in Ohio cannot be beat!
Pumpkin Patches
One of my favorite ways to enjoy the season is a trip to the pumpkin patch. With ample farming space and fertile soil, Ohio is a prominent pumpkin-producing state. In Central Ohio alone we have more than a dozen patches to choose from. A trip to the pumpkin patch is an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning that’s fun for all ages. Children can learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin as it grows from seed, to sprout, to flower, to gourd. Kids love taking hayrides to the fields where they can pick their own pumpkins for carving or baking. The fun and learning don’t have to end at the farm! Families can bring the learning home by tackling a pumpkin pie recipe or carving a jack-o’-lantern for front porch décor.
Another great place to enjoy pumpkins in Ohio is the Circleville Pumpkin Show, America’s largest pumpkin festival. The 2025 show runs Wednesday, October 15 to Saturday, October 18. Visitors can enjoy rides, contests, parades, food, and 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash, and gourds. From agricultural science, to baking, to art, a trip to the pumpkin patch or festival is the perfect educational outing.
A Grade Ahead can send learning straight to your home! Our enrichment academies and Enrichment at Home program offers blended learning for grades 2 through 8 in English and math. Check out our blended-learning program here for more information, or get started right away!
Fall Foliage Drives and Hikes
New England is often recognized as having the most impressive fall foliage in the United States. Ohio, while less well known, is also a great place to enjoy the changing colors of the season. With Lake Erie to the north, rolling forested hills in the south, and ample countryside all over, Ohio has it all. The Buckeye state offers a vast array of deciduous landscapes full of yellow, orange, and red autumn hues. Whether you prefer country drives, woodsy hikes, or both, these ephemeral colors await your gaze. Click here for a list of Ohio Fall Driving Tours. If you want to explore on foot, check out these previous A Grade Ahead articles about Central Ohio Metro Parks and Hocking Hills.
Haunted Houses
If you’re into the spooky side of the season, you’ll love the variety of haunted houses that Central Ohio has to offer. Whether you’re looking for some kid-friendly spookiness or full-on frights at the scariest level, Columbus has you covered. Boo at the Zoo is the perfect event for the whole family, ages 0-99. Running weekends from October 10th to October 26th, guests are encouraged to come in costume and ready to collect candy.
From pumpkin carving to trick or treat, visitors can enjoy Halloween fun at Adventure Cove and Conservation Lake. If you’re looking for next-level thrills and chills, Columbus has several haunted houses for those seeking serious scares. Even the Statehouse offers spooky historical tours for ages twelve and up. What a fun way to get older kids excited about local history! Check out this list from 10TV news of 10 haunted attractions in Central Ohio to visit this fall.
At A Grade Ahead, we will encourage a passion for history in your child! Check out our history themed summer camp and consider us for all your summer camp needs.
Halloween Theme Parks
Another great way to enjoy the season is by visiting one of Ohio’s favorite amusement parks. The Buckey state has two great parks: Cedar Point to the north and Kings Island to the south. Located on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point is a peninsula packed with fun for all ages. In the southeast corner of the state, Ohioans flock to Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Every fall, Cedar Point hosts Halloweekends while Kings Island hosts Halloween Haunt and Tricks and Treats. These events allow guests to choose between family-friendly fall fun by day or spine-tingling terrors by night. If you have young members in your group, be sure to avoid scare zones after dark as these areas are designed for ages 13 and up.
Don’t live in Central Ohio? Don’t worry! You don’t have to miss out on all that A Grade Ahead has to offer! Call or visit an academy near you to get a free curriculum sample, take a free assessment, or sign up for a free trial class today!
At A Grade Ahead, we love having so many fun ways to enjoy fall in Ohio! What is your favorite way to enjoy autumn where you live? Let us know in the comments below!
Author: Amanda Hutson, Curriculum Assistant at A Grade Ahead
