Looking for something fun to do this weekend in Columbus? Try out one of these family-friendly Columbus and Ohio–based events and activities!
Family-Friendly Weekend Events in Columbus, Ohio:
1. Visit a Pumpkin Farm or Fall Festival
There are so many Fall Festivals going on in Central Ohio that there are too many to put on this list individually! Make sure to click the link to find a local farm where there are hayrides, pumpkin picking, farm activities and more! Most, but not all, of the Fall Festivals happen on the weekends only!
2. Find Your Way Out of a Corn Maze
Click the link for a list of corn mazes in Central Ohio to find one to visit this weekend!
3. Wizards & Wands Festival Westerville Public Library
From October 1-31, Westerville Public Library will be hosting the Wizards & Wands Festival with all sorts of performances and activities. There will be fantasy-themed missions and prizes! The library will be turned into a fantasy land with an Enchanted Forest to walk through in the Kids Area. This weekend will offer a Magical Storytime, and a Disney Heroes Adventure. See the link for the complete description of all activities throughout the month.
4. Brick or Treat Monster Party at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus
From October 1-31, LEGOLAND will be celebrating with a not-too-scary Brick or Treat family fun event featuring an exclusive 4D Movie, themed games and activities, Halloween photo ops and more! Included in admission.
5. Hoovers Haunted Maze
Choose between two levels of “scary” at the Haunted Maze at Hoover Gardens! The maze is open any time the store is open (generally 10AM – 5PM) and is $3/person for all-day access.
(See my list of Halloween Events for something to do every day of October!)
6. Fall Farm Family Fun at Young’s Jersey Dairy
Fall Fun at Young’s Dairy includes pumpkin picking, Cowvin’s Corny Maze & Playland, haunted wagon rides, and more! a Moo-It-All wristband is available for $25 and includes a two-dip waffle cone! Hours are daily from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
7. Service Opportunity for Kids: Help Neighbors Experiencing a Tough Time with Seeds of Caring
Kids 2-12 can warm hearts and fill bellies by packing a high-protein meal kit for our hungry neighbors, now through November 24. Get your family, group, or team together and put helping hands to work by packing a bag with items to make a delicious bean chili meal – plus a hand-decorated message to show you care!
8. Pumpkins Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory
Wednesday through Sunday you can attend this Special Engagement Event at Franklin Park Conservatory to enjoy over a thousand illuminated pumpkins along the paths, a pumpkin tunnel light show, pumpkin houses, dancing skeletons and more! There will be activities for kids, lawn games and more! Hours are 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are required.
9. Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
On Friday from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Boo at the Zoo will include family-friendly activities, Trick or Treat Trail, the Character Express, pumpkin carving, and much more!
10. Ghost Trolley at Ohio Railway Museum
On Friday and Saturday evenings, you can enjoy scary stories and eerie encounters along the railroad tracks. A train ride is included! Timed tickets are available online.
11. Great Gahanna Goblin Fest at Academy Park
On Friday from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM enjoy trick-or-treat stations, hayrides, performers, food and more! Come in costume and bring a bag.
12. Halloween on the Green in Worthington
This family-friendly Halloween event includes a Trick-or-Treat Trail, a professional pumpkin carver, dance performances, storytime and more! Come in costume for this free event on Friday from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM on the Worthington Village Green.
13. Family Halloween Party & Trunk or Treat at Vineyard Community Church
This free family-friendly Halloween party includes a Trunk-or-Treat, games, food and drink (for purchase), a dance party and hayrides on Friday from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Come in costume. The Trunk-or-Treat takes place from 6:30 PM. 7:15 PM.
14. Slaybrook Manor in Westerville
On Friday and Saturday from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM, families can walk through Slaybrook Manor (geared toward ages 6 and up), a haunted house that isn’t filled with extreme violence or gore. The haunted house is free but donations will go directly to K9s For Warriors and Homes For Our Troops. Timeslots can be reserved online but it’s not required.
15. Haunted Wagon Rides at Young’s Dairy
Haunted Wagon Rides and Scary Stories will take place on Friday and Saturday from 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM. Stories will be scary but designed for families with no touching or chasing. See the link for more details. Tickets will be for sale at the gift shop.
16. Trick or Treat at the German Village Farmers Market
Trick or treat at the German Village Farmer’s Market on Saturday from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Come in costume!
17. Halloween Haunt in Hilliard
From 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Saturday kids can visit local businesses in Hilliard to collect candy. There will be a DJ at Hilliard’s Station Park and other fun activities. Check the link for a map of participating businesses.
18. Garlic Smash & Costume Contest at Groovy Plants Ranch
On Saturday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM celebrate all things garlic at Groovy Plants Ranch with garlic-themed vendors, a costume contest, family-friendly, spooky photo ops, and a food and coffee truck.
19. Troops & Treats at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Trick-or-treat at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Saturday from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Admission (and this activity) is free!
20. COSI’s Spooky Science Spectacular
On Saturday and Sunday you can enjoy Halloween-themed science activities at COSI on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Come in costume and explore 10 hands-on stations!
21. Pop-Up Science: Spooky Science at The Works
Explore the science behind spooky experiments at The Works with hands-on activities on Saturday from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Included in admission. Costumes welcome.
22. Howl-O-Weekends at Otherworld
From 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday enjoy scavenger hunts, trick-or-treat, face painting, performances and more for the whole family at Otherworld Ohio.
23. Boo Off Broadway in Grove City Town Center
This event takes place on Saturday from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM in Town Center Park and features candy, games, activities, food trucks and more. The movie Ghostbusters will begin at 4:00 PM.
24. Momm Foundation Fall Festival
This Fall Festival takes place on Saturday from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM and will feature a pumpkin patch, game truck, inflatable, caricature artist, face painting, a trick-or-treat trail, crafts, food and drink and more!
25. Blendon Bones at Blendon Woods Metro Park
Learn about wildlife with a display of skeletons and taxidermy at Blendon Woods on Saturday from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
26. HighBall Halloween in the Short North
This Halloween event takes place in the Short North on Saturday from 2:00 PM – Midnight. General admission is free. There will be a Kids Costume Showcase at 5:10 PM. There will be live performances, a Highball Bazaar featuring spooky vendors, food trucks and more! This is an all-ages event.
27. Historic Dublin Candy Trail
Come in costume for this Candy Trail in Historic Dublin from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM on Saturday. Pick up a trail map at the Dublin Ohio Visitor’s Center or at any participating location.
28. Trick or Treat Trail at Westland High School
Families can get candy from local businesses on the Trick-or-Treat Trail at Westland High School on Saturday from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. The Central Ohio Ghostbusters will be there as well as local food trucks.
29. Monster Mash Skate Party at United Skates of America
This skate party takes place on Saturday from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM and features friendly “monsters”. Admission will be reduced for kids in costume!
30. Halloween Party at Homestead Metro Park
This Halloween party at Homestead Metro Park includes games, crafts and a trick-or-treat trivia trail on Saturday from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Bring a bag.
31. Howl-O-Ween at Sharon Woods Metro Park
This event at Sharon Woods includes a Trick-or-Treat trail, learning about nocturnal animals, not-so-scary ghost stories, games and a craft. Family-friendly costumes are welcome. This event takes place on Saturday from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
32. Fright at the Museum at Ohio History Center
Explore the spooky side of Ohio history with family-friendly activities, crafts, spooky stories and games, apple cider making, food trucks, a dance party and more on Saturday from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Ohio History Center. Tickets are available online.
33. Blacklick’s Enchanted Woods at Blacklick Woods Metro Park
Search for creatures in the enchanted woods to win a candy prize! Come in costume for this event at Blacklick Woods on Sunday from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
34. Annual Halloween Party at Inniswood Metro Gardens
This family-friendly celebration includes crafts, activities and animals from Ohio Wildlife Center on Sunday from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Inniswood Metro Gardens.
35. Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
This event features a scavenger hunt in Battelle Darby Creek Park on Sunday at 3:00 PM. Costumes welcome!
*Please be aware, information is gathered from multiple community sources. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. There may be a fee to participate in a featured activity. Please call ahead or check links to confirm activities. Inclusion of an event on this list is not considered an endorsement. Please use your best judgement when attending public events and consult your doctor if you have questions regarding the safety level of a public event. Read my disclaimer here. Enjoy what you do today!*