The leaves are beginning to turn, and Cincinnati's got all the fall-y'all fun you need to get you off the couch and outside to enjoy the beautiful October weather.
First off, Blink returns this year. Stroll through the five zones and bask in the light of all the cool art installations. If you're already planning on heading to Blink, you'll want to stop by the Asianati Night Market, too. Grab a bite to eat from the multitude of vendors and catch the cultural performances.
To see huge pumpkins and admire artists' creative carvings, be sure to check out Hamilton's Operation Pumpkin. If you want to see pumpkins and cute animals playing with them, head to the Cincinnati Zoo as HallZOOeen kicks off.
Here are our top 10 picks for the best places to be this
weekend.
Have an event you'd like us to know about? Submit it online at cincinnati.com/events, and we'll tell the world about it. Head to that same site to peruse our full calendar of events.
1. Blink Cincinnati
Wander through the five zones of this immersive art and light festival. Each zone contains interactive installations, murals, projections and music.
Details: 7-11 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, Fountain Square, The Banks, Covington. Free. blinkcincinnati.com.
2. Asianati Night Market
Grab something to eat from one of the 17 food vendors, play duck duck scoop, test your skills in the chopstick challenge and see belly dancing and lion dance performances. At 7 p.m. Saturday, there's a cosplay contest presented by Tokyo Kitty.
Details: 5-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m. Sunday, Court Street Plaza, East Court St., Downtown. anm.asianati.com.
3. Lebanon Oktoberfest
Enjoy all you love about Oktoberfest at this celebration: live German-style music, food vendors, a kid's zone and German and local craft beers.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Bicentennial Park, 135 E Mulberry St., Lebanon. warrenswcd.com.
4. Devil's Staircase Hillclimb
Daredevils, unite! Prepare for two days of non-stop hillclimb racing. See who will be crowned AMA Pro Racing's American Hillclimb National Champion.
Details: 9 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, Devil's Staircase, 1086 Corwin Road, Oregonia. $10. daytonmc.com.
5. Queen Bee Half Marathon
Show who's queen at the sister race of the Flying Pig Marathon. Opt for the 4-miler for a quicker run at 8 a.m. There will be a Michelob Ultra Victory Party at Sawyer Point from 8 a.m.-noon.
Bee-U-Tique Expo: 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday, First Financial Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown.
Races: 7:30 a.m. half-marathon, 8 a.m. four-mile, both Saturday, starts at Reading Road and Pendleton Street, Downtown. flyingpigmarathon.com.
6. Operation Pumpkin
Catch a lineup of headliners that span classic rock and country. Browse over 100 artisan and food vendors. And, of course, gawk at pumpkins the size of small cars. You can also sign your child up to compete for the title of Lil Miss Pumpkin, or sign your pooch up for the pet parade and costume contest. Kids will love the kids zone, complete with amusement rides, balloon artists, crafts, scavenger hunts, pumpkin painting and more.
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, High Street, Hamilton. operation-pumpkin.org.
7. Vinoklet Art & Wine Festival
Hear a new lineup of performers each day. Shop from art vendors, grab tasty bites to eat and, of course, sip on a glass (or two) of wine.
Details: 5:30-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant, 11069 Colerain Road, Colerain Township. vinokletwines.com.
8. Sauerkraut Festival
Explore historic downtown Waynesville while sampling tasty concoctions from over 30 different food booths. Try fan favorite sauerkraut pizza, or the unique sauerkraut ice cream. With over 450 craft booths to browse, you'll be sure to have a great time.
Details: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Historic Main Street, Waynesville.sauerkrautfestival.waynesvilleohio.com.
9. HallZOOeen
Stop at the various trick or treat stations throughout the zoo. Watch your favorite animals play with seasonal enrichment (think pumpkins galore!), and catch magic shows at Phil Dalton's Theater of Illusion at 1 and 3 p.m. Take a ride on the Pumpkin Express Train or the carousel. Kids are encouraged to dress up in costume for this event.
Details: noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 3400 Vine St., Downtown. Free with zoo admission or membership. Runs Oct. 10-Nov. 1. cincinnatizoo.org.
10. The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are celebrating the 60th Anniversary of "Pet Sounds," bringing their tour to PNC Pavilion this week.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, PNC Pavilion, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. riverbend.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 things to do this weekend. Blink, Asianati and pumpkins galore
