The Hocking Hills keeps a full calendar all year — glass pumpkins and county fairs in the autumn, a six-mile winter hike in January, Bigfoot in August. Old Beech Cottage is about twelve minutes from downtown Logan, so most of it is an easy evening out and back.
Last updated 10 November 2026 · dates change, so please confirm before you travel
Dates were correct when this page was last updated. Festivals do move, so it is worth a quick check before you set out — the Hocking Hills Welcome Center on (740) 385-9706 keeps the full, current calendar.
Last stargazing night, John Glenn Astronomy Park
The park’s free public programs run through Thanksgiving, and this is the last one listed for 2026, starting at 5:15 PM. A free parking pass is required in advance at registration.jgap.org. On other nights the park stays open for stargazing on your own.
Fairfield County Festival of Lights
Holiday lights at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in Lancaster, starting Friday 27 November and running toward Christmas. The fairgrounds had not posted the hours, price or closing date when this page was updated — call the fair office on (740) 653-3041 before you go. About 40 minutes.
Santa Trains, Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
A fully decorated, heated train out of Nelsonville with a visit from Santa for every child — a tradition more than forty years old. Thursday to Sunday through 20 December: 11 AM and 2 PM at weekends, and 6 PM evening runs on 28 November and 3–5, 10–12 and 17–19 December. $26 adults, $22 seniors and military, $21 children 3 to 12, under-3s free on a lap. They sell out — book early on (855) 323-3768.
Advent Window Walk, Lancaster
Lit windows around Lancaster’s historic Square 13 district, a new one each evening, on a self-guided walk with a map — 6 to 10 PM every night of December. Free. The map and the list of windows are at adventwindowwalk.com. Best after dark. About 40 minutes.
Downtown Logan Christmas Parade
Logan’s hometown Christmas parade, free to watch and thoroughly family friendly. It sets off from the Hocking County Fairgrounds at 12 noon and runs through to the West Hunter Street and State Route 664 intersection. Santa rides it, and the shops and town square are in full holiday dress.
WinterFest & tree lighting, Lancaster
Downtown Lancaster’s holiday afternoon around North Broad Street, noon to 5:30 PM, with free carriage rides and the town tree lit for the season. About 40 minutes.
Jack Pine Holiday Open House
Hot cider, live glassblowing and one-of-a-kind glass gifts at the Laurelville studio, with a toy drive and a visit from Santa. It has run the first weekend of December in past years but the 2026 dates are not yet published — call (740) 332-2223 to check before you drive out.
Winterlights at Alley Park, Lancaster
An illuminated walk-through trail in the woods on four evenings in December, with bonfires and hot chocolate. Free. The city had not posted its 2026 dates when this page was updated — call Lancaster Parks on (740) 687-6651. No pets, and no cars in the park — park in the field across the road. About 35 minutes.
An Irish Christmas at the Logan Theater
The Drowsy Lads bring Irish music for the season to the restored theater downtown, 6 to 8 PM. $15 to $24. (740) 385-3012.
Holidays in Ash Cave
3 to 5 PM, and free. Holiday music, crafts, cookies and hot cocoa, and a visit with Santa, inside Ohio’s largest recess cave; children need to be with an adult. One of the loveliest afternoons in the Hills — and all of it outdoors, so wrap up. It finishes at five, so come early rather than after dinner.
Kids’ winter workshops at the Logan Theater
Holiday-week crafts for children: Snow Globe Studio on Tuesday the 29th, 10 AM to 2 PM ($7), and 3-D paper snowflakes on Wednesday the 30th at 2 or 5:30 PM ($15 to $17). (740) 385-3012.
New Year’s Eve Train & Fireworks
The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway leaves Nelsonville at 10:30 PM and stops for fireworks around midnight. Reservations required: pizza-and-pop cars at $38 adults, $34 seniors and military and $27 children, or a 21-and-over wine-and-cheese car at $40 ($36 seniors and military). Not wheelchair accessible. (855) 323-3768.
Glass Town Countdown, Lancaster
Downtown Lancaster’s free New Year’s Eve party, 10 PM to 1 AM. About 40 minutes.
Downtown Logan New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
Last year downtown Logan saw the year out with a DJ, local vendors, carriage rides, Polar Express train rides and a ball drop at midnight. The 2026 evening had not been announced when this page was updated — ask at the Welcome Center on (740) 385-9706.
Where a festival has published its 2027 date we give it in full. Where it has not, we show the window it has kept for years, marked “expected” — near enough to book around, but worth confirming first.
First Day Hikes, Ohio State Parks
Ohio State Parks mark New Year’s Day with free guided hikes around the state. The 2027 list, and which Hocking Hills trails are on it, is published in December — ask at the Visitor Center on (740) 279-1177.
Hocking Hills Winter Hike
The region’s signature winter event, running since the 1960s and drawing thousands. Assemble at the Hocking Hills State Park campground any time between 9 and 11 AM. Small groups walk an interpretive route to the Upper Falls at Old Man’s Cave, then you carry on at your own pace past Rose Lake to Cedar Falls, the halfway point, for bean soup cooked in iron kettles, corn bread and hot drinks, and on to Ash Cave — about six miles in all. Park vehicles bring hikers back from Ash Cave, or you can walk the trail back. Free, including the activities before and after; donations for the lunch and the ride back are welcome. Commemorative patches and hiking-stick medallions are on sale. Dress for the weather.
Wildflowers & Waterfalls Hike
Free naturalist-led hikes in Hocking Hills State Park, run every weekday for a week in late April as the spring ephemerals appear — trillium, hepatica and Dutchman’s breeches. Various trailheads, moderate to difficult. The park confirms the week in early spring.
Jack Pine Glass Garden Art Festival
The spring counterpart to the pumpkin festival — hand-blown glass garden art, live demonstrations, artisan vendors, music and food trucks.
Vinton County Wild Turkey Festival
The first full weekend of May, Thursday to Sunday, in downtown McArthur — a parade, a festival queen, rides and turkey calling. 2027 dates are not yet published. About 40 minutes. (740) 978-2510.
Washboard Music Festival
Confirmed by the festival — three days, Thursday to Saturday. Downtown Logan celebrates the washboard as a real musical instrument — jazz, jug band and zydeco — with dozens of musicians playing free all weekend. Logan is home to the last washboard factory in the country.
Lancaster Spring Festival Car Show
Sixty-plus years running at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds — classic cars, a large swap meet and the Old Car Club’s vintage gas station. First weekend of June.
Nelsonville Music Festival
A long-running independent music festival at the Snow Fork Event Center, drawing national names to a wooded site about half an hour away.
Lancaster Festival
Ten days of music and art across downtown Lancaster, opening with the Artwalk. The Lancaster Festival Orchestra under Gary Sheldon has won the American Prize for conducting and orchestral performance, and most events are free. About half an hour north.
Lilyfest
Three acres of gardens, ponds and sculpture at Bishop Educational Gardens in Rockbridge, always the second full weekend of July. Free to enter, with more than seventy artists and makers, plant sales, OSU Master Gardeners on hand, and a Viking village for children. Running since 1992.
Ohio State Fair
Confirmed by the fair: twelve days of rides, livestock, concerts and fair food at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, about an hour north. (888) 646-3976.
Hocking Hills Medieval Fest
Armored combat, Viking folk singing, artisans and period food at the Hocking County Fairgrounds, 100 North Homer Avenue in Logan. Ran 29–30 August in 2026; tickets were $10 booked ahead against $15 at the gate.
Summer Hocking Hills Craft Show
The largest craft event in the region — a hundred booths on a hilltop at 20374 Clay Lick Road, minutes from the state park. Ran 29–30 August in 2026. $5, children free.
Mead Fest at Brewery 33
A day given over to mead, with new meads, ciders and beers released alongside vendors, food and live music. Free. Ran 29 August in 2026.
Hippie Fest
Two days of live music, art and vintage market stalls at the Hocking County Fairgrounds in Logan. Food trucks and a relaxed crowd. 2026 was 8–9 August.
Hocking Hills Bigfoot Festival
Free two days at the Vinton County Fairgrounds in McArthur — speakers, vendors, live music, a howling contest and a Squatchiest Beard competition. A straight run south on SR 93. 2026 was 14–15 August.
Bigfoot night hikes & Moonville ghost hunt
Booked separately alongside the festival. A naturalist leads one group into Vinton County Park District land; a folklorist leads another into Bear Hollow in the Zaleski State Forest with ghost and Bigfoot stories, ending at the haunted Moonville Tunnel. Runs alongside the festival.
Parade of the Hills, Nelsonville
Always the third full weekend of August — the 77th year of the parade, rides, food and free live music on the public square. About 25 minutes away.
These run regardless of when you visit, and most of them are free.
Park naturalist programs
Free, at the state park about half an hour away, and more regular than most guests realise. The pattern changes with the season. Through November, Creature Feature — a close look at a live native animal — runs Wednesdays at 2 PM; in December and January the programme narrows to the big events, Holidays in Ash Cave and the Winter Hike. Spring to autumn brings guided hikes, owl prowls, beginner archery and raptor presentations. Ask at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center or call (740) 279-1177.
Stargazing at John Glenn Astronomy Park
Free programs on clear Friday and Saturday nights, early March through Thanksgiving, starting about half an hour after sunset. The last 2026 program is Saturday 21 November. Volunteers work a 28-inch telescope. A free parking pass is required in advance — capacity is seventy cars.
Live music at the winery & brewery
Hocking Hills Winery has live music every weekend on the patio; Brewery 33 runs live music and food trucks through the warmer months. Both post line-ups on Facebook a week or two ahead.
Moonville Tunnel ghost hunts
Guided night hunts at the haunted Moonville Tunnel — a walk along the old rail trail with ghost stories, then ghost hunting inside the tunnel. The tunnel is on public land off Hope-Moonville Road and free to visit in daylight. Parking is limited, so the hunts are by registration only — dates and sign-up at 21crows.com.
Private guided hikes & rappelling
Local outfitters run guided hikes, and Hocking State Forest has a dedicated climbing and rappelling area with guide services available.
Hocking County Farmers Market
Produce, baked goods and local makers in the courthouse parking lot on Main Street in Logan, 9 AM to noon.
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