Things to Do in Macedonia and Nearby This Week

October is the busiest month on Macedonia's calendar, and the next two weeks are packed: a free trunk-or-treat at Longwood Park, harvest festivals in the Cuyahoga Valley, a haunted house in Hudson, and trick or treat night for the whole Nordonia Hills. Here is what is happening in Macedonia and nearby, with dates and times confirmed by the hosting organizations.

This Saturday: the Haunted Manor in Macedonia

On Saturday, October 17, Macedonia Parks and Recreation hosts the Haunted Manor at the Macedonia Family Recreation Center and Longwood Park, a free family trunk-or-treat from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with activities and treats. It is the easiest Halloween win for younger kids: no tickets, no long drive, just the neighborhood out in costume. Longwood Manor itself, Macedonia's National Register of Historic Places home at 1634 E. Aurora Rd, is dressed up for the season with its "No Bones About It" display through the month. Check macrec.com for the latest details.

A harvest day trip to the Cuyahoga Valley

If you want to make a day of it, the Cuyahoga Valley has a full slate. On Saturday, October 17, Hale Farm & Village in Bath holds its Harvest Festival with fall activities on the historic grounds. Through the season, Heritage Farms in Peninsula runs Pumpkin Pandemonium: a pumpkin patch, a harvest maze, and hayrides at 6050 Riverview Rd. And right now is peak foliage, so Brandywine Falls and the Everett Covered Bridge are putting on a show. The valley's event calendar at cuyahogavalley.com lists what is on each weekend.

A full moon, a haunted house, and a fright night

Three favorites anchor the last ten days of the month. In Cuyahoga Falls, Quirk-O-Ween at the Quirk Cultural Center on Friday, October 23, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is a free evening of trick-or-treating, crafts, snacks, and an inflatable haunted house. The Valley CDJR of the Falls trunk-or-treat follows on Monday, October 26 at 5:30 p.m. Down the road in Hudson, the Jaycees' Hudson Haunted House at Oak Grove Park runs select nights through October 30; at $15 a ticket it is Ohio's longest-running nonprofit haunted attraction, and it offers kids matinees if the full fright is too much. Back in the Falls, Falls Fright Night takes over downtown on Friday, October 30 at 6 p.m. See cityofcf.com and hudson.oh.us for exact dates and tickets.

Trick or treat night

Then comes the main event. Trick or treat runs Saturday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. across Macedonia, Northfield Center, Northfield Village, Boston Heights, and Sagamore Hills, the five Nordonia communities, and Cuyahoga Falls is on the same evening. It is a walkable night in Lake Forest Estates, where the houses sit back from winding, tree-lined streets made for a slow lap of the neighborhood.

When the candy settles

Once the costumes are put away, the Macedonia Family Recreation Center at 1494 E. Aurora Rd keeps the season going with its fall MACtivity lineup: lap and activity pools, group fitness, and youth programs all through the colder months. Longwood Manor also holds free open houses on the last Sunday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m., weather permitting, a nice way to meet neighbors and learn the town's history. Details are on longwoodmanor.org.

A practical note: outdoor events can shift with the weather, and schedules are still being finalized in places, so confirm dates and times with the hosting organizations before you head out. If you are new to the area and want to know what a Macedonia weekend feels like, show up to one of these and you will find out quickly.