September Events Guide: Festivals, Markets & Fun Near You!

GREATER DAYTON AND BEYOND
SEPTEMBER EVENTS: 2026 SCHEDULE

September brings fall festivals, live music, community celebrations, arts events, and more throughout the Miami Valley and beyond. From longtime local traditions to outdoor events perfect for an early fall weekend, there are plenty of ways to get out and explore communities across Southwest Ohio this month!

Butler County

Steel in a Different Light
Sept. 4 – Oct. 15 | Middletown
Explore a collaborative exhibition celebrating Middletown’s steel heritage through abstract works on weathered steel and original artwork created by Cleveland-Cliffs employees.

Heritage Day
Sept. 12 | 10 AM–3 PM | Liberty Township
Experience Liberty Township history with the historic Gregory Cabin, demonstrations, displays, and activities highlighting local and early American history.

Hamilton Hispanic Festival
Sept. 12 | 2 PM | Hamilton
Celebrate Hispanic culture and heritage with music, dancing, food, drinks, community organizations, and activities for visitors of all ages.

FiveStar Comic Con
Sept. 12 | 10 AM | Middletown
Dive into comics and pop culture with artists, writers, vendors, merchandise, games, and plenty of fandom fun.

Hike-a-Thon
Sept. 12 | 9 AM | Oxford
Celebrate the outdoors and the growing Oxford and Miami Trail system during this family-friendly, pet-friendly, and accessible community hiking event.

Dog Day Downtown
Sept. 18 | 5 PM | Middletown
Bring your four-legged friend downtown for an evening of dog-friendly fun, including treats and activities for local pups and their people.

Finds on the Farm Fall Craft Show
Sept. 19 – 20 | Hamilton
Shop dozens of unique vendors offering handmade crafts, gifts, and seasonal finds during this two-day outdoor fall craft show.

Oxtoberfest
Sept. 19 | 1 PM | Oxford
Celebrate fall with Oxford’s take on Oktoberfest, featuring traditional games, contests, entertainment, and family-friendly activities.

Niederman Family Farm Fall Festival
Sept. 25 – Nov. 1 | Liberty Township
Celebrate fall with a corn maze, wagon rides, jumping pillow, games, farm activities, and plenty of seasonal family fun.

Art Fair
Sept. 26 – 27 | Hamilton
Browse work from local artists while enjoying family activities and live performances throughout Pyramid Hill’s grounds.

Clark & Champaign County

Cars & Parts Springfield Swap Meet & Car Show
Sept. 4 – 5 | Springfield
Browse automotive parts and collectibles and check out vehicles during this Labor Day weekend swap meet and car show.

The Fair at New Boston
Sept. 5 – 6 | 10 AM | Springfield
Step into America’s founding era with historical demonstrations, frontier characters, a Native American village, cannon fire, and daily battle reenactments.

North Lewisburg Bicentennial Celebration
Sept. 5 – 7 | Urbana
Celebrate North Lewisburg’s bicentennial with food trucks, games, live music, historical activities, a car show, contests, a parade, and fireworks.

Book Speed Dating: Returning Readers
Sept. 9 | 6 PM | Springfield
Sample a variety of books during quick reading sessions before choosing a favorite title to take home.

St. Paris Pony Wagon Days
Sept. 10 – 12 | 12 PM | St. Paris
Celebrate the longtime Pony Wagon Days tradition with community events, activities, and entertainment.

Ohio Fish & Shrimp Music Festival
Sept. 12, 19 & 26 | 10 AM | Urbana
Celebrate Ohio’s freshwater shrimp harvest with seafood, live music, vendors, games, and activities for the whole family.

NADAC Dog Show
Sept. 29 – Oct. 3 | Springfield
Watch dogs and handlers work together through agility courses, classes, and games during this multi-day NADAC competition.

Clinton County

48th Annual Clinton County Corn Festival
Sept. 11 – 13 | Wilmington
Celebrate a longtime Clinton County tradition with unique games, community activities, entertainment, and plenty of festival fun.

You Had Me at Malbec Wine Tasting
Sept. 18 | 7 PM | Wilmington
Enjoy four Argentine wines paired with a fall-inspired menu presented by a certified wine sommelier.

Greene County

Labor Day Family Value Weekend at Young’s Dairy
Sept. 4 – 7 | Yellow Springs
Enjoy miniature golf, batting cages, farm attractions, a corn maze, carousel rides, and other family activities at Young’s Jersey Dairy.

America Goes to the Movies: The Wizard of Oz
Sept. 5 | 7 PM | Xenia
Enjoy a free outdoor showing of the classic film with popcorn, drinks, and a drone show celebrating community, history, and imagination.

Beavercreek Popcorn Festival
Sept. 12 – 13 | Beavercreek
Celebrate one of Beavercreek’s favorite annual traditions with popcorn, vendors, entertainment, food, and family-friendly festival activities.

The Great American Sports Memorabilia Show
Sept. 12 | Xenia
Browse hundreds of tables filled with sports memorabilia and trading cards during this popular monthly collectors show.

Air Force Marathon
Sept. 18 – 19 | Fairborn
Be part of the annual Air Force Marathon tradition, which brings runners from across the country and around the world to the Miami Valley.

Hairborn 2026
Sept. 18 | Fairborn
Enjoy an energetic evening of live rock music, food, drinks, and high-energy performances during Fairborn’s annual music event.

30th Annual Wool Gathering
Sept. 19 – 20 | Yellow Springs
Celebrate fiber arts and meet sheep, llamas, alpacas, cashmere goats, Angora rabbits, and other wool-bearing animals.

Yellow Springs PorchFest
Sept. 19 | Yellow Springs
Stroll through Yellow Springs while local musicians perform on porches, patios, and front yards during this free community music celebration.

Downtown Fairborn Car Show
Sept. 20 | Fairborn
See hundreds of cars, trucks, and motorcycles ranging from vintage vehicles to exotic rides during this downtown community car show.

Hamilton & Clermont County

Yayoi Kusama: All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins
Runs through Oct. 18 | 11 AM | Cincinnati
Step inside Yayoi Kusama’s immersive mirrored installation featuring her iconic yellow pumpkins covered in black polka dots.

Corner of the Sky: The Music of Stephen Schwartz
Sept. 5 – 27 | Cincinnati
Celebrate six decades of music from the award-winning composer behind Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, and other stage and screen favorites.

Ohio Renaissance Festival
Sept. 5 – Nov. 1  | 10:30 AM | Waynesville
Travel back to the 16th century with costumed characters, entertainment, food, shopping, and adventures throughout a 35-acre permanent village.

Riverfest on the Levee
Sept. 6 | 4 PM | Newport, KY
Send off summer with live music, family-friendly activities, and views of the WEBN fireworks along the riverfront.

HorrorHound Weekend
Sept. 11 – 13 | Cincinnati
Celebrate horror with celebrity guests, collectibles, screenings, cosplay, panels, Q&A sessions, and fan activities.

Heist
Sept. 12 – Oct. 11 | Cincinnati
Experience a high-tech theatrical caper filled with mystery, betrayal, humor, lasers, aerial stunts, projections, and unexpected twists.

Boyz II Men with the Cincinnati Pops
Sept. 16 | 7:30 PM | Cincinnati
Hear Grammy-winning R&B group Boyz II Men perform their signature harmonies and beloved hits with the Cincinnati Pops.

Cindependent Film Festival
Sept. 16 – 20 | 8 AM | Cincinnati
Discover independent films, filmmaker talks, screenplay readings, educational sessions, networking events, and other programming celebrating independent cinema.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
Sept. 17 – 20 | Cincinnati
Celebrate Southwest Ohio’s German heritage with traditional food, music, competitions, entertainment, and one of the country’s largest Oktoberfest celebrations.

Cincinnati Comic Expo
Sept. 25 – 27 | 10 AM | Cincinnati
Celebrate comics, cosplay, movies, television, and gaming with celebrity appearances, artists, panels, autographs, and photo opportunities.

Miami & Shelby County

Downtown Troy Golf Par-TEE!
Sept. 5 | 11 AM | Troy
Play a whimsical mini-golf course winding through downtown businesses while enjoying the shops, restaurants, and atmosphere of Downtown Troy.

Tippapalooza
Sept. 5 | 5 PM | Tipp City
Enjoy an annual music festival showcasing local performers while supporting charitable organizations in and around Tipp City.

Fort Rowdy Gathering
Sept. 5 – 7 | 10 AM | Covington
Step into a bustling trading village inspired by the late 1700s and early 1800s during this longtime Covington tradition.

Troy, Ohio PorchFest
Sept. 12 | Troy
Explore Troy’s historic neighborhood while dozens of bands representing a variety of genres perform on porches, patios, and lawns.

Johnston Farm Architectural & Decorative Art Tour
Sept. 12 | 11 AM | Piqua
Explore the decorative arts, finishes, architectural details, and restoration of the historic Johnston House during a guided tour.

WACO Fly-In
Sept. 18 – 20 | Troy
See historic WACO aircraft return to their manufacturing hometown and meet the people who restore, maintain, and fly them.

Rock N Soul Revue
Sept. 19 | 5:30 PM | Troy
Travel back through the music of the 1950s and ’60s with hits inspired by Motown, Frankie Valli, the Jackson 5, and more.

Rock Piqua! Food Truck & Music Fest
Sept. 19 | Piqua
Celebrate music through the decades with live entertainment and food during this America 250-themed community event.

Downtown Piqua Chocolate Walk
Sept. 25 | 3 PM | Piqua
Visit more than 20 downtown businesses while collecting a variety of chocolate treats during this sweet community tradition.

Tipp City Mum Fest
Sept. 26 – 27 | Tipp City
Celebrate one of Tipp City’s signature traditions with a parade, car show, entertainment, and two days of festival activities.

Montgomery County

Front Street’s 61st Anniversary Bash
Sept. 4 | 5 PM | Dayton
Celebrate Front Street’s arts community with open studios, live entertainment, food trucks, and a beer garden.

Retrobution at RiverScape
Sept. 4 | 7 PM | Dayton
Break out your favorite ’80s look and enjoy an evening of classic MTV-era hits performed live at RiverScape.

Uptown First Friday – Jubilee River
Sept. 4 | Times Vary | Centerville
Enjoy live entertainment from Jubilee River along with extended shopping hours, dining specials, and activities throughout Uptown Centerville.

Alter Fest!
Sept. 4 – 6 | Kettering
Celebrate Labor Day weekend with rides, children’s activities, food, games, live music, and community fun.

Honey Harvest 2026 at Learning Tree Farm
Sept. 5 | 10:30 AM | Dayton
Learn how honey is harvested, discover local pollinators, explore the garden, make a beeswax candle, and sample fresh honey.

Lantern Fest
Sept. 11 | 7 PM | Centerville
Create and launch a lantern on the pond while enjoying food trucks, music, games, and other family-friendly park activities.

Dayton Greek Festival
Sept. 11 – 13 | 11 AM | Dayton
Celebrate Greek culture with traditional food and pastries, live music, dancing, vendors, and a festive community atmosphere.

Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest
Sept. 11 – 12 | 6 PM | Vandalia
Celebrate German culture with bands, brats, pretzels, traditional sides, beverages, arts, crafts, and community fun.

Dayton Potato Festival
Sept. 12 | 11 AM | Dayton
Enjoy creative potato dishes alongside craft vendors, live entertainment, community organizations, and festival activities.

Annie – Dayton Playhouse
Sept. 18 – Oct. 4 | Dayton
See the beloved musical about optimism, resilience, and family brought to the stage with its unforgettable characters and songs.

Oktoberfest at the Dayton Art Institute
Sept. 26 – 27 | 12 PM | Dayton
Celebrate a Dayton tradition with the museum’s signature fall festival and largest annual fundraising event.

Warren County

Come From Away
Aug. 20 – Sept. 27 | 7–9 PM | Springboro
Experience the acclaimed musical telling the true story of a Newfoundland community that welcomed thousands of stranded airline passengers after 9/11.

Oktoberfest Springboro
Sept. 11 – 12 | Springboro
Celebrate with German food, beer and wine, live music, dancing, games, children’s activities, Wiener Dog Races, and stein-holding contests.

Girls Night Out
Sept. 12 | 4–9 PM | Lebanon
Spend an evening exploring downtown shops, restaurants, and local businesses during this special shopping and social event.

Airport Fest
Sept. 19 | 10 AM | Lebanon
Get an up-close look at helicopters, historic warbirds, modern aircraft, and the world of aviation during this family-friendly event.

Country Applefest
Sept. 26 – 27 | Lebanon
Browse more than 300 arts, crafts, and food vendors while enjoying live entertainment during Lebanon’s annual fall festival.