It's time again for our list of the Best (FREE) Bets for this weekend. Hang in there with me; it's a long list. But here's a tip that will help you make it through the weekend. If you don't have tickets for the Bengals or Reds games, the David Sedaris show or Disney on Ice Princess Classics Sunday, stay as far away from downtown as humanly possible. The traffic is going to be insane. If you're heading to one of those fun events, get there early because parking is going to be a real pickle. Onto the list! Friday, October 8 [caption id="attachment_12545" align="alignright" width="223" caption="Catch the Ohio Valley Cyclocross competition Friday at Devou Park"][/caption] Plan a day out with the kids and watch the Ohio Valley Cyclocross competition racers attack the park's hills. If the weather holds out, it should be a great day for a PB&J and a thermos of cocoa for lunch as you watch these bikers go for the win. The event lasts until 5 p.m. at Devou Park. OK, this one has a long name, so get ready: The Wheat Ridge Olde Tyme Herb Fair and Harvest Celebration takes place from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. today through Sunday in West Union, Ohio (about an hour from Cincinnati). Obviously not a subscriber to the "less is more" theory, this long-named festival is deep in the heart of Amish Country (insert your own oxymoron here). Sure, there will be plenty to buy here, but there's also lots of free classes and demonstrations. The festival takes place on a farm, and the owners open their barns for festival-goers to get a look at how a farm works. Now if you're into buying herbs, crafts and plenty of other items, this might be a fun grown-up field trip, but if you have kids, they'll get a kick out of the wool-spinning, wood carving or plenty of other demonstrations. Click that really long name for details, directions, and a list of classes (some sound great, like Herbs 101, but it costs $5 so I can't mention it here ... oops.) [caption id="attachment_12551" align="alignright" width="239" caption="Grab your chance to be in a movie Friday at Memorial Hall (next to Music Hall)"][/caption] Want to be in a movie? OK, if you make it in, it will probably be for a nano-second, but hey, no one has to know that when you tell the story at a cocktail party. Head to Memorial Hall tonight at 8 p.m. for your chance to be in the Black Dove, featuring the music of Johnny Bassett and hosted by B-105. It's a country thing, so go ahead and break out those boots and hats. Saturday, October 9 Sauerkraut fudge? Yeah, that sounds pretty gross to me, but hey, if it works for you, head to the Sauerkraut Festival in Waynesville to try this and many other sauer-infused dishes. This alcohol-free festival takes place from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Last year's attendance topped 350,000, so apparently many people are fans of the kraut. Sure, there's live music and crafts, but I can't help but think some people go just to cross "eat a sauerkraut cookie" off their bucket list. OK Bonsai fans, this one's for you. If you've ever tried growing one of these trees, you know what skill it takes. Now head to Krohn Conservatory from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday or Sunday to see how the folks of the Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati (yes, there is such a thing) get theirs to grow at the Fall Bonsai Show. There will be more than 50 Bonsais on display, and Society members will be on hand to answer your questions. [caption id="attachment_12557" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Check out the Navy Bean festival in Rising Sun. Yes, we Tri-Staters look for any excuse to throw a party"][/caption] If you've lived in the Tri-State for some time, you know we're always looking for excuses to throw a festival. This one's certainly no exception. Check out the Turning of the Leaves festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in Augusta. There's plenty of crafts and food, and they'll even throw in some down home Bluegrass music and tractor demonstrations with the scarecrow decorating and pumpkin carving contests. And to continue the theme of festivals for just about any reason, head to Rising Sun to celebrate beans at the Navy Bean festival. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. and the fun continues with a battle of the bands, face painting and more. If you've never been to the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington, this is the last weekend to check out A Time To Celebrate, its current exhibition. While you're there, take a tour of this beautiful building, much of which has been  restored and refurbished, including its spectacular stained-glass dome. Fall back to the 1800s with this event of the same name from 1 to 5 p.m. at Woodland Mound in Beechmont. Learn how to make candles and cornhusk dolls, and even how to throw a tomahawk. See how a blacksmith would have made horseshoes, and enjoy many other activities in the Badge Bluff area. [caption id="attachment_12562" align="alignright" width="128" caption="Kids can have hands-on fun Saturday and Sunday at Artworld"][/caption] From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, grab the kids and have some hands-on fun with this month's Family ARTventure, Artworld at the Cincinnati Art Museum. This month's theme is the color white. Sounds boring? Nope. These ARTventures are always fun, with a little learning snuck in for good measure. And while the event is free and so is admission to the museum in general, you'll have to pay for parking if you want to park close. If not, park near Mirror Lake or at the overview circle free and walk up to the museum. Again, I shouldn't be recommending things that aren't free, but I'll share this tip with you because it's a real bargain. On your way out of the museum, go to its gift shop. Take a sharp right once you enter and head straight back to the wall. Let your child choose one post card from the wall of his or her favorite piece they saw that day. Each post card costs less than $1, and not only will your kid be ready for AP Art History in high school as they learn the names of the works, but they can also collect these cards for decorations. Pick up some clear contact paper at your local craft store and mount these to the wall. Pretty soon, you'll have an inexpensive and educational decoration for their room. Now back to the free stuff! Do you know the difference between an Oak and a Maple tree? Me either. Looks like we both should head to Burnet Woods from 1 to 2 p.m. in Clifton and take its class, Native Tree ID. And if you bring the kids, make sure you visit Burnet's mega-cool swing set near the playground. There's only three seats and it's nothing fancy, but the swings are really high off the ground so you can get some good air on those bad boys. The playground is also pretty cool with toys you just don't see very often. But don't worry, the playground has a really good sponge floor so if you wipe out trying to swing on that giant arm circle, you shouldn't hurt anything except your pride. [caption id="attachment_12572" align="alignright" width="184" caption="Enjoy free pony rides and more at the Great Pumpkin Festival in West Chester"][/caption] Watch out Charlie Brown, West Chester's hosting the Great Pumpkin Festival from 2 to 6 p.m. at Keehner Park on Barret Road. This one is a sure hit with free pony and wagon rides, inflatable fun, a petting zoo, a not-so-scary haunted trail and a whole host of other non-spooky and free activities for the little ones. Now this is bound to be one incredibly popular event (translation: crazy long lines), but it will be tons of fun if you're the patient type. Sunday, October 10 If you are one of the thousands heading downtown for the Sunday of fun (not an official name, but it works here), check out the Hudy Tailgating Party starting at 11 a.m. on Fountain Square. Watch the game with friends and dance to the Naked Karate Girls. If you've never heard of them, they're a band, and they're quite well clothed, so no worries there. [caption id="attachment_12589" align="alignright" width="139" caption="Brides to be: Check out 200 years of wedding gown styles at the Cincinnati Art Museum"][/caption] Warning: do not attempt to take most husbands or sons to this exhibit, but interested parties can check out 200 years of wedding gowns from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Art Museum. The exhibit boasts 50 gowns. There's also a section called Bride and Groom Collide, featuring paintings, sculptures and drawing connected with the theme of falling in love. OK, you might have a better shot at dragging most men into that one, then sneaking the gown exhibit in after. But the Bengals are playing and it's Reds playoff weekend, so tell him he owes you one when you take a friend instead. If sports aren't your thing, head to Miami Whitewater at 2 p.m. for a guided hike to learn about buckeyes, walnuts and the animals who depend on them. Don't give a hoot about nuts? How about animals? Come see them at 2 p.m. at the Sharon Centre at Sharon Woods. A naturalist will guide the discussion and walk to the Gorge trail. And if you're not interested in either one of these, check out the fall foliage at the Shawnee Lookout Miami Fort Trail on a guided hike that starts at 2 p.m. where you'll see the views from overlooks of the Ohio and Great Miami rivers.