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 Things to do This Weekend in Columbus, Ohio:
1. Attend a Fall Festival at a Local Pumpkin Farm
It’s fall festival time at local farms! click the link above for a list of pumpkin farms in Central Ohio and all the info about what they’re offering this season!
2. Go Apple Picking
Click the link for a list of apple orchards where you can pick your own apples!
3. Explore a Corn Maze
If getting lost in a corn maze sounds like fun, click the link for a list of local farms with corn mazes that are open just during the fall season!
4. Harvest Blooms at Franklin Park Conservatory
Harvest Blooms features thousands of pumpkins, mums, cabbages and more including two pumpkin houses! Included in general admission through October 29th. Daily hours are 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
5. Wizards & Wands Festival at Westerville Public Library
The Wizard & Wands Festival at Westerville Public Library takes place throughout the entire month of October. All ages can complete “missions” throughout the month including designing a potion, a treasure hunt and more. There will be performances and activities throughout the month and the library will be transformed into a fantasy-themed wonderland. This weekend’s events include an Escape Room, Magical Music with Westerville Symphony and Owl Pellet Dissection!
6. Think Thanksgiving! Start a Food Drive with Seeds of Caring
Kids 4-12 can share their kind hearts, hands, and minds to help make this Thanksgiving special for local families experiencing food insecurity. In this Anywhere Project from Seeds of Caring, children will explore food insecurity through age-appropriate discussion and collect non-perishable food items to be distributed by The Byron Saunders Foundation. This project is available through November 5, 2023.
7. Alum Creek Fall Fest
The Fall Fest at Alum Creek State Park takes place all weekend beginning on Friday at 3:00 PM. Highlights include a Haunted Trail, pumpkin decorating, spooky animals and crafts, pumpkin archery and more!
8. The Great Pumpkin Walk of Downtown Bellefontaine
Attend the Giant Pumpkin Walk of Downtown Bellefontaine on Friday from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Enjoy free activities like a petting zoo, trick-or-treating, and crafts. Buy a $20 kids passport for unlimited access to attractions, including bounce houses, a mini photoshoot, hayrides, and a caramel apple bar.
9. Columbus Italian Festival
The Columbus Italian Festival takes place Friday from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Saturday from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The festival includes live entertainment, a parade, rides, Italian food and more! Tickets are $10 and kids under 12 are free with an adult. Tickets are available online.
10. Family Friendly First Friday at The Rambling House
Families are invited to join in for an afternoon of free live music at The Rambling House featuring Eric Nassau, also known as Mister E, presented by Musicologie. Attendees can expect performances by students and a selection of household favorites, along with craft soda for children and adult beverages, while enjoying complimentary popcorn and happy hour specials from 5-7 PM on Friday evening.
11. First Friday Flicks in Huber Park
Watch the movie LEGO Batman in Huber Park on Friday at dusk! Activities will be provided 30 minutes before the movie starts. This is a free event.
12. Fall Family Fun Day at Groovy Plants Ranch
Fall Family Day takes place on Saturday all day at Groovy Plants Ranch. Highlights include a pumpkin decorating contest (bring from home), carnival games, a pumpkin carrying contest for kids, a mini pumpkin spoon race, family photos and more! Some events require registration or planning ahead! See link for specific times and details.
13. Monarch Makers Market
Enjoy inclusive play, a vendor fair, bake sale and raffle at Sutter Park Preschool on Saturday from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
14. Fall Festival at Olentangy Caverns
Enjoy a Fall Festival at Olentangy Caverns which includes pumpkins for sale, a scavenger hunt for kids on Saturday and Sunday, and draft horse hayrides on Saturday. Open daily from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
15. Legend Hills Orchard Market Days
On Saturday from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM there will be a market featuring local vendors and food trucks, plus the regular market finds like apples, cider, cheese and more! Apple picking is also available!
16. Touch a Truck and Cruise In at Lehners Pumpkin Farm
On Saturday from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM there will be trucks at Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm that kids can get up close to and explore!
17. 4th Kids Only Farmers Market at Kuhlwein’s Farm Market and Deli
This Kids-Only Farmers Market takes place at Kuhlwein’s Farm Market on Saturday from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Kids will sell their handmade goods and services! There will also be a pumpkin patch and ayrides available plus live. Music by School of Rock.
18. Ohio Buckeye Candy: A Sweet History at Whitehall Library
Join author Renee Casteel Cook for a talk on her book “Ohio Buckeye Candy: A Sweet History,” exploring chocolatiers and recipes that preserve this tradition at the Whitehall Library on Saturday at 2:00 PM. Sample candies will be available!
19. Pumpkin Painting at Granville Public Library
Paint pumpkins at the Granville Public Library from 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM on Saturday.
20. Dashain-Diwali Festival
This “Festival of Lights” will feature cultural dances, ethnic food, kids activities, vendors, fireworks and more! It takes place in Civic Park on Saturday from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
21. All Hallows Eve at Ohio Village
Families can enjoy an evening of 1890s-style family fun at All Hallows’ Eve, featuring a bonfire retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, pumpkin carving ($8 per pumpkin, cash and card accepted), and encounters with characters within Ohio Village. Visitors can revel in Victorian-era entertainment, including fortune-telling, a masquerade party, crafts, games, and more! All Hallows Eve will be taking place on Saturdays: Oct. 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Timed tickets are required.
22. Not Your Mama’s Fall Craft Market
Visit Dog Tap Columbus for Not Your Mama’s Fall Craft Market featuring over 50 small businesses. The market takes place on Sunday from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Admission is free.
23. Liberty Township Fired Department Open House
Tour the new fire station in Powell and watch live rescue demonstrations, learn how to use a fire extinguisher and more on Sunday from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
24. Petting Zoo at Lynd Fruit Farm
On Sunday from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM there will be a petting zoo at the Lyndiana Jones Corn Maze at Lynd Fruit Farm. Included in admission.
25. Mums and Mummies in Westgate Park
This event in Westgate Park features costume contests, games and activities, a trunk-or-treat, fireside stories, a baked good sale and more! The event takes place on Sunday from 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
Share this post with your friends!
*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!*