Family events in Hillsboro, OH

This mini meet takes place inside the 2026 Pumpkin Run Nationals and marks the event’s 50th anniversary. Eligible vehicles include Falcons, Comets from 1960 to 1965, Rancheros from 1960 to 1966, and Econolines from 1961 to 1967. Registration with the show is required, and details are available on the event website.

Pop Up Play offers a burst of creativity with games, adventures, and craft projects. Each week brings fresh activities in collaboration with local partners such as Skool Aid, Indigo Hippo, Black Art Speaks, Girls Can Hoop, Abrakadoodle, Pones, Dino Buddies, and the Cincinnati Public Library. The lineup rotates and some sessions may be announced closer to the day, so experiences can vary from week to week. Sponsored by Urban Sites, the Hubert Family Foundation, and P&G.

Head out on a guided trail walk with your dog to enjoy the outdoors and learn about nature together. Dogs must stay on a leash, and owners should clean up after their pets. Meet at the Nature Center. A $3 vehicle pass is required for visitors who are not registered campers.

Presented by Medpace, this event returns for a third year at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Walk a half-mile route lined with more than 6,000 hand-carved pumpkins and autumn displays, creating the biggest experience of its kind in the Tri-state. Glowing jack o’lanterns, striking scenes, and special effects fill the pathways for a seasonal outing suitable for all ages. The Reptile House and Night Hunters will also be open during the event. This is a separate ticketed experience and is not included with Zoo membership or regular admission.

Families can enjoy open swim time at Goldfish Swim School Anderson in a comfortably warm 90-degree setting, with showers, private changing areas, hair dryers, and water extraction stations available. Pricing is $10 per swimmer, capped at $30 per family. For children who are not yet potty trained, a reusable swim diaper is required. To verify availability before you go, call 513-719-6800 or email swimanderson@goldfishss.com.

Discover adoptable dogs at Petco - 5 Mile in Cincinnati. Meet a welcoming mix of pups at different life stages, from energetic youngsters to mellow seniors, all looking for a home. You can review available pets in advance and submit an application ahead of time or complete one on site. If adopting is not possible right now, volunteers will be available to share ways to get involved.

Lightwire Theater returns to The Murphy Theatre with a luminous retelling of a timeless fable in The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare The Next Gen. The story begins with the classic race where slow and steady triumphs, then continues as Tortoise Junior and Lil’ Hare embark on a new kind of competition that leads them into unfamiliar territory. Old Man Tortoise and Big Daddy Hare set aside their differences to find and save their children, facing challenges on the way to the finish line. Electroluminescent costumes and carefully crafted choreography bring the characters to life for audiences of all ages. After the performance, the cast offers a behind the scenes look at the everyday items and technology that power the glowing effects. Every ticket includes Hot Dog Dinner Theatre, featuring a hot dog, chips or popcorn, and a non-alcoholic drink served before the show, creating a family friendly evening of food and entertainment.

Local and regional jazz artists perform every Monday at the Sherwin-Williams Porch, adding to Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene. Attendees can enjoy a favorite drink while a rotating roster brings a range of sounds and ensembles. Artists featured across the run include Sophia Troyer, Love of Country Jazz Quintet Plays Cowboy Bossa Nova, Brent Gallaher Quintet, Mambo Combo, Estrada do Sol, Faux Frenchmen, Ricky Nye, Pamela Mallory Quartet, Little Saudade, Mandy Gaines and Brad Meyers, Jim Connerley Quartet, Camille Saba Smith, Bacchanal Steel Band, Marc Fields, Keigo Hirakawa Trio, Lili Shires and Steve Schmidt, Hank Stephens and Erwin Stuckey, Five Little Bears, Phil DeGreg Trio, Retro Nouveau featuring Jack Garrett, Noisepolice, Al West Jr, Jordan Pollard Trio, Queen City Cabaret, Daniel Bennett and the Dirty Shirleys, and Dixie Karas. Admission is free and tickets are not required. Programmed in collaboration with Jazz at the Memo, with thanks to sponsors GBBN, Sherwin-Williams, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Jack O’Lantern Glow, presented by Medpace, returns for its third year at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden with a walk-through featuring more than 6,000 hand-carved pumpkins and autumn displays along a half-mile route. Glowing jack o’lanterns, illuminated displays, and special effects transform the Zoo into a vivid fall setting, making it the biggest event of its kind in the Tri-state area. This family-friendly experience welcomes all ages. The Reptile House and Night Hunters will also be open during the event. Tickets are sold separately and the experience is not included with Zoo membership or regular admission.

Build early language skills through stories, songs, rhymes, and playful activities. Open to infants through school-age children. Please register and include the total number of people in your group.

Parents considering high school options for their daughters can take part in Walkabout Wednesdays at Saint Ursula Academy, a casual campus tour that showcases what makes the school a nurturing place to learn and grow. Explore the campus, get a feel for the community, meet dedicated staff members, and see learning in action. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and attendees are encouraged to bring questions.

Pop Up Play brings hands-on creative fun to Imagination Alley with activities designed to spark imagination. Each installment features a different community partner, with organizations such as the Cincinnati Public Library, Abrakadoodle, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Black Art Speaks leading the experience. Additional summer information is forthcoming. Events in Imagination Alley are supported by PNC Bank, the Hubert Foundation, KPMG, and Urban Sites.

Yappy Hour, presented by Mission Vet Urgent Care, is a dog-friendly gathering held on the first Wednesday of each month. Pups and their people connect with Pet Wants at the Dog Park, then head out together on a community walk to Elm Street Plaza. Each edition features a new theme and activity, ranging from scavenger hunts and relay races to painting sessions, splash time, treat-catching contests that support the Stray Animal Adoption Program, and quick sit challenges. The October edition, Happy Howl-O-Weenie, invites everyone to show off their spookiest costumes. Sponsors include Mission Vet Urgent Care, Pet Wants, Decal Impressions, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Families can explore creativity at the CAC through tactile art activities followed by a kid-friendly yoga sequence. Children will learn about artist Sheida Soleimani, then make their own pieces inspired by her work, with yoga offered after each Art Play session. The program is intended for ages 2 to 6 with parents or caregivers. Admission is free for members and for families with a valid SNAP or EBT card, and costs $5 per child for nonmembers. Presented with support from the Charles H Dater Foundation and ArtsWave.