Looking for fall festivals and Halloween happenings within our community (focusing on NE/SE Columbus)? We have the list, as well as some of Columbus’ larger venue's fall events. 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 (or will be soon).
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:
Wednesday Oct. 10th
Gahanna’s Creepside Festival (Creekside Park, 123 Mill St.) 5:30-8:30pm Games, activities, a haunted trail, a trick or treat trail and more! Come in costume! Free. Info: Website/614-324-4250.
Thursday, Oct. 11th
Taste of Gahanna Halloween Party (Aladdin Shrine Complex, 3850 Stelzer Rd) 6–9pm Unlimited food samples, live music & door prizes! Costume contests and "Chefs Challenge". Tickets: Adults $20 in advance/$25 the week of. Ages 4-10 - $10. Ages 3/under- Free. Tickets on-line or at the Chamber office (1000 Creekside Plaza: section C). Info: website/614-471-0451.
Saturday, Oct. 13th
Harvest the Arts Festival (Doran's Farm, New Albany) 11am-4pm Live entertainment, face and pumpkin painting, kids games, scarecrow making, candle dipping, sand art, entertainment and more. Free admission. Info: 614-775-6222.
Worthington’s Fall Festival (Village Green in Downtown Worthington) 9am–4pm Lots of activities for kids, like story telling and pumpkin painting, hayrides as well as an arts and crafts show and live music. Admission is free, vendors charge. Info: website.
Fall Harvest Jamboree at Smith Farms (Three Creeks, 3285 Watkins Rd.) 12–5pm Enjoy a corn maze, hay rides, children's farm games, art activities, & more! Kids get one pumpkin while they last (for free). FREE, parking $5. Info: 614-645-3156.
Columbus Commons Fall Harvest Day (160 S. High St ) 1-6pm. Old-fashioned fun games and activities, and inflatables. Free movie (Babe) in evening (6pm) followed by fireworks. Free. Info: website
North Market’s Harvest Party (59 Spruce St.) 8am–5pm There will be live music, face painting (10am-3pm), free pumpkin cookies for kids, kids crafts, Cowboy fun show, and more! Admission is FREE. Info: website/614-463-9664.
Ohio Historical Society’s All Hallow’s Eve (800 E. 17th Ave) 5:30–9:30pm Younger crowd: Spooky stories told by creepy characters, pumpkin carving, fortune telling, Halloween crafts & games, period entertainment and a bonfire. After the bonfire, the headless horseman comes out & a storyteller retells the tale. Ages 5/under free, $9 youth, $12 adult. Info & Register: website/800-686-1541.
Powell’s Autumn Community Bonfire (Village Green Park, 47 Hall St). Free hot dogs, donut holes, cider and marshmallows all around a warm bonfire. FREE. Info: website.
Sunday, Oct. 14th
Westerville’s Haunted Halloween Pool Party (Westerville Community Center) 6-7:30pm. Pumpkin pool hunt, pumpkin decorating, 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. Info: 614-901-6500.
Whole Foods Pumpkin Fest (Whole Foods Dublin) 1-3pm. Pumpkin painting (Kid’s Klub), pumpkin carving demo, pumpkin treats & tastings and more! Free. Info: 614-760-5556.
Spooktacular at The Depot (921 Old Henderson Rd) 1-4pm. Trick-or-treat in the decorated train cars. Haunted train rides for $2/per ride or $5/all day pass. Free trick-or-treating. Info: website.
Friday, Oct. 19th
Boo at the Zoo! (Columbus Zoo) 5–9pm Fridays, 10am– 9pm Sat. & Sun. Pumpkin plaza, Ichabod's Tarrytown Tale (live show), little boo mansion, little boo maze, meet and greet Casper the Friendly Ghost, Wendy and Hot Stuff, Creepy Hallow Express Haunted Train Ride and more! Treat stations around zoo! Free with paid admission (members free) Info: website.
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! Children ages 8 and under. Free. Info: 614-901-6500.
Saturday, Oct 20th
The Works Harvest Festival (The Works, 55 South First St., Newark) 11am–3 pm Includes special art projects, science shows, interactive skits, painting and live music. $2 per person in addition to general admission (COSI’s reciprocal benefits do not apply for special events like these). Info: website/call 740-349-9277.
Ohio Historical Society’s All Hallow’s Eve (800 E. 17th Ave) 5:30–9:30pm Younger crowd: Spooky stories told by creepy characters, pumpkin carving, fortune telling, Halloween crafts & games, period entertainment and a bonfire. After the bonfire, the headless horseman comes out and a storyteller retells the tale. Ages 5 and under free, $9 youth, $12 adult. Info & Register: website/800-686-1541.
Reynoldsburg Community Halloween Party (JFK Park, 7232 East Main St.) 6–9pm Games, live entertainment, fun food and more! Come in costume. Reynoldsburg residents only. Free. Info: 614-322-6806.
Sunday, Oct. 21st
Sunbury October Fest (Freedom Park on Route 61) 4–7pm. Food, games, hayrides, a movie, costume judging, pumpkin painting, face painting and a bonfire. Free admission. Info: 740-965-2860.
Thursday, Oct. 25th
Newark Trick-or-Treating on the Square (Newark Square) 5:30-7pm. Fun trick-or-treating. Free. Info: website.
Friday, Oct. 26th
Bexley’s Harvest Festival (Jeffrey Park, 165 N. Parkview Ave.) 6–8pm Corn maze, hayrides, an enchanted walk filled with favorite characters, a bonfire, food, drinks and more! Free. Info: website/614-559-4300.
Westerville's Halloween Midnight Madness (Uptown Westerville) 7pm-12am. Extended store hours, lots of kids activities, contests and fun displays. Free. Info: 614-794-0401.
Boo at the Zoo! (Columbus Zoo) 5–9pm Fridays, 10am–9pm Sat. & Sun. Pumpkin plaza, Ichabod's Tarrytown Tale (live show), little boo mansion, little boo maze, meet and greet Casper the Friendly Ghost, Wendy and Hot Stuff, Creepy Hallow Express Haunted Train Ride and more! Treat stations around zoo! Free with paid admission (members free) Info: website.
Saturday, Oct. 27th
Hoot Family Film Series (Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High Street) 10am. Games, story readings, the Shazzbots. The films are all "G" rated with a fun Halloween twist (non scary). Come in costume! FREE, with donation of a canned good for The Open Shelter. Info: website/614-545-2255.
Genoa Twp. Trick-Or-Treat Village (7049 Big Walnut Rd) 12-3pm. Fun event full of activities, crafts & trick-or-treating. Free. Info: 614-895-1126.
Halloween at the Park William Kraner Nature Center ( 4782 Riley Rd, Johnstown) 2-9pm. Horse drawn wagon rides, face painting, fortune telling, crafts, animals, bonfire, trick-or-treating & more. $5 per person (2 & under free). Info: website.
Powell’s Candy by the Carload (Village Green parking lot, 47 Hall St) 5-7pm. Fun trick-or-treat event as local businesses pass out treats and other goodies. Free. Info: website.
Sunday, Oct. 28th
North Market’s Kids' Halloween Party (59 Spruce St.) 12–3pm Live music, kids crafts, face painting, a bounce house, trick-or-treating, fun show, Bugman's creepy crawlies and more! Admission is FREE. Info: website/614-463-9664.
Reynoldsburg Pumpkin Carving Party (JFK Park Gazebo, 7232 East Main St) 1-2:15pm. Pumpkins and carving utensils will be provided, along with craft and refreshments. $10 per child, accompanying adult is free. Register & info: 614-322-6806, reference activity #2093.309.
Halloween at the Franklin Park Conservatory (1777 East Broad St) 1–4pm. Trick-or-treating, scary storytelling, free temp tattoos and more. Free with admission. Info: 614-645-8733.
Tuesday, Oct. 30th
Halloween Party at Piccadilly Modern Play & Creative Café (2501 E. Main St, Bexley ) 10am-12pm. Fun morning of trick-or-treating, playing and crafts, kids should come in costume. Info: website.
Easton’s Trunk or Treat (Felton/Worth @ Easton Town Center) 6-8pm. A fun trick-or-treating event where kids (with parents) can get treats from vendors fun decorated car trunks. Free. Info: website.
Pickerington’s Haunted Village (Olde Pickerington Village) 6-8pm. Family fun ghost tours, story telling, hayrides, haunted museum, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving contest (requires registration) and more. FREE. Info: website/614-833-2211.
Wednesday, Oct 31st
Galena's Costume Party (Ruffner Park) 7:30 PM. After beggar's night ends, the party begins. There will be cider & donuts, and a costume party by age category. Winner's photos go in village news & receive ribbon. All children get collector coins.
Pickerington’s Tots Trick or Treat (City Hall, 100 Lockville Rd.) 1:30-2:30pm. Costumed kids ages 2-5 can trick-or-treat through the decorated City Hall. Free. Info: website/614-833-2211
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). Special Fall Pumpkin Festival Oct. 6 & 7th with all the normal fun, plus Pumpkin Launching, caramel apple making, pumpkin painting and lots more. Prices vary. Info: website/937-325-0629.
Kings Island Howl-O-Palooza: Weekends in October (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. Info: website.
Cedar Point HalloWeekends: Weekends in October(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. Info: website.
