We have your list of the fall festivals and Halloween fun in NE and East Columbus as well as Columbus’ larger venues. In case you are up for a day trip, we threw in a few large Ohio attractions too! Most of these are for the entire family, but some are specific ages (those will be noted). Some require registration (if so, it’s noted), so this is your heads up and chance to get into these events before they fill up! Many of the fall festivals and Halloween events are also listed in our CALENDAR. Also, check out our Columbus Pumpkin Patch List resource article for more fall fun.
We will continue to add to this list as we find more events, so check this article on our website for any updates (when we update, we will also announce on our facebook page).
Local Community Fall Festivals and Halloween Happenings:
Saturday, Oct. 3rd
Fall Harvest Jamboree at Smith Farms (Three Creeks, 3285 Watkins Rd.) 2–5pm Enjoy a straw maze, stick horse races, hayrides, children's farm games, crafts, & more! FREE, parking $5. Info: 614-645-3156.
{Cancelled due to weather} Columbus Commons Harvest Fair (160 S. High St ) 1-6pm. carousel rides, inflatables, hay rides, face paintings, laser tag, pumpkin painting ($2 per pumpkin), petting zoo, crafts and more! Free admin, $5 wristband (cash only) for some activities.
New Albany's Oktober Fest (150 W. Main St) 12-11pm Bounce houses, kids games, Disney characters, balloon clown, COSI, rock climbing, power jump and more. Free & pay to play activities. (Also on Friday, Oct. 2nd)
Thursday, Oct. 8th
New Albany's Trick - It's a Treat (150 W. Main St) Family event to sample some Halloween treats.
Friday, Oct. 9th
Bexley’s Harvest Festival (Jeffrey Park, 165 N. Parkview Ave.) 6–8pm Corn maze, hayrides, an enchanted walk, balloons, face painting, live music, crafts, a bonfire, & more! Free.
Saturday, Oct. 10th
Trunk or Treat Train (Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad) 6pm Two hours round trip, fun train ride.
Oakland Nurseries Fall Festival (All Columbus locations) 12-4pm Each nursery has different activities, but they include hay rides, children's game, face and pumpkin painting, special on pumpkins and much more. Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th
Grove port Apple Butter Day (Heritage Part, 551 Wirt Rd., Groveport) 10am-6pm. Apple butter stirring, crafts, antique tractor show, kids activities, and more.
Friday, Oct. 16th
Westerville’s Halloween Treat Trail Party (Everal Barn, 60 N. Cleveland Ave.) 6–8:30pm Bring costumed kids for carnival games, a trick or Treat trail, Halloween Bingo, horse drawn carriage and more! Ages 8 and under. Free.
Creepy Crawly Halloween (Worthington Community Center) 6:30-8:30pm Bugs Man's bugs, hayrides, carnival games and candy.
Boo at the Zoo (Columbus Zoo) 5pm-9pm Too much fun to list! Friday, Saturday and Sunday 16th - 18th and 23rd - 25th. Free with paid admission or membership
Saturday, Oct. 17th
Ohio Historical Society’s All Hallow’s Eve (800 E. 17th Ave) 5:30–9:30pm Spooky stories told by creepy characters, pumpkin carving ($5), maze, Halloween crafts & games, period entertainment and a bonfire with an appearance from the headless horseman. Ages 5/under free, $9 youth, $12 adult. Get tickets online.
Pumpkin Parties Gymboree Play & Music (Gahanna) 2:30pm and 4pm (two party times each day) Enjoy fall crafts, costume parade, treats and more. Saturday and Sunday, Registration needed.
Boo at the Zoo (Columbus Zoo) 10am-9pm Too much fun to list! Friday, Saturday and Sunday 16th - 18th and 23rd - 25th. Free with paid admission or membership
Sunday, Oct. 18th
Spooktacular at the Depot (921 Old Henderson) 1-5pm. Trick or treat through decorated train cars and take a train ride.
Boo at the Zoo (Columbus Zoo) 10am-9pm Too much fun to list! Friday, Saturday and Sunday 16th - 18th and 23rd - 25th. Free with paid admission or membership
Pumpkin Parties Gymboree Play & Music (Gahanna) 2:30pm and 4pm (two party times each day) Enjoy fall crafts, costume parade, treats and more. Saturday and Sunday, Registration needed.
Wednesday, Oct. 21st
Gahanna’s Creepside Festival (Creekside Park, 123 Mill St.) 4:30-8:00pm Games, activities, haunted trail, a trick or treat trail and more! Come in costume! Free.
Saturday, Oct. 24th
Ohio Historical Society’s All Hallow’s Eve (800 E. 17th Ave) 5:30–9:30pm Spooky stories told by creepy characters, pumpkin carving ($5), maze, Halloween crafts & games, period entertainment and a bonfire with an appearance from the headless horseman. Ages 5/under free, $9 youth, $12 adult. Get tickets online.
Genoa Twp. Trick-Or-Treat Village (7049 Big Walnut Rd) 12-3pm. Fun event full of activities, crafts & trick-or-treating, and more as well as hot dogs and drinks too. Free. Info: 614-895-1126.
Jefferson Township Halloween Party (7494 Clark St) 6-9pm Hayrides, bonfire, nocturnal animals, storytelling, face painting, games and candy bags for the children. Walk through Haunted (or Spooky) Forest. Food and drink for sale.
Trick or Treat at the Franklin Park Conservatory (1777 East Broad St) 11am–4pm. Trick-or-treating through seven stations and decorate a treat bucket to use. Free with admission.
Halloween in the Hollow (Shale Hollow Preserve, 6320 Artesian Run) 6:30-8:30pm. Scavenger hunt, hike, and bonfire. FREE.
Boo at the Zoo (Columbus Zoo) 10am-9pm Too much fun to list! Friday, Saturday and Sunday 16th - 18th and 23rd - 25th. Free with paid admission or membership
Reynoldsburg Community Halloween Party (JFK Park, 7232 East Main St.) 6–8pm Games, live entertainment, food & more! Come in costume. Reynoldsburg residents ONLY. Free. Info: 614-322-6806.
Sunday, Oct. 25th
Westerville’s Zombie Halloween Pool Party (Westerville Community Center) 5:30-7pm. Pumpkin pool hunt, face painting, zombie lifeguards, costume contest and more! For ages 3-11. $5 residents/$7.50 non-residents per child, adults/free. Register: activity #411212-01.
Annual Halloween Party (Inniswood Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd.) 2-4pm. Kids activities and crafts. Free. Info: call 614-508-8111
Trick or Treat Trail (Gallant Woods Preserve) 1-4pm. Costumed kids walk the treat trail, decorate pumpkins and enjoy a hayride.
North Market’s Halloween Family Funday (59 Spruce St.) 10am–3pm FREE FAMILY Halloween fun! Enjoy craft activities, trick or treating, music and more!
Boo at the Zoo (Columbus Zoo) 10am-9pm Too much fun to list! Friday, Saturday and Sunday 16th - 18th and 23rd - 25th. Free with paid admission or membership
Friday, Oct. 30th
Halloween Open House at Sharon Woods (Spring Hollow Lodge) 10am-2pm. Costumed kids can celebrate with fun games, crafts and activities. Ages 3-5 with an adult. Free. Info: 614-508-8111
Halloweenie Campfire (Blacklick Woods) 7pm Listen to myth and tales about bats, owls and other creepy creatures at an evening campfire. Info: 614-508-81111
Old Worthington Library's Pumpkin Parade 10am Ages 2-5 in costume with adult. Singing, dancing, parade around outside library.
Saturday, Oct. 31st
Trick or Tweet (Grange Audubon, 505 W. Whittier St) Preschoolers (with a caregiver) can enjoy games, learning activities and treats. $2 per child.
For a weekly list of local kid and family fun events, see our main page or subscribe to get a once a week email and be in the know!
Ohio’s larger venues, for a fun family day trip:
Young’s Jersey Dairy: Weekends in October (6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd, Yellow Springs) Cowvin's corny maze, pick your own pumpkins (and wagon ride to patch), kid's fun play land, professional story tellers, and haunted wagon rides (they say these are for younger and old kids, but her description seems scary to me for young kids. Recommend calling for details). Prices vary.
Kings Island Snoopy's Halloween Party: Weekends through Nov. 1st (Kings Island Dr., Kings Island) Fun-scary for younger kids: costume contest, twisted tales maze, gigantic hay bale maze, dance party, foam pit, tractor town, mask making, petting zoo, pony rides, games, lots of shows, trick-or-treat with dinosaurs & MORE. Free with admission. Halloween Haunt: This is for the older kids who like be to scared, really scared. Ticket prices on-line.
Cedar Point The Great Pumpkin Fest: Weekends through November 1st (One Cedar Point, Sandusky) For young children: magical house on boo hill, Halloween parade, hay bale maze, planet spooky & lots of live shows. For older children who like scary: all sorts of haunted, creepy attractions. Tickets on-line.
