Top 10 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Sept. 20-22

1. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Oktoberfest expands to a larger footprint this year and features a massive 18,000-square-foot fest tent that seats over 1,000 people. You'll find five stages filled with live music and entertainment. Popular favorites like the World's Largest Chicken Dance, the Running of the Wieners and the stein holding competitions will be held at the River Stage, located at the base of the Serpentine Wall. New this year are shows by Cincinnati Circus Company, and there will be a Sports Zone with a giant LED board showing sports action throughout the weekend. It wouldn't be Oktoberfest without delicious German cuisine and beer, and there will be plenty, with 20 beer booths of local, national and German offerings like Spaten, Weihenstephan and Erdinger, and foodwise, everything from pretzels to bratwurst.

Details: 5-11 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. Runs Sept. 19-22. Free. Oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.

2. Halloween Haunt

Kings Island amusement park transforms into an immersive haunt with scare mazes, fright zones, hundreds of horrifying characters lurking in the fog, and Halloween-themed live entertainment. Some rides are also open, including The Beast, Orion, Diamondback, Mystic Timbers and Banshee. Halloween Haunt is not recommended for those under the age of 13.

Details: 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Runs Friday-Saturday Sept. 20-Nov. 2. $45-up. Visitkingsisland.com.

3. Tricks and Treats

The monsters of Halloween Haunt only come out at night, so the park is safe for the littles to enjoy during the day. Tricks and Treats opens Sunday and offers family-friendly fun and spooky, kooky Halloween activities, rides, live entertainment and a trick or treat trail across Planet Snoopy. The kiddos can wear their costumes and join in the costume contest – there are prizes for most original, cutest and scariest.

Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Runs Saturday-Sunday Sept. 22-Nov. 3. Visitkingsisland.com.

4. Cincinnati Fear Fest

From the creators of Terror Town, this new haunt features three attractions: Darkwood Theater, Buzzsaw Madness at the Mill and All Hallow's Eve Terror Trail. Admission also includes two immersive scare zones, live music and entertainment. The Bar Creep Pass ($8 upcharge) gets adults access to two secret bars.

Details: 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Terror Town, 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg. $19.99-up. Runs Sept. 21-Nov. 2. Cincinnatifearfest.com.

5. Haunted Hollow Ride

A fire-breathing semi chases victims on a haunted bus ride through forests filled with monsters, madness and mayhem. Additional attractions include Eville Asylum, Slaughter Hotel, and Terror in the Dark. Heads up: This haunted attraction is cash only; an ATM is onsite.

Details: 7:30-midnight Saturday, 1261 W. Dalton Road, Wilmington. Runs Sept. 21-Oct. 26. $60 VIP speed pass includes all four attractions, $40 general all four attractions, $25 ride only, free ages 5-under. Free parking. Wilmingtonhauntedhollowride.com.

6. Cindependent Film Festival

Celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of filmmaking at this festival, where you can check out film blocks every day, participate in screenplay readings, master classes, and enjoy a Cinema Expo on Saturday. Emmy-nominated actor H Jon Benjamin visits Thursday for the screening of Cincinnati producer/director Caroline Creaghead's short "Relationship to Patient," in which he stars. Can't make the film festival? There's a virtual option that lets film fans view all 86 films from the comfort of their couch.

Details: 10 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $149 VIP 3-day all-access, $49 VIP one day all-access, $29 single ticket one day pass, $14 single day educator pass. Virtual viewing via eoFlix for $25. Cindependentfilmfest.org.

7. More Oktoberfest Fun

• Oktoberfest The Banks: The Banks transforms into a German biergarten with long wooden benches, live entertainment, food trucks and Oktoberfest beers on tap. Participating bars and restaurants include Fishbowl, Holy Grail, Jefferson Social, Killer Queen, The Park, The Stretch and Tin Roof.

  • Details: 5-11 p.m. Friday, 3-11 p.m. Saturday, The Banks, Freedom Way, Downtown. Free admission.

• Oxtoberfest: Enjoy games, music, a beer garden, family-friendly activities, vendors, and stein holding competitions.

  • Details: 1-8 p.m. Saturday, Uptown Parks, 2 E. High St., Oxford. Cityofoxford.org/oxtoberfest.

8. Fall Festival & Craft Show

This family-owned farm brings in over 130 craft vendors to its fall festival, which also includes pumpkins, mums, pony rides, food trucks and lots of farm activities for the kids.

Details: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Benton Farm, 11946 Old Lexington Pike, Walton. $3, free ages 12-under. bentonfarm.com.

9. Ault in Bloom

Enjoy displays of roses and flower arrangements, instruction in rose growing, flower arranging and educational activities. Entries are judged and ribbons awarded. Exhibits, cut rose sales, free children's craft, live string ensemble, En Plein Air artists, free ice cream treats and more.

Details: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Ault Park Pavilion, 5090 Observatory Circle, Mount Lookout. Free. rosesgcra.org.

10. Your Hometown History: A Local History Sampler

History organizations, museums and historic sites around Greater Cincinnati showcase their history, public and school programs, and upcoming events with hands-on exhibits, demos and presentations on the lawn of the Cincinnati Observatory. It takes place rain or shine.

Details: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout. Free. historicgreatercincy.org.

Honorable mention: 'Forecast (Pronóstico)'

Immerse yourself in the world of Moises, a man searching for meaning in his mundane, ordinary life. Written and directed by local writer and musician Victor Velez, this original short-fiction drama explores themes of love, loss and fate, offering a unique and authentic narrative that resonates deeply with the Hispanic experience.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday, Liberty Exhibition Hall, 3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside. $25. eventbrite.com.

Craft show time is coming up, and we’d love to add yours to our list. Please send the details to [email protected] with “craft show” in the subject line.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 things to do this weekend in Cincinnati: Sept. 20-22