What Should We Do This Weekend? Columbus, Ohio, October 18-20, 2019
Looking for things to do in Columbus, Ohio this Weekend? Here are over 100 family-friendly events happening in Columbus, and Central Ohio this weekend!
October is a fun month for family-friendly activities! In the middle of this post I have a listing of the Fall Festival Weekends that happen around Columbus. You can also get a jump start by checking out my list of Family-Friendly Halloween Events in Columbus!
Family Friendly Events in Columbus, Ohio This Weekend:
FRIDAY:
8:00 AM – Haunted Greenhouse at DeMonye’s Greenhouse – enjoy an indoor straw maze, games, bouncy houses, a haunted house, corn bin and much more! Each kid gets a treat bag, pumpkin, juice and popcorn! $8.95 for kids and $2.50 for adults.
8:00 AM – Haunted Maze at Hoover Gardens – the haunted maze is open during the all business hours at Hoover Gardens!
9:00 AM – Fairfield County Trail of Scarecrows in Fairfield County – visit over 180 scarecrows from October 1 – October 31 on the Fairfield County Trail of Scarecrows!
10:00 AM – Fall Fun at Leeds Farm – Leeds Farm is open one Friday out of the whole season and this is it! If your kids are off school, head out to enjoy all of the fall-festival fun that is typically only available on the weekends!
- Related: 16 Things to Do at Leeds Farm
10:00 AM – Columbus Pop Up Shop of Clothing, Toys & More at Franklin County Fairgrounds – shop for gently used baby, kids and maternity clothes, toys, baby gear and more! Check the link for the specific times throughout the weekend.
10:00 AM – The Circleville Pumpkin Show – celebrate all things pumpkins with contests, displays, 1000+ lb pumpkins, vendors, amusement rides, pumpkin treats, parades and more!
10:00 AM – Tots on the Trails at Blacklick Woods Metro Park – take a slow paced half mile hike with your toddler to discover nature. Ages 1-4.
10:00 AM – Harvest Blooms at Franklin Park Conservatory – view thousands of pumpkins and other autumnal decorations in the Conservatory’s largest fall display yet!
10:00 AM – Apple Butter Stirrin’ at Historic Roscoe Village – this annual festival features the making of homemade apple butter over wood fires. There will be handmade crafts for sale, exhibits and demonstrations, live entertainment and more!
10:00 AM – Toddler Open Gym at Thompson Recreation Center – drop in for a free Open Gym time at the rec center!
4:00 PM – Ghost Trolley at The Ohio Railway Museum – this event features the opportunity to walk through decorated cars and hear Halloween stories! There will be a train ride featuring the store of the Ghost Trolley. Kids will receive a goodie bag. Tours occur every half hour. Pre-sale tickets are available online. This event is family-friendly but parental judgment is encouraged on the scare level for your children.
5:00 PM – Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – come in costume to meet your favorite characters, visit different, decorated regions of the zoo and collect candy along the way!
5:00 PM – Pumpkin Nights at Franklin Park Conservatory – walk through the Harvest Blooms display at night, featuring glowing pumpkins, jack-o-lantern displays, pumpkin houses and more! There will be carving demos and live performances. Admission includes access to the Chihuly: Celebrating Nature after dark exhibit. Members receive 50% off admission.
6:00 PM – October Kids Night Out! at Color Me Mine (Dublin) – drop off your kids (ages 6 and up) for a fun night of painting a Jack-o-Lantern. There will be prizes and games. Pre-registration required.
6:00 PM – Halloween-themed Family Fun Night at Highbanks Metro Park – come in costume to play Halloween games and make s’mores over the campfire. Ages 3 and up.
6:00 PM – Fall Fest: Trick-or-Treat & Pumpkin Hike at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park – take a 1 mile hike along a jack-o-lantern lit trick or treat trail. All ages welcome.
6:00 PM – Bexley Harvest Festival at Jeffery Mansion and Park – this event features a corn maze, hayrides, live music, a magic show, face painting, bonfire and more!
6:30 PM – Kids Night Out! – Candy Chemistry at Young Chefs Academy of Gahanna – drop the kids off for fun in the kitchen featuring candy chemistry! $35/child. Ages 9 and up. Register in advance.
7:00 PM – Annie at Westgate Community Center – watch a presentation of Annie by the Westgate Theatre Company and the Carriage Place Players! Tickets are $5 at the door. On Saturday you can participate in the Empty Bowls event to fight hunger in our community. For a $10 donation, get a handmade bowl and a serving of soup and bread.
7:30 PM – Haunted Wagon Rides at Young’s Dairy – this is a family-friendly, but scary, wagon ride with scary stories, monsters and gobblins. $13 for ages 5 and up. 4 and under are $5.
8:00 PM – Fall Stargazing at Glacier Ridge Metro Park – meet at the Wind Turbine to look at planets and constellations using telescopes and binoculars.
(Continue Scrolling for the rest of the weekend’s events)
Fall Festivals Happening On the Weekends in Columbus and Central Ohio
I will be including this information each weekend through Fall Festival Season. More will be added as they open in October. Please click each link for exact times and details!
- Also check: A Complete List of Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals in Central Ohio for more apple and pumpkin farms!
Pumpkin Picking and Hayrides at Kuhlweins Farm Market & Deli – Fall Fun at Kuhlweins Market and Deli includes a hayride, animal zoo, corn maze and pumpkin picking! Inflatables, pony rides, balloon twisting and face painting on the weekends!
Great Pumpkin Fun Center at Pigeon Roost – Pigeon Roost features a pumpkin patch, farm animals and The Great Pumpkin Fun Center with giant slides, mazes, a fort, play areas, and tons more! Weekends include wagon rides, face painting, crafters and concessions!
Fall Fun Days at Circle S Farms – This farm is one of the few open during the week! Fall Fun Days feature hayrides, pumpkin picking, farm market, petting zoo, corn and sunflower mazes, bale cave and more!
Corn Maze at Lynd Fruit Farm – At Lynd Fruit Farm you can pick your own apples and pumpkins and enjoy the farm market on its own or also head over to the giant corn maze where there is also a barrel train, fun zone, bounce house, wagons rides and more!
The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek – The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek features a huge corn maze plus a cow train, barnyard bouncer, petting zoo, kiddie maze, ball zone, slides, laser tag, pedal carts, kids fun barn, tether ball and more! Hayrides are also available!
Family Fun at Miller’s Country Gardens – Saturdays and Sundays include hayrides to pick your own pumpkins, barrel rides, play area, straw tunnel and animals!
Fall Farm Fun at Leeds Farm – Leeds Farm is open six weekends only through October 28 with hayrides, farm animals, farm pond, pumpkins and gourds! Back 40 Barn Pass admission includes Pumpkin Jumps, John Deere combine slide, mountain slides, and mini zip lines, rolling tubes, straw forts, pig races, pedal carts, the biggest corn box in Ohio, and more! Read: 16 Things to do at Leeds Farm!
Fall Fun Festival at Dill’s Greenhouse – Fall festivals are happening on the weekends, September 28 – October 27. Hayrides, corn maze, fire pit and hotdogs and s’mores for roasting (bring your own or purchase there), straw maze, sand box, pumpkins, games and activities!
Fall Festival at Hidden Creek Farms – Festival weekends offer hayrides, pumpkin picking, pumpkin painting, fall decorations, food, pony rides, slide, kids play barn, corn pit, farm animals, straw maze, and more!
Freeman’s Farm Fall Festival at Freeman’s Farm – The Fall Festival weekends at Freeman’s Farm include hayrides, kettle corn, campfire foods, scarecrow making, a petting zoo and apple butter making! Admission is free, but there is a charge for some activities. Read: 3 Can’t-Miss Pumpkin Patches near Columbus including our visit to Freeman’s Farm!
Fall Festival Weekends at Orchard and Company – Fall Festival weekends include apple picking, fishing, hay rides, corn pit, farm animals, barrel train rides, pedal car track, tire climb, zip line, gem mining and more! Read about our Plain City Apple Picking Adventures!
Fall Festival at the Farm at Wanut Creek – the farm is open Monday through Saturday. Weekend activities include apple butter cooking, candle carving, basket weaving, spinning and weaving and more in addition to these activities going on all week: corn box, pumpkin slingshot, straw castle, kids maze, scavenger hunt and more! Read about our visit to The Farm at Walnut Creek!
Fall Fun at Lehner’s at Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm – fall fun at Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm begins this weekend and includes over 30 rides and attractions including a corn maze, giant LEGOS, a play barn, mini golf, pumpkins and more!
Pumpkin Picking at Sharp Farm – This farm includes a petting zoo, corn maze, and a U-Pick pumpkin patch!
Family Fun at Young’s Jersey Dairy – Young’s Dairy offers pumpkin picking, Cowvin’s Corny Playground, a hayride to pick your own pumpkin, haunted wagon rides, kiddie corral, fast slide, batting cages, mini golf and more!
SATURDAY:
8:00 AM – Haunted Greenhouse at DeMonye’s Greenhouse – enjoy an indoor straw maze, games, bouncy houses, a haunted house, corn bin and much more! Each kid gets a treat bag, pumpkin, juice and popcorn! $8.95 for kids and $2.50 for adults.
8:00 AM – Haunted Maze at Hoover Gardens – the haunted maze is open during the all business hours at Hoover Gardens!
9:00 AM – Fairfield County Trail of Scarecrows in Fairfield County – visit over 180 scarecrows from October 1 – October 31 on the Fairfield County Trail of Scarecrows!
9:00 AM – Country Crossroads Education of Yesterday 15th Annual Farm Show – see displays of tractors, trucks, fire trucks, cars and equipment! Learn about farm life in Dresden, Ohio!
9:00 AM – Closing Market at Westgate Farmer’s Market – head out to the final market of the season! Food trucks will be Broke Johnny and Westside Weenies. Pigeon Roost Farms will be at the market with pumpkins for kids to paint. $2/pumpkin.
10:00 AM – Try-It Together: You Become a Meteorologist at COSI Columbus’ Dynamic Hands-On Science Center! – kids ages 2-6 and their favorite adult can enjoy STEM activities together. This month’s theme is meteorology! Kids can bring a storm to life and take part in other hands on activities! $10/person.
10:00 AM – Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – come in costume to meet your favorite characters, visit different, decorated regions of the zoo and collect candy along the way!
10:00 AM – Pumpkin Painting Saturdays & Sundays at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – for $3 kids can paint a pumpkin masterpiece at the pumpkin painting station!
10:00 AM – Harvest Blooms at Franklin Park Conservatory – view thousands of pumpkins and other autumnal decorations in the Conservatory’s largest fall display yet!
10:00 AM – Columbus Pop Up Shop of Clothing, Toys & More at Franklin County Fairgrounds – shop for gently used baby, kids and maternity clothes, toys, baby gear and more! Check the link for the specific times throughout the weekend.
10:00 AM – Brick or Treat at Legoland Discovery Center (Columbus) – this event will feature a LEGO pumpkin patch, giveaways and seasonal decorations throughout the center! All activities are included with admission.
10:00 AM – The Circleville Pumpkin Show – celebrate all things pumpkins with contests, displays, 1000+ lb pumpkins, vendors, amusement rides, pumpkin treats, parades and more!
10:00 AM – Halloween Hop! at Columbus Speech & Hearing Center – this is a free event for kids of all abilities! There will be trick or treating with non-food options, magic, music, art, therapy pups, face painting, popcorn and more! There will be resources available and a sensory friendly room for families who need a break!
10:00 AM – 2019 Old Hilliard Halloween Haunt at Hilliard’s Station Park – visit the local businesses for trick-or-treat, a scavenger hunt, family friendly activities, a costume contest and more!
10:00 AM – Day of the Dead at Green Lawn Cemetery – celebrate the Day of the Dead with art exhibitions, live music, dance performances, interactive activities for kids, art vendors, a tour of the cemetery, Mexican food and more!
10:00 AM – The Great GeekFest 2019 at Delaware County District Library – celebrate all things “geek” at this free event for all ages! from video games to cosplaying there’s something for everyone!
10:00 AM – Apple Butter Stirrin’ at Historic Roscoe Village – this annual festival features the making of homemade apple butter over wood fires. There will be handmade crafts for sale, exhibits and demonstrations, live entertainment and more!
10:00 AM – Opening Day: Unseen Oceans at COSI Columbus’ Dynamic Hands-On Science Center! – opening day of this new exhibit will include chalk art, a dance performance and a steel drum band! This exhibit is a $5 add on to general admission.
11:00 AM – Creepside Festival at Creekside Park & Plaza – this free event features live music, games, a not-so-scary trail, trick or treat, inflatables an more! Appropriate for all ages.
11:00 AM – Día De Los Muertos at The Ohio State University – this even includes a family celebration at Gateway Film Center, Junior’s Food Truck, a showing of the movie Coco, a Día De Los Metros procession and more!
11:30 AM – Free MEALS for KIDS! at Hilltop YMCA – free meals will be available for kids until 12:30 PM.
12:00 PM – Great Pumpkin Celebration! at Cabela’s – this free event includes a photo in the pumpkin patch with the Peanuts gang, free crafts, games and prizes! There will be a costume parade and contest!
12:00 PM – FALL FEST at The Fort, Columbus – this free event features food trucks, beer and wine, a pumpkin patch and restored Seagrave fire trucks.
1:00 PM – Halloween in the Park at Carl Frye Park – come in costume for treats and goodies!
1:00 PM – Open Barn Days 2019 at Sunrise Sanctuary – visit the Sanctuary to see the animals that are cared for there. Funds raised go towards caring for the animals. Tickets can be purchased in advance.
1:00 PM – Fall Farmaplooza at The Barn at Blystone Farm – this festival will feature music, food, contests, animal encounters, face painting, raffles, sack races and more! Admission is free but donations are accepted.
1:00 PM – Feed the Stream at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park – visit the nature center to learn about and feed the fish in the steam.
2:00 PM – Halloween Cooking Class at 1400 Food Lab – learn to make some spooky dishes for Halloween including witches’ brew, veggie skeletons and more! Purchase tickets online.
2:00 PM – Middle Grade Book Club at Beanbag Books – kids in grades 5-8 can gather to discuss “Land Of Stories: The Wishing Spell” by Chris Colfer. Snacks will be provided. Dress as your favorite character.
- Related: Exploring Delaware with Your Kids
3:00 PM – Boo ‘n Brew at Polaris Fashion Place – this free event features live music, family-friendly activities, food trucks, beer, and a costume contest. Kids can participate in KidX: Boo Bash (see below).
3:00 PM – KidX: Boo Bash at Polaris Fashion Place – this free event includes trick-or-treating, airbrush tattoos, balloon twisting, entertainers, activities from COSI an more! There will be a costume parade and contest.
3:00 PM – Disney Movie Saturday at Westland Area Library – kids 12 and under can watch a classic Disney movie.
4:00 PM – Halloween Fun Fest at Life Time Fitness – Easton – this event is for kids ages 5-12 and includes a costume contest, crafts and more!
4:00 PM – Ghost Trolley at The Ohio Railway Museum – this event features the opportunity to walk through decorated cars and hear Halloween stories! There will be a train ride featuring the store of the Ghost Trolley. Kids will receive a goodie bag. Tours occur every half hour. Pre-sale tickets are available online. This event is family-friendly but parental judgment is encouraged on the scare level for your children.
4:00 PM – Fall Festival at Destination Downtown Lancaster – this event includes live music, family-friendly activities, food vendors, a beer garden and more!
5:00 PM – Halloween Family Fun Night at Three Creeks Metro Park – this event includes not-too-scary stores, s’mores round the campfire, trunk or treating and more!
5:00 PM – Pumpkin Nights at Franklin Park Conservatory – walk through the Harvest Blooms display at night, featuring glowing pumpkins, jack-o-lantern displays, pumpkin houses and more! There will be carving demos and live performances. Admission includes access to the Chihuly: Celebrating Nature after dark exhibit. Members receive 50% off admission.
5:30 PM – All Hallows’ Eve at Ohio Village – this annual event features 1890’s style fun, a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, entertainment, fortune telling, crafts, games and more!
6:00 PM – Family Movie Night at Pataskala Public Library – free popcorn and drink will be included at this screening of Toy Story 4. All ages welcome.
6:00 PM – Community Bonfire at Village Green Park – this annual event will offer free hot dogs and marshmallows to roast over the fire plus other treats!
6:00 PM – Halloween Party at the Park at Jefferson Community Park – this event features hayrides, nocturnal animals, a bonfire, games, story telling, a trick-or-treat trail and more! Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
6:30 PM – Pumpkin Hike at Alley Park – take a walk along a trail of carved pumpkins! You can join in the carving at 8:00 AM that morning! The trail its open from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
7:00 PM – Autumn Lantern Stroll at Sharon Woods Metro Park – take a 1 mile walk through the park with a lantern.
7:30 PM – Haunted Wagon Rides at Young’s Dairy – this is a family-friendly, but scary, wagon ride with scary stories, monsters and gobblins. $13 for ages 5 and up. 4 and under are $5.
SUNDAY:
8:00 AM – Fairfield County Trail of Scarecrows in Fairfield County – visit over 180 scarecrows from October 1 – October 31 on the Fairfield County Trail of Scarecrows!
9:00 AM – Kids Yoga & Storytime at Cover to Cover Bookstore – join GoYoga for games, storytelling and physical activities. $10/child, ages 5-8.
10:00 AM – Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – come in costume to meet your favorite characters, visit different, decorated regions of the zoo and collect candy along the way!
10:00 AM – Harvest Blooms at Franklin Park Conservatory – view thousands of pumpkins and other autumnal decorations in the Conservatory’s largest fall display yet!
10:00 AM – Pumpkin Painting Saturdays & Sundays at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – for $3 kids can paint a pumpkin masterpiece at the pumpkin painting station!
10:00 AM – Country Crossroads Education of Yesterday 15th Annual Farm Show – see displays of tractors, trucks, fire trucks, cars and equipment! Learn about farm life in Dresden, Ohio!
10:00 AM – Brick or Treat at Legoland Discovery Center (Columbus) – this event will feature a LEGO pumpkin patch, giveaways and seasonal decorations throughout the center! All activities are included with admission.
10:00 AM – Trick or Treat on the Farm at Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm
- Related: Five on Friday: Fall Farms
10:00 AM – Apple Butter Stirrin’ at Historic Roscoe Village – this annual festival features the making of homemade apple butter over wood fires. There will be handmade crafts for sale, exhibits and demonstrations, live entertainment and more!
12:00 PM – Great Pumpkin Celebration! at Cabela’s – this free event includes a photo in the pumpkin patch with the Peanuts gang, free crafts, games and prizes! There will be a costume parade and contest!
12:00 PM – 20th Annual Halloween Pet Parade and Fall Festival at Easton Town Center – bring your pet in costume for the annual pet parade and fall festival! (Or just come to watch!) Parade signs up at 2:00 PM! Registration for pets is available online.
1:00 PM – Trick or Treat Trail at Gallant Woods Park – collect candy and treats from characters along the spooky trail. Decorate pumpkins, take a hayride and more!
1:00 PM – Ghost Trolley at The Ohio Railway Museum – this event features the opportunity to walk through decorated cars and hear Halloween stories! There will be a train ride featuring the store of the Ghost Trolley. Kids will receive a goodie bag. Tours occur every half hour. Pre-sale tickets are available online. This event is family-friendly but parental judgment is encouraged on the scare level for your children.
2:00 PM – For Kids: Make Wizard Wands at Highbanks Metro Park – take a hike through the first to discover magical trees, decorate a wand and dress as your favorite Harry Potter character! Ages 5-12.
2:00 PM – Forest Fungi Frenzy at Blendon Woods Metro Park – search for mushrooms in the park!
- Related: Exploring Blendon Woods Metro Park
2:00 PM – 7th Annual MUMS & Mummies at Westgate Park – this event includes costume contests for kids, families and pets! There will be games and activities, hot dogs and apple cider, fireside stories and a (tree) trunk or treat! (Come see me – I’ll be handing out treats at this event!)
2:00 PM – Trick or Treat & Costume Contest at The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek – trick or treat around the maze in your costume! A Costume Contest will begin at 3:00 PM.
3:00 PM – Sunday Stories at Homestead Metro Park – enjoy a story about animals that live in Ohio (and maybe meet some of them!). Ages 6 and under.
3:00 PM – Spook Out Movie Magic: HOCUS POCUS at Ohio Theatre – watch a screening of Hocus Pocus with pre-show and intermission entertainment and a costume contest! Tickets are available online.
5:00 PM – Bison Bison at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park – learn about the bison on a 1 mile hike!
5:00 PM – Pumpkin Nights at Franklin Park Conservatory – walk through the Harvest Blooms display at night, featuring glowing pumpkins, jack-o-lantern displays, pumpkin houses and more! There will be carving demos and live performances. Admission includes access to the Chihuly: Celebrating Nature after dark exhibit. Members receive 50% off admission.
*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. Enjoy what you do today!*
