Looking for things to do in Columbus, Ohio this weekend? Here are over 65 family-friendly events happening in Columbus, Ohio this weekend including all the fall festival weekend activities happening around Central Ohio!
FRIDAY
9:00 AM – The Circleville Pumpkin Show – celebrate all things pumpkin with this huge show including parades, live entertainment, contests, rides, arts and crafts and pumpkin everything! (The Circleville Pumpkin Show runs October 17 – 20, 2018).
9:00 AM – The Haunted Maze at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – this scary maze is free during regular business hours at Hoover Gardens through October 31st. Parents use your best judgement and consider escorting younger children through the maze!
10:00 AM – SuperGames Open Play! at SuperGames – availability is first come, first served for this Open Play time and cost is $10/child.
10:00 AM – Columbus Pop Up Shop of Clothing, Toys & More at Franklin County Fairgrounds – shop for toys, kids’ clothing, maternity clothes, baby items and more at this large consignment sale!
10:00 AM – COTA Day at Leeds Farm! – Leeds Farm is open for one Friday only during the fall season and this is it! Read about all there is to do here: 16 Things to do at Leeds Farm
11:00 AM – Pick Your Own Pumpkins at Young’s Jersey Dairy – Young’s Dairy is offering pick your own pumpkins this weekend! Take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin!
5:00 PM – Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – dress up in costume and trick or treat around various vendors and organizations at the Zoo! There will be special activities, meet and greets and performances!
5:30 PM – Kids Jump/Adults Craft at Blue Monkey Parties & Events – kids can play while the adults paint a project with AR Workshop Pickerington. Preregister online!
5:30 PM – All Hallows’ Eve at Ohio History Connection (Ohio Village) – explore Ohio Village with a family-friendly, 1890’s style halloween celebration including a bonfire, pumpkin carving, story telling, mask making, Victorian parlor games, the Headless Horseman and more!
6:00 PM – Parents Night Out at Fun in the Jungle – drop your kid off for a night of bowling, arcade and play! Pizza and drinks will be provided. Preregistration required.
- Read about Fun in the Jungle in: 6 Free or Cheap Indoor Places for Kids to Run Wild in Columbus
6:30 PM – Trick or Treat Street at Hilltop YMCA – wear your costume for spooky stories, a haunted bus, door prizes, haunted hallway, pumpkin patch in the pool and more! All ages welcome. $10/family for members, $15/family for non-members.
7:00 PM – Dracula at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a 2 act play with intermission featuring the scary and funny story of Dracula! This show is performed at park Street Theatre.
7:00 PM – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Westgate Community Center – this performance, put on by Westgate Theatre Company and Carriage Place Players is also a partnership with Empty Bowls, a local project to fight hunger. See all the details at the link! $5/person.
7:30 PM – Haunted Wagon Rides at Young’s Jersey Dairy – take a scary wagon ride around Young’s Jersey Dairy! This is for families, but it will be scary!
7:30 PM – Bluegrass on the Patio at Ten Pin Alley – enjoy live music on the patio! This week’s band is The Goldsberrys.
Fall Festivals Happening On the Weekends in Columbus and Central Ohio
Please click each link for exact times and details! Also check: Central Ohio Fall Farms and Festivals 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!
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 29 – October 31, 2017. 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 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!
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 Family Fun at Miller’s Country Gardens – Saturdays and Sundays there will be hayrides, barrel rides for kids, a play area, straw tunnel, corn maze and animal barn! Take a hayride to pick your own pumpkin!
ICYMI: Halloween Events Around Columbus
SATURDAY
8:30 AM – 2018 TreatFest Trot: Family Who-Dun-it? Mystery Walk & Fun Run – walk or run through a course that includes activities, characters, clues, bounce houses, crafts and more! This is not a timed event!
9:00 AM – Westgate Farmers Market – this event includes local vendors, produce, food trucks, kids activities and live music!
9:00 AM – The Circleville Pumpkin Show – celebrate all things pumpkin with this huge show including parades, live entertainment, contests, rides, arts and crafts and pumpkin everything! (The Circleville Pumpkin Show runs October 17 – 20, 2018).
9:00 AM – KidsLinked.com’s TreatFest! – this free family festival includes a treat village, costume contests, scavenger hunt, face painting and balloon twisting, character appearances and more!
9:00 AM – HOMAGE Gamedays at HOMAGE Easton Town Center and HOMAGE Short North – enjoy free donuts from Buckeye Donuts, coffee and special deals on Saturday mornings for each Buckeye game this season!
9:00 AM – Market Sprouts at Worthington Farmers Market – this week at the information table there will be special, season-based activities for kids 12 and under!
9:00 AM – The Haunted Maze at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – this scary maze is free during regular business hours at Hoover Gardens through October 31st. Parents use your best judgement and consider escorting younger children through the maze!
10:00 AM – Day of the Dead Community Event 2018 “El Dia de los Muertos” at Green Lawn Cemetery – this is a family friendly celebration to remember family and friends who have passed away. There will be a movie, art exhibition, kids activities, face painting, food trucks, vendors, live music and more.
10:00 AM – National Paint Your Own Pottery Day at Clay Street Ceramics – studio fees will be waived all day from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM plus everyone gets a free Christmas ornament to paint with pottery purchase.
10:00 AM – Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus – during regular business hours there will be a Halloween celebration including prizes, a seasonal scavenger hunt in MAINLAND, family-friendly activities and Halloween-themed builds. Costumes welcome!
10:00 AM – CCT Costume Parking Lot Bonanza at Columbus Children’s Theatre – find your Halloween (or just because) costume when Columbus Children’s Theatre cleans out their collection! Most pieces will be $1!
10:00 AM – Great GeekFest at Delaware County District Library – this is a free event celebrating all things “geek”! There will be an area just for kids!
10:00 AM – Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – dress up in costume and trick or treat around various vendors and organizations at the Zoo! There will be special activities, meet and greets and performances!
10:00 AM – The Raymond B. Martens Nature Playscape Grand Opening at AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children’s Museum – AHA Children’s Museum is opening an outdoor playscape and its grand opening is Saturday! Admission is included in the daily admission rate.
10:00 AM – Blacklick Woods’ Birthday Bash! at Blacklick Woods Metro Park – celebrate 70 years of Blacklick Woods Metro Park! There will be activities for kids, face painting, local businesses, cake and lots more!
10:00 AM – 4th Annual Halloween Hop! at Columbus Speech & Hearing Center – this ia “not-too-spooky” event for kids of all abilities! There will be no scary decorations, lights or sounds. Every kid can trick or treat at their own pace, there will be a magic show, pet therapy dogs, crafts and live music!
10:00 AM – CRC Annual Pumpkin Patch 2018 at The Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center – this is a kid-friendly Halloween event with games, prizes, food and an apple cider press. Bring 3 canned goods to donate to the food pantry and receive a pumpkin!
10:00 AM – Columbus Pop Up Shop of Clothing, Toys & More at Franklin County Fairgrounds- shop for toys, kids’ clothing, maternity clothes, baby items and more at this large consignment sale!
10:00 AM – All Aboard for Railroad Fun at Sandel Legacy Trail – attend this model railroad open house to watch model trains and meet the club model railroaders!
10:00 AM – 2018 Old Hilliard Halloween Haunt at Hilliard’s Station Park – this community event includes trick or treating, a scavenger hunt, family-friendly activities, a costume contest and more!
10:30 AM – Princess Party at Grove City Library – make a crown, meet a special guest and wear your ball gown to this princess story time. Geared towards ages 2-8.
11:00 AM – Pick Your Own Pumpkins at Young’s Jersey Dairy – Young’s Dairy is offering pick your own pumpkins this weekend! Take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin!
11:00 AM – Sensory Friendly Films: Monster House (2006) at Gateway Film Center – this is a free sensory friendly showing of Monster House with lower volume, lights up and relaxed atmosphere.
11:00 AM – Boo ‘n Brew at Polaris Fashion Place – every Saturday in October there will be a Halloween celebration including trick or treating, craft zone, food trucks, princess, costume parade, live music and more!
12:00 PM – 2nd Annual Fall Festival at Lakota Park – this fall festival includes games, crafts, a bounce house, a costume contest, food and giveaways!
12:00 PM – 5 Year Anniversary Party at Lucky’s Market Columbus – celebrate 5 years of Lucky’s with a vendor fair, kids’ activities, food, live music, fresh cider, giveaways and more!
12:00 PM – Fall Festival and Art Fair at Worthington Christian Schools – pony rides, petting zoo, facepainting, games for kids, lots of food, and a unique art fair can all be found at this free festival! There is a charge for some games, food, and art and funds raised will support the senior class ministry trip to the Dominican Republic.
12:00 PM – Story time with Rapunzel! at Barnes and Noble Pickerington – meet and greet Rapunzel and hear a story!
1:00 PM – Open Barn Days 2018 at Sunrise Sanctuary – meet the resident animals and learn about Sunrise Sanctuary! Tickets can be purchased in advance to ensure your spot.
3:00 PM – LEGO Club at Grove City Library – build your own LEGO creation at the library!
5:00 PM – Halloween Family Dance at Gahanna/John E. Bickley YMCA – $15/family includes music, pizza, inflatables, games and more! Come in costume and register in advance!
6:00 PM – Spooktacular Halloween Party at Jefferson Community Park – this annual Halloween party includes a spooky forest and haunted trail, a hayride, scary stories, face painting, games and food for purchase!
6:00 PM – Powell Community Bonfire – this event includes free hot dogs, apple cider, donut holes and marshmallows for roasting! There will be music and the opportunity to meet your local first responders!
7:00 PM – Dracula at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a 2 act play with intermission featuring the scary and funny story of Dracula! This show is performed at park Street Theatre.
7:00 PM – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Westgate Community Center – this performance, put on by Westgate Theatre Company and Carriage Place Players is also a partnership with Empty Bowls, a local project to fight hunger. See all the details at the link! $5/person.
7:30 PM – Haunted Wagon Rides at Young’s Jersey Dairy – take a scary wagon ride around Young’s Jersey Dairy! This is for families, but it will be scary!
SUNDAY
10:00 AM – Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – dress up in costume and trick or treat around various vendors and organizations at the Zoo! There will be special activities, meet and greets and performances!
10:00 AM – The Haunted Maze at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – this scary maze is free during regular business hours at Hoover Gardens through October 31st. Parents use your best judgement and consider escorting younger children through the maze!
10:00 AM – Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus – during regular business hours there will be a Halloween celebration including prizes, a seasonal scavenger hunt in MAINLAND, family-friendly activities and Halloween-themed builds. Costumes welcome!
11:00 AM – Kids Eat Free! at City Barbecue – Sunday only get a free kids meal with each adult purchase of $7 or more. There will be activities for kids, too!
11:00 AM – Pick Your Own Pumpkins at Young’s Jersey Dairy – Young’s Dairy is offering pick your own pumpkins this weekend! Take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin!
11:00 AM – Pony Rides & Pumpkin Event at Horse -N- Round Fun – for $8 kids can ride a pony and get a pumpkin! There will be hay rides, a free petting zoo and other farm activities. Pumpkins can be purchased separately.
12:00 PM – 5 Year Anniversary Party at Lucky’s Market Columbus – celebrate 5 years of Lucky’s with a vendor fair, kids’ activities, food, live music, fresh cider, giveaways and more!
12:00 PM – Halloween Pet Parade at Easton Town Center – dress your pet for this costume contest, parade and fall festival! There will be kids activities in Fenlon Square!
12:00 PM – Pizzuti Collection Family Day at Pizzuti Collection – admission is free for Family Day and it includes crafts, a guided tour and the opportunity to make your own mask! There will also be the opportunity to make a tie dyed t-shirt.
- Read about our trip to Pizzuti Collection
12:00 PM – All Aboard for Railroad Fun at Sandel Legacy Trail – attend this model railroad open house to watch model trains and meet the club model railroaders!
12:00 PM – Pumpkin Painting Workshop at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – kids can paint their own pumpkin for $2/pumpkin! No registration required.
1:00 PM – Fall on the Farm at Gallant Farm Park – do some work on the farm including seeing how corn was picked, pressing apples and more!
1:00 PM – Trick or Treat Trail at Gallant Woods Park – trick or treat along a spooky trail, take a hayride, decorate pumpkins and more! This is a free event.
1:00 PM – Halloween Kids Party at The Big Bang! at Big Bang Columbus – this kid-friendly event includes live music, crafts, games, face painting, spooky refreshments and more!
1:30 PM – Pumpkin Swim at Prairie Township Community Center – pick a floating pumpkin and then decorate it! Register in advance!
2:00 PM – Trick-or-Treat and Costume Contest 2018 at The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek – wear your costume to trick or treat around The MAiZE and participate in a costume contest afterwards!
2:00 PM – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Westgate Community Center – this performance, put on by Westgate Theatre Company and Carriage Place Players is also a partnership with Empty Bowls, a local project to fight hunger. See all the details at the link! $5/person.
3:00 PM – Dracula at Columbus Children’s Theatre – this is a 2 act play with intermission featuring the scary and funny story of Dracula! This show is performed at park Street Theatre.
5:00 PM – Fall Fest at Bethel Presbyterian – this free fall festival includes games, prizes, food and more!
6:00 PM – Movie Night at The Pocket Park at Ohio Avenue Pocket Park – watch a family friendly Halloween movie with hot chocolate!
Want to sponsor What Should We Do This Weekend? Click here.
Use the share buttons to 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. Enjoy what you do today!*
