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 – 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 – 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 – Toddler Open Gym at Thompson Recreation Center – drop in for a free Open Gym time at the rec center!
10:00 AM – Jennifer Ellis Halloween Sing-a-long and Costume Parade at Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets (Dublin) – this free event includes a costume parade through the store plus singing, dancing, instruments, games, free snacks and more!
11:00 AM – Halloween Weekend Costume Fun at Ten Pin Alley – kids 15 and under who come in costume will receive a free $5 game card!
12:00 PM – JLG Warehouse Sale at Junior Library Guild – children’s and young adult books will be on sale for $5 each!
1:00 PM – iSPY a Monster! (FREE Monster Hunt) at Dublin Toy Emporium – take part in a monster hunt in the toy store! Call to reserve your hunt time.
3:30 PM – Open Gaming at Bexley Public Library – kids ages 8-18 can play video games on the big screen, board games, PC games, card games and more! No registration required.
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 – 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!
5:00 PM – Wizards & Wands Festival 2019 at Westerville Public Library – the library will be transformed into a wizarding wonderland at this free event that includes science experiments, live animals, demonstrations, magicians, wand making, live performances and much 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.
6:00 PM – Halloween Parents Night Out at We Rock the Spectrum – Columbus – drop your kids off for Halloween games, crafts and treats! For kids 3 and up. $30 for the first child, $20 for siblings. Call to register!
6:00 PM – Kids Halloween Party! at Magic Mountain Fun Center – Polaris – kids 10 and under can participate in crafts and activities, trick or treat stations, plus 2 attractions of their choice, one round of spooky miniature golf, 20 tokens for the arcade and a slice of pizza and drink. $12.99/person.
6:00 PM – Trick or Treat Trail at Prairie Township Community Center – visit over 25 treat stations!
6:30 PM – Family Night Out at Goldfish Swim School – enjoy an open swim with themed activities! This week is Member Appreciation Week so all members will be free at this event! First come, first served.
6:30 PM – 2019 Trunk or Treat at Primrose School of Hilliard West – come in costume for fun and candy!
6:30 PM – Family Halloween Party at Vineyard Community Church – this free party will include a trick or treat, inflatables, games, activities, a dance party and more!
6:30 PM – Trick or Treat Street at Hilltop YMCA – this event offers Halloween themed fun for the whole family!
Free for members, $15/family for non-members.
6:30 PM – The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow at Heritage Park – visit a fall wonderland with a quarter mile trail lit with thousands of carved pumpkins! There will be gourd painting, crafts, games, music and entertainment, a straw maze, food trucks and more! $12 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are available online or in person.
7:00 PM – Spooky Lantern Hike at Glacier Ridge Metro Park – walk through the first and learn about critters who roam around in the darkness! Ages 8 and up.
7:00 PM – Ghosts of Gahanna Walking Tours with Ohio Herb Center – take a walk through Olde Gahanna to learn about the spooky history of the town! $7/person or $20/family.
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.
(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 – Westerville Central Arts & Crafts Market at Westerville Central High School – shop 125 craft vendors for hand crafted items!
9:00 AM – JLG Warehouse Sale at Junior Library Guild – children’s and young adult books will be on sale for $5 each!
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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – Halloween Weekend Costume Fun at Ten Pin Alley – kids 15 and under who come in costume will receive a free $5 game card!
10:00 AM – Trick or Treat at the Boo-tanical Gardens at Franklin Park Conservatory – visit treat stations throughout the conservatory and the Children’s Garden! Family-friendly costumes only. Included in general admission or membership.
10:00 AM – Scarysville 2019! in Uptown Marysville Historic District – the streets of Uptown Marysville will be filled with Halloween Fun including trick or treating at Uptown merchants! Come in costume!
10:00 AM – Halloween Hoopla! at Marysville Public Library – this event will include treats, crafts, pumpkin painting and more!
- Related: Two Fun Libraries for Columbus Kids
11:00 AM – Walk Ins at A&R Workshop Grove City – drop in to make a mini Halloween sign. $5/project.
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 – Halloween Bash at Star Lanes Polaris – this event includes a trick or treat, halloween tattoos, coloring station, jumbo games and more! Kids also get a $5 game card. $10/child. Children 3 and under are free.
12:00 PM – Halloween Crafts at Blacklick Woods Metro Park – kids ages 4-12 can drop into the Nature Center to make Halloween-themed crafts.
12:00 PM – Kids Halloween Party at Adobe Gilas Easton – this event will include balloon twisting, face painting, and cookie and pumpkin decorating. Bring an old costume to donate and receive 25% off an entree.
12:00 PM – For Kids: Harvest Crafts at Highbanks Metro Park – kids ages 3-12 can make fall crafts in the Nature Center.
1:00 PM – Fall Fun Tram Rides at Blendon Woods Metro Park – take a tram ride to see the Autumn colors!
4:00 PM – Candy by the Carload in Powell – trick or treat in the parking lot of the Municipal Building! Bring a canned food item to donate to People In Need, Inc.
4:00 PM – Halloween Party at Mingo Park – this event includes a trunk or treat, inflatables, live music, a costume contest, food and one free pumpkin per child for the first 500 participants.
4:00 PM – Graveyard Hike at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park – all ages can take a 4 mile hike to a prehistoric Native American and pioneer burial grounds.
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 – A Haunted Night in the Gardens at Hoover Gardens & Gift Center – this event will include carnival games, pumpkin painting, a haunted maze, popcorn and more! Most activities are free.
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 – Spooktacular Wildlife Fun at Shale Hollow Park – learn about animals that we are normal considered creepy!
6:00 PM – Rule-O-Ween Halloween Party! at Rule 3 – this free event will include face painting, balloon animals, a costume contest, bowling games, trick or treating, photo booth, Halloween games and more!
6:30 PM – Campfire Singalong & S’mores at Sharon Woods Metro Park – enjoy a sing-a-long around the campfire with marshmallows and s’mores!
6:30 PM – The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow at Heritage Park – visit a fall wonderland with a quarter mile trail lit with thousands of carved pumpkins! There will be gourd painting, crafts, games, music and entertainment, a straw maze, food trucks and more! $12 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are available online or in person.
7:15 PM – Halloween Movie Night in Sycamore Park – watch Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion” on the white barn! There will be free popcorn and drinks. Come in costume!
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 – 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 at the Boo-tanical Gardens at Franklin Park Conservatory – visit treat stations throughout the conservatory and the Children’s Garden! Family-friendly costumes only. Included in general admission or membership.
11:00 AM – Halloween Family Sunday at North Market – this event includes trick or treating, animals from the Columbus Zoo, yard games, face painting, crafts 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 – 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.
12:00 PM – Urban Pumpkin Patch at Pins Mechanical Co. (Columbus) – at this free event there will be pumpkins, carving stations and painting areas! (downtown location only.)
1:00 PM – Feed the Stream at Battelle Darby Nature Center – feed the fish worms crickets and other foods!
2:00 PM – Gymboween! at Gymboree Play & Music Gahanna – decorate pumpkins, enjoy activities and participate in a costume parade. $15 for members, $20 for non members. Call to reserve your spot.
2:00 PM – German Village Pet Parade at Schiller Park – register your pet for the parade and costume contest or just come to watch the fun!
- Related: 6 Columbus Area Parks for Toddlers
3:00 PM – Family Fall Festival 2019 at Peace United Methodist Church – this free event will include a trunk or treat, free food, photo booth, games, food, hayrides, crafts and more!
3:00 PM – The Great Pumpkin Smash at The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek – on the final day of the season pumpkins will be destroyed with a giant pumpkin!
4:00 PM – Gymboween! at Gymboree Play & Music Gahanna – decorate pumpkins, enjoy activities and participate in a costume parade. $15 for members, $20 for non members. Call to reserve your spot.
4:30 PM – Families in the Kitchen at Young Chefs Academy of Gahanna – create a tasty meal with your family members. $25/person. All ages.
5:00 PM – Hilliard Trunk or Treat 2019 at Hilliard/Ray Patch Family YMCA – participate in a safe trunk-or-treat including a food truck, music from 104.9 The River, the Hilliard Police, a Photo Booth 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.
6:00 PM – Young Explorers: Trick-or-Treat Hike at Homestead Metro Park – come in costume and take a 1 mile hike to earn treats! Ages 2-14.
- Related: Exploring Blendon Woods Metro Park
6:00 PM – Boo Night at The Bounce Club – this event will include 2 hours of activities and open bounce. There will be dodgeball, a costume contest, pizza and more!
6:00 PM – BOO NIGHT at Big Bounce – this event will include 2 hours of activities and open bounce. There games, prizes and pizza!
6:30 PM – The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow at Heritage Park – visit a fall wonderland with a quarter mile trail lit with thousands of carved pumpkins! There will be gourd painting, crafts, games, music and entertainment, a straw maze, food trucks and more! $12 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are available online or in person.
*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!*