This Gigantic Pumpkin Show Near Cleveland Is The Best Way To Celebrate Fall

For many Ohioans, fall is an absolutely magical time of year. Before the temperature takes a dreaded turn for the worse, we locals are treated to a vibrancy that's unrivaled in most parts of the world. Our foliage is diverse and rich, coming alive in shades of yellow, rust, and red. Orange, of course, is a plentiful color this season, too... but no other place in the state is overflowing with the color like this one Ohio city. Pack up the car with some candy corn and snacks, because we're taking a road trip down south for an epic autumn event!

Circleville, Ohio is located south of Columbus, but it's near enough for locals to reach by car.

And, to put it simply, you must check out this incredible pumpkin festival. There truly is nothing like it anywhere else in the United States, making this quaint community a must-see destination. The drive takes about 2.5 hours, but it's well worth the trip.

The Circleville Pumpkin Show kicks off on the third Wednesday of October and is free and open to the public.

From October 17-20, 2018, Downtown Circleville is cast in a seemingly endless orange glow. Pumpkins flood its street, both large and small, and take over restaurant menus.

The show has been held annually since 1903, celebrating local agriculture in a spectacular way.

This festival is one of the largest of its kind in the entire nation, drawing almost half a million people to Pickaway County!

You'll encounter giant pumpkins, thousands of pumpkin pies, real pumpkins, fake pumpkins, and just about anything pumpkin you can imagine.

This ginormous celebration takes over more than 12 blocks, so remember to wear comfortable footwear.

Circleville is the perfect place for an autumnal celebration, as its quaint layout is worthy of a Halloween movie.

Home to only 13,000 residents, this petite city could easily double as Halloweentown.

You'll find gourds galore at this fun-filled event, so prepare to be immersed in the wonders of fall.

Though the event itself is free, you'll want to bring some cash both for parking and items for sale.

It's easy to be overcome by the lively autumn spirit, and pumpkin-themed goodies can simultaneously delight you and destroy your bank account, so be sure to set a realistic budget for yourself.

Autumn is right around the corner and Ohio is preparing to get festive, but nowhere is quite as celebratory as Circleville.

I mean, who else labors year after year to produce the World's Largest Pumpkin Pie?!

You won't believe this charming community is a real place... but it's definitely a dream come true!

There's so much to love right here in our own state that it's mind-boggling. This festival may be a bit of a drive from Cleveland, but it's close enough to provide a spirited escape from reality on a budget. There's nothing quite like it, so you won't want to miss it!

For more information about the Circleville Pumpkin Show, including a calendar of special events and a peek at the festivities, check out their website here and follow along on their Facebook page here.

Love autumn? You'll be blown away by this urban waterfall in the fall.