Fall Festival activities are all over Bluffton, Sept. 26
By Paula Pyzik Scott
The 21st annual Bluffton Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26 has a new promoter--the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce--and a mix of new and familiar family-focused activities. The festival provides many free options as well as opportunities to purchase food and merchandise.
Fall Festival activities will take place at multiple locations, shown on this map and linked below.
FALL FAMILY FUN AT BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY
- Snacks, crafts & activities
- 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Moyer Nature Center, Bluffton University Nature Preserve
AMERICA 250 APPLE PIE BAKING CONTEST
- Judging at 11:00 a.m.,
- Wine Lounge 1861, 115 N Main St.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DOWNTOWN ACTIVITIES
- Pumpkin painting, yard games. Inflatables, face painting, trackless train, cotton candy, popcorn, candied nuts, touch-a-truck
- 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Vine Street north of Main
- 9:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. Food Trucks, downtown Bluffton
SCHUMACHER HOMESTEAD & SWISS HERITAGE CENTER
- Homestead tours, demonstrations, farm animal petting zoo, horse-drawn wagon rides, period games, straw maze, music & more
- 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at 8350 Bixel Road
MAPLE CREST ACTIVITIES
- 700 Maple Crest Ct.
- Fishing Derby, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
- Antique tractor show, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
- Hometown Hearing Center, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Food, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
- Bake Sale, 10:00 a.m.until sold out
- Paws and Hooves Miniature Horses, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Live music, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Kiddie Tractor Pull, 1:00-2:00 p.m., registration at 12:30
53RD ANNUAL BLUFFTON CRAFT SHOW
- 100+ crafters, vendors & food trucks
- 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Bluffton High School, 106 W College Ave.
BLUFFTON PUBLIC LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE
- Fundraiser supporting the Bluffton Public Library
- 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
- Lower level of the Bluffton Public Library, 145 S Main St.
BLUFFTON CARS & COFFEE
- Monthly gathering of car and motorcycle enthusiasts
- 8:00-11:00 a.m.
- Masterpiece Signs & Graphics, 902 N Main St.
BLUFFTON FARMERS MARKET
- Locally produced fruits and vegetables, baked goods, soaps and lotions, garden plants, and other local specialties.
- 8:00 a.m.-Noon
- Citizens National Bank parking lot, 102 S Main St.
Stories Posted This Week
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Friday, October 16, 2026
- Production offers a modern take on the story of St. Clare of Assisi
- Bluffton volleyball edged in 5 by Van Buren
- Pirate girls soccer tie O-G
- October 16 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Bluffton Council recap: Officers honored for 25 years of service
- Bluffton Clean Up teams up with Troop 3256 Cub Scouts
- Ada FFA: Feeding the Farmers
- Nov. 7 Fall Community Day at Bluffton University
- Quarry Farm Nature Preserve news for Fall 2026
Thursday, October 15, 2026
- DeWine announces $200M Rural Health Transformation program award
- Herb program with Marge Lafollette, Oct. 15
- Prairie seeding activity at Bluffton University, October 24
- Food for thought: Choline for the brain
- Results for 5K on October 2, Bluffton University Homecoming event
- 15 minutes with Sherry Miller, senior center activities coordinator
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 14
- CANCELLED Main St. closure on October 15
- Frederick Clyde Warren founded True-2-Form Plastics
- Pirate boys soccer beats Wapak in regular season finale
- Pirate girls soccer defeats Liberty Center
- Mennonite pastor to explore ‘good news’ in creation
- Bluffton University earns recognition in U.S. News & World Report rankings
- Obituary for Deborah "Debbie" Welch, 74
- Spirits and exorcism presentation during University Spiritual Life Week Forum
- Dodging bullets: Bluffton oral history 90+ years after Dillinger robbery
- Nora Matthews named BHS Student of the Month for September 2026
- ICAPP analysis on charter status and local autonomy