How to Have the Perfect Fall Day in Downtown Akron

Categories Family Fun Shop Local Food & Drink Budget-Friendly Arts & Entertainment

One of the best things about living in Northeast Ohio is getting to experience the changing seasons—especially when the changing of seasons is as lovely as it is from summer to fall. If you’re on the hunt for activities to help you make the most of autumn in downtown Akron, let us be your guide. We’ve got a full-day itinerary for you to build on, which you can use for inspiration to stay busy (and cozy) all season long.

First Thing’s First: Fall Beverages

Now that it’s officially the spookiest, coziest season of the year, downtown’s establishments are prepared with menus full of warm seasonal beverages (in both temperature and flavor). Pumpkin spice is a given, but our downtown cafés go above and beyond to create drinks that are creative, unique, and deliciously autumny. Wrap your chilly hands around a steaming mug from one of the neighborhood’s many coffee shops, like Muggswigz, the Daily Pressed, Evelyn’s, Akron Coffee Roasters, The Green Dragon Inn, Ilić Café, Kabylia Baguette, Chameleon, or Sweet Mary’s.

Step Two: Cozy Up With Some Good Reading

A good book pairs so well with a good drink, and thankfully, there are several places in the neighborhood to secure your next read. The library, with its catalog of 2.4 million items, is a given, and there’s tons of seating throughout the building to keep you comfy. If you prefer to buy your books rather than borrow, the Library Shop at Main and Rubber City Comics are also can’t-miss reading destinations for you this fall.

Next Up: Stretch Your Legs and Take in the Foliage

As the Alfred Wainwright saying goes, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” So bundle up (if it’s chilly), don your rainboots (if it’s drizzling), and take a walk on the Towpath Trail, where even in the middle of the city, you can take in beautiful fall foliage and see wildlife like muskrats, mallard ducks, Canada geese, great blue herons, and perhaps even coyotes living and hunting on the Ohio & Erie Canal. If you’re looking for a quaint spot to pause on a bench or gaze at man-made waterfalls, don’t miss a visit to Lock 2. Then, try walking from the center of downtown to the Mustill Store for a fall “hike” that’s completely accessible and filled with scenic views of both the city skyline and the natural world.

Speaking of Clothing: Get Some Local Shopping In

Consider catching the Towpath Connector Trail to the Northside District, where you can do a little window shopping or even update your wardrobe for fall with a trip to Northside Cellar. The boutique is home to both designer and consignment women’s clothing that’s fitting for every age and every style. While you’re in the area, be sure to stop into Zeber-Martell Gallery for more fantastically beautiful, locally made art, home decor, gifts, and smiles. Or, maybe your style is a little more Tony Hawk, in which case you should check out Need. Skateshop, for your favorite cool sneakers, plus t-shirts and other accessories (not to mention boards, skateboard hardware and more.

Then: Have a Great Meal

After all that walking and shopping, you’ll probably be hungry and wanting something warm, hearty, and comforting. Go for an incredible burger at Missing Falls Brewery, Perfect Pour, or Barley House; gourmet but still totally affordable versions of your favorite pub sandwiches at The Circle of 5ths; a seafood boil at Boiling House; something spicy, noodle-y, or rice-based at Cilantro or Heera Indian Cuisine; get a little fancy at Crave, El Patron, the 1 Food & Spirits, or Luciano's (where you can enjoy their signature Tableside Parmesan Pasta Wheel which brings authentic Italian tradition right to your table); or some classic pizza at Totally Baked Pizza, Pizza 77, or Luigi’s. Our dining guide has listings for all the restaurants in the neighborhood, so be sure to take a peek for even more options for having a great meal downtown.

Follow That With: A Show, Gallery Tour, or Game

Oh, the entertainment! During the fall, there’s a lot to choose from. Sports fans can check the Zips Athletics schedule to see when football, soccer, and volleyball games are happening. Moviegoers can visit The Nightlight for screenings of films from around the world every day of the week. Challenge your friends to a tournament of your favorite board game (or choose a new one try) at The Green Dragon Inn Board Game Bar & Cafe (they have over 700 games to choose from!). Or, race against the clock as you and your crew try to solve one of the thrilling Great Escape Room puzzles. Theater buffs can catch a spooky, seasonal show by Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Greystone, or the Millennial Theatre Project at the Knight Stage. Lovers of galleries and museums can tour Summit Artspace’s fall exhibitions, the National Museum of Psychology, Akron Soul Train, the Akron Art Museum, the Akron History Center, or the Hower House Museum. Or, bring the kids to the Akron Children's Museum for an afternoon of STEM-inspired fun.

End With: A Seasonal Cocktail or Mocktail

Finish your perfect fall day at one of downtown’s ambient bars or restaurants boasting seasonal cocktails and mocktails. A few extra cozy picks are Bar Phoenix and the Phoenix Room, High St. Hop House, the Northside Speakeasy, The Green Dragon Inn, Bar Phoenix, and The Circle of 5ths, but you can’t go wrong at any of downtown’s eateries or drinkeries, a few of which even have fireplaces on their patios.

BONUS: Enjoy a Fall Festival

While the Fall Festivals in downtown Akron aren't every single day, enjoying one or more of them can make for yet another way to have a perfect fall day in the neighborhood. A few choices include:

The Akron Oatmeal Festival, presented by Cascade Locks Park Association at Cascade Locks Park and the Mustill Store and Museum, usually in early October, features a wonderfully unique celebration of all things Oatmeal (Akron being the home of Ferdinand Schumacher—the "Oat King," whose pioneering 1850s oat mill helped spark oatmeal’s rise across the nation and now internationally known as Quaker Oats. The Akron Oatmeal Festival features food (not just oatmeal), live music, original Quaker Oatmeal cookies, Schumacher Look Alike contest, Parade of Schumachers and much more.

Downtown Akron Fall Fest, presented by Downtown Akron Partnership along S. Main St. and in Lock 3, usually the 2nd Saturday in October. The family-friendly Fall Fest includes trick-or-treat on Main St. with 15 - 20 trick or treat stations, plus free crafts, little spooky roaming railroad, face painting, 'smores, costume contests for kids, families, and pets, zombie line dancing and more fun.

The Smells Like Snow Coffee Festival, presented by Downtown Akron Partnership in Lock 3, usually the 1st Saturday in November. Smells Like Snow is a fabulous festival of locally-made coffee and is also loosely inspired by the cozy world created by the hit TV show Gilmore Girls. The event usually includes special guest celebrities from the show, crafts, vendors, food trucks, live music, photo opps, Gilmore trivia and, yes, much more.

Note: The hours of the coffee shops, restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues mentioned in this guide may vary. Be sure to double check their hours ahead of time to make sure you can do what you want to do, in the order you want to do it, on the day you want to do it.

For even more to do this fall in downtown Akron, keep an eye on the DAP events calendar, which has listings for festive fall celebrations, live music, trivia nights, neighborhood tours, and so much more.

See our updated traffic advisories and parking information to navigate and park downtown with ease.