Weekly NEO Family Guide: Issue 1 (Oct 30, 2026)

Hi friend, it's Carey 👋

Welcome to the very first Weekly NEO Family Guide!

If you're in our Moms of Northeast Ohio Facebook group, you know the question that pops up every single week: "What should we do this weekend?" This guide is my answer.

I'm a mom in Walton Hills who spends a lot of time chasing waterfalls, hiking our Metroparks, and trying (okay, eating at) local restaurants so I can tell you which ones are worth it. Every week I'll share the events I'd actually take my own family to, the free stuff, a rainy day backup, one hike or waterfall, and one place to eat.

My promise: every listing gets checked on the official event page first, with a link so you can double-check times yourself. No fluff, no filler.

This week is a big one. Halloween lands on a Saturday, and clocks fall back one hour early Sunday, Nov 1. (Hello, extra hour of sleep. Or, if you have toddlers, an extra hour of being awake at 5 a.m.)

Let's go.

🎃 Top 5 This Weekend (Fri Oct 30 to Sun Nov 1)

1. Halloween on the Farm at Majestic Meadows Alpacas (Medina)

When: Fri, Oct 30 (open late: admission 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m., farm closes 8:30 p.m.) and Sat, Oct 31 (admission until 3:30 p.m., farm closes 5 p.m.). Where: 4195 Abbeyville Road, Medina. Cost: $15 farm tour only, or $20 with trick-or-treating (online prices; gate is $1.50 more). Ages 2 and under free if not trick-or-treating.

Why I love it: Where else can your kids trick-or-treat past alpacas, camels, kangaroos and mini cows? Go during the day for the gentle version. After dark on Friday, fog and spooky effects kick in, and the farm says that may be too much for some younger kids. No re-entry once you leave. majesticmeadowsalpacas.com/events/halloween

2. Spooky Fest at Mapleside Farms Pumpkin Village (Brunswick)

When: Fri, Oct 30, 4 to 9 p.m. (Fun Friday) and Sat, Oct 31, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Mapleside Farms, Brunswick. Cost: Fun Friday $15; Saturday $18 (55 and older $15; 2 and under free). Upgrade tickets are listed on the site.

Why I love it: It's the final weekend of Pumpkin Village this season, and costumes are welcome. Twenty-plus attractions, including the giant slide, the jumping pillow and a 7-acre corn maze cut in the shape of a bald eagle for America's 250th. mapleside.com/pumpkin-village

3. Truck-or-Treat with Summit Metro Parks (Akron) ⭐ FREE

When: Sat, Oct 31, 5 to 7 p.m. Where: Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Main Entrance, 2077 Newton St., Akron. Cost: Free.

Why I love it: Kids who love big trucks, this one's for you. Explore the vehicles that keep the parks running while park staff hand out treats. Costumes are encouraged for all ages, and leashed dogs are welcome, so the family pup can dress up too. summitmetroparks.org: Truck-or-Treat

4. Halloween on Chardon Square (Chardon)

When: Sat, Oct 31, 7:30 to 8 p.m. (costume contest check-in starts 6:45 p.m.). Where: Chardon Square. Cost: No admission listed. The costume contest has its own registration on the event page.

Why I love it: Small-town Halloween at its sweetest. Candy bags handed out from the bandstand, cider and doughnuts from the Chardon Police Department, and a parade around the square led by the Chardon Fire Department. chardonsquareassociation.org/events/halloween

5. Family FUNday: Day of the Dead at the CMA Community Arts Center (Cleveland) ⭐ FREE

When: Sun, Nov 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Cleveland Museum of Art Community Arts Center, 2937 West 25th St., Cleveland. Cost: Free, no ticket required.

Why I love it: The perfect Sunday after a sugar-filled Saturday. Art making, games and movement activities for all ages, plus live dancers and a chance to learn the art and history of Día de los Muertos with the Mexican Committee of Cleveland. clevelandart.org: Family FUNday

Neighborhood trick-or-treat times: Every city sets its own hours. WKYC keeps a running list for Northeast Ohio. Check before going and confirm with your city's website or social pages: wkyc.com trick-or-treat list

💸 Free Fun

• The Great Akron Kids Costume Celebration | Sat, Oct 31, 1 to 3 p.m. | Akron-Summit County Public Library, Main Library, 60 S. High St., Akron. Crafts, snacks, a costume parade and a costume contest for Pre-K through grade 6. No fee is listed on the library's page; costumes need to be PG (no prop weapons, nothing gory). Event page
• Stories in the StarLab | Sun, Nov 1, 2 to 3 p.m. | Rocky River Nature Center (Cleveland Metroparks). A naturalist reads a space story inside an inflatable planetarium; stories restart every 20 minutes. Free. Heads up: kids under 5 can't go inside the StarLab. Event page
• Hunt of the Month at CanalWay Center | Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga Heights. A free, drop-by scavenger hunt. October's Halloween hunt runs through Oct 31, and a new hunt is listed for Nov 1 to 30. Event page
• Fall Hiking Spree | Summit Metro Parks, through Nov 30. Hike at least eight designated trails and earn a hiking staff and shield (first year) or a new shield (returning hikers). Fun pairing: the Goodyear Heights Parcours Trail is a spree trail, right where Truck-or-Treat happens Saturday. Rewards are free for Summit County residents; out-of-county hikers pay $10 the first year or $5 returning. Still time to finish! Details
• Free admission at the Akron Zoo on Election Day | Tue, Nov 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If your kids are off school, this is a great one to save. Event page

☔ Rainy Day Pick: The Cleveland Museum of Art

General admission is always free. The big hit with little ones is the ArtLens Gallery and its interactive tech wall that kids can touch and move with. Then wander a gallery or two and call it a win.

Hours: Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wed and Fri 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Mondays (and Thanksgiving Day). Where: 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland (University Circle). The museum garage is paid. clevelandart.org/visit | My CMA listing

🥾 Hike or Waterfall of the Week: Tinker's Creek Gorge + Great Falls (Bedford Reservation)

This one is in my own backyard. The Tinkers Creek Gorge Scenic Overlook is right here in Walton Hills, off Gorge Parkway between Dunham and Egbert roads, and fall is when the view is at its best. It's a short, flat walk from parking, and the overlook is wheelchair accessible, so it works for strollers and grandparents too.

The quick insight: That gorge is a National Natural Landmark (since 1967). Tinker's Creek drops about 220 feet over two miles, which is what carved those steep walls. Tell your kids the creek did that, and watch them look at it differently.

Then drive over to Great Falls of Tinker's Creek at Viaduct Park in Bedford for a cascading waterfall, the old stone viaduct, and the remains of the saw mill, grist mill and power plant that ran on the creek's power from 1821 to 1913. Bring water shoes if your kids (like mine) can't resist getting close to the water.

Overlook (Cleveland Metroparks) | Great Falls (Cleveland Metroparks) | My full Hike + Dine + Explore day

🍝 Eats Near You: DANSPOT (Walton Hills)

After the hike, we head to DANSPOT. It's my 5-star pick for house-made soups, scratch sauces and Italian-inspired comfort food, and the chicken piccata is a family favorite at our house.

Good to know:

• 18000 Alexander Rd., Walton Hills | (440) 252-5212
• Hours: Mon and Tue 3 to 8 p.m.; Wed to Fri noon to 9 p.m.; Sat 3 to 8:30 p.m.; closed Sunday
• Small dining room, so reservations are accepted (not required). Dine-in, carry-out and catering.
• Gluten-free noodle option, and many dishes can be made gluten-free on request.
• Halloween night idea: grab carry-out on the way home from trick-or-treating.

danspot.menu | My DANSPOT review

📅 Coming Up in November

• Sun, Nov 1: Daylight saving time ends. Clocks go back one hour.
• Tue, Nov 3: Free admission at the Akron Zoo, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details
• Sat, Nov 7: Cleveland Día de Muertos Parade in Gordon Square, as announced on the Cleveland Museum of Art's event page. Check before going for the start time and route. CMA page
• Nov 7 to 11: Veterans' Appreciation Days at the Akron Zoo, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Veterans and active military with valid military ID get up to five free general admission tickets (at the ticket counter, not online). Details
• Nov 13 to Dec 22: North Pole Adventure train ride with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, departing Rockside Station in Independence (5 p.m. and 7:55 p.m. departures). $60 to $110 per person. Tickets are on sale, and pajamas are encouraged. Details
• Nov 20 to Dec 27 (select nights): Wild Lights at the Akron Zoo, 5 to 9 p.m. Adults $20 to $27, kids $16 to $23. Details
• Nov 21 to Jan 3: Candy Land Wild about Winter at Lake Metroparks Penitentiary Glen Reservation in Kirtland, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A free, indoor life-size Candy Land. Details
• Nov 27 to 29: Holiday Ice & Lights Festival at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 4 to 9 p.m. Daily admission fees apply. Details
• Nov 27 to Dec 30: Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, 3 to 9 p.m. (last admission 8 p.m.). Non-members $28 adults, $15 ages 3 to 17. Santa visits run through Dec 23. Details
• Sat, Nov 28: WinterLand Kickoff on Public Square, downtown Cleveland, 3 to 8 p.m. Ice skating, trackless train rides, s'mores, photos with Santa (6 to 8 p.m.), and the Illuminate CLE light show starting at 5:30 p.m. Details

💬 Before you go

Your turn: Tell me your favorite fall spot in Northeast Ohio, or where your family is trick-or-treating this year, in the Moms of Northeast Ohio Facebook group. I read every comment, and I may feature your hidden gem (with your permission) in a future issue.

One favor: If this guide made your weekend easier, share it with one mom friend who's always asking "what should we do?" She can sign up free here: Get the Weekly NEO Family Guide

Want more ideas any day of the week? Browse waterfalls, hikes, playgrounds and my restaurant reviews right here at momsofnortheastohio.com, and come say hi in the Moms of Northeast Ohio Facebook group.

Happy Halloween, and see you next week!

Carey 🧡 Moms of Northeast Ohio

Dates, times and prices can change. Always confirm on the event's official page before you head out.