Start at Lindsey’s Bakery on West Main. Every year they bake one of the world’s largest pumpkin pies, about 6 feet across and over 400 pounds, and display it at the bakery. Their pumpkin donuts are the real reason people line up, and they sell roughly 100,000 of them during the four-day show. Grab a box for the car and a whole pie for later.

Go see the giant pumpkins. Last year’s winner weighed 1,972 pounds. Have the kids guess the weight before reading the sign.

Catch the afternoon parade. In past years, Friday has meant the Pet Parade, where everybody brings their favorite pet to march. It’s as delightful as it sounds. In recent years it’s started at 3:30.

Then let them loose. The streets fill with 25–30 amusement rides for all ages. Grab dinner off the pumpkin menu (burgers, chili, pizza, ice cream) and head to the cabin.

Be at Ash Cave by 8. It’s a flat, paved quarter-mile trail to the largest recess cave in Ohio, 700 feet wide and 100 feet deep. It’s an easy win for little legs and a jaw-dropper for everyone else.

Cedar Falls next, then Old Man’s Cave. The Old Man’s Cave loop is 1 to 1.5 miles through the gorge, past the Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Devil’s Bathtub, and Sphinx Head. Here’s your Halloween story for the trail: it was originally called Dead Man’s Cave, and local folklore says the hermit’s ghost, with a white wolfhound, still guards the gorge. It’s spooky enough to be fun and gentle enough for a six-year-old.

Back to Circleville for the last night. It’s the final evening of the show and the last parade. Eat one more pumpkin donut, because you’re not getting another one for a year.

Sleep in, eat the pie for breakfast, and if you want one more stop, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway in Nelsonville runs October Fall Foliage trains, roughly two-hour round trips through the river valley.