The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend (October 23–25)

It’s going to be a beautiful fall weekend in central Ohio with plenty happening around town and central Ohio.

The Circleville Pumpkin Show wraps up its 119th year Friday and Saturday, the Blue Jackets host Vegas on a Peanuts night, the Crew host Toronto, and the suburbs throw their big Halloween parties, from Gahanna to Grove City, and much, much more.

Here’s your weekend.

This Weekend At A Glance

Friday, October 23rd

Circleville Pumpkin Show, The Last Two Days

The 119th Circleville Pumpkin Show closes Saturday night, and there’s a parade every day until then. Friday has the Pet Parade at 3:30pm and the Fraternal and Civic Organizations parade at 8pm. Saturday brings the pumpkin pie eating contests on the Savings Bank Stage, kids at 11am and adults at noon, and the show ends with the Queen’s Parade at 8pm, the queens of Ohio’s other festivals riding through Circleville. Lindsey’s Bakery has its six-foot pumpkin pie on display, and the street show holds more than 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash and gourds. Admission is free. Ride wristbands are $35 a day and only good until 4pm. The Pumpkin Show guide covers parking and what to eat.

Location: Downtown Circleville, Court and Main streets
When: Friday & Saturday, 10am–10pm
Cost: Free; ride wristbands $35 a day
More info: Circleville Pumpkin Show

Great Gahanna Goblin Fest

Academy Park hosts Gahanna’s Halloween night, with hayrides, storytelling and s’mores, food and craft vendors, and a Trick or Treat Trail of candy stations through the park. Parking at the park is ticketed, and the city sells those tickets ahead of time on its WebTrac site, listed as Goblin Parking.

Location: Academy Park, 1201 Cherry Bottom Rd., Gahanna
When: Friday, 5:30–9:30pm
More info: City of Gahanna

Halloween On The Green In Worthington

Worthington Parks and Recreation calls this its largest community event of the year, about 3,000 people across all four quadrants of the Village Green. The Trick-or-Treat Trail runs on the northeast quadrant with local businesses handing out candy, and the rest of the green has carnival games, Halloween crafts, dance performances, storytelling, cider pressing and balloon artists. You don’t need a ticket or a sign-up.

Location: Village Green, High St. and Granville Rd., Worthington
When: Friday, 6–8pm
Cost: Free
More info: City of Worthington

Tales From The Crypt At The Abbey

The Abbey Mausoleum on Greenlawn Avenue opens after dark for tales from its residents, the people entombed there, this year Lewis Sells of the Sells Brothers Circus, nurse Edna Royer Furniss, Freda Steube, saddlebred owner Virginia Penfield Seybold and Samuel S. Jackson, the Columbus tailor who made suits for William McKinley. New this year: a tent on the grounds, a tarot reader, magic tricks, a bonfire and s’mores. Tintype portraits are Friday only and aura photos Saturday, both extra, and there’s cider, bakery items and chili for sale. Tickets are limited and sold in advance.

Location: The Abbey Mausoleum & Gardens, 700 Greenlawn Ave.
When: Friday & Saturday, 5:30–9:30pm
Cost: $25
More info: The Abbey

Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tours, Final Weekend

The lantern-led tours through the darkened Statehouse are back for their second and last weekend, about 40 minutes of what the Statehouse bills as forgotten figures and unique events with a spooky twist. As of Monday the Statehouse shop showed Saturday sold out and only the Friday 8 and 8:30pm tours left. Tickets are $16, ages 12 and up, and the Crypt has free activities from 6:30 to 8:30pm on tour nights.

Location: Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square
When: Friday, 8 & 8:30pm (Saturday sold out)
Cost: $16; ages 12 and up
More info: Ohio Statehouse · Tickets

Columbus Symphony: Mysteries, Anthems And Victories

The Columbus Symphony gives a world premiere in its 75th season. Rossen Milanov conducts Gregory Spears’s The Mysteries, a newly commissioned work, with bass-baritone Davóne Tines, who also sings his own Concerto No. 2: ANTHEM, a piece he built with Caroline Shaw, Tyshawn Sorey, Michael Schachter and the poet Mahogany L. Browne that takes apart the national anthem and other American songs. Tchaikovsky’s Fifth closes the night. There’s a free pre-concert talk at 6:30pm, and Friday morning at 10 the Symphony sells a separate ticket to the Coffee Dress open rehearsal, coffee and donuts included.

Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.
When: Friday & Saturday, 7:30pm
More info: Columbus Symphony

BalletMet: Marilyn, Closing Weekend

Marilyn closes Saturday, and Friday and Saturday night are its last two performances. Dani Rowe choreographed the full-length ballet on Marilyn Monroe, Shannon Rugani wrote the score, her first for a full-length ballet, and the piece premiered at Oregon Ballet Theatre in April 2025. BalletMet’s page lists the run time two different ways, so plan on close to two hours with an intermission.

Location: Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St.
When: Friday & Saturday, 7:30pm
More info: BalletMet

The Rocky Horror Show, Opening Weekend

Rocky Horror opens Thursday at the Garden Theater for a ninth year, with Nick Hardin back as Frank-N-Furter and Edward Carignan directing and choreographing. There are five shows this weekend, with a late one Friday at 11pm and an ASL-interpreted matinee Sunday at 2pm. It’s rated R and runs two hours. Limited student rush and pay-what-you-want tickets go on sale at the door two hours before each show. The run ends Halloween night.

Location: Garden Theater, 1187 N. High St.
When: Fri 7 & 11pm, Sat 5 & 9pm, Sun 2pm
Cost: Pay-what-you-want and student rush at the door, 2 hours before
More info: Short North Stage

Nurse John At Mershon Auditorium

John Dela Cruz is an actual nurse, born in the Philippines and based in Los Angeles, whose healthcare comedy made him a viral creator with close to 17 million followers. This is his stand-up show, and tickets were still available at the time of this writing.

Location: Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St.
When: Friday, 7:30pm
More info: Mershon Auditorium

Unorthodocs At The Wex

Unorthodocs is in its 10th year at the Wexner Center, and nine of its 12 screenings fall on the weekend. Friday: Mila Turajlić’s Non-Aligned Newsreels at 4:30pm with the filmmaker in person, then Dawn Porter’s When a Witness Recants at 7pm, both Ohio premieres. Saturday starts with Aanikoobijigan at 11:30am, then Barbara Forever at 1:30pm, Once Upon a Time in Harlem at 4pm and American Doctor at 7pm, with Poh Si Teng and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa there for the last one. Sunday has Do You Love Me at noon, Everybody to Kenmure Street at 1:45pm and Sam Green’s The Oldest Person in the World at 3:45pm. The Wex says only two of last year’s twelve films got even a modest national release. Single screenings are $12, or $6 for students. A festival pass is $45, with members and ages 55 and up at $36 and students at $18, and it includes the Saturday 6pm reception.

Location: Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St.
When: Fri from 4:30pm, Sat from 11:30am, Sun from noon
Cost: $12 a film, $6 students; pass $45
More info: Wexner Center

Pumpkins Aglow At Franklin Park Conservatory

Pumpkins Aglow runs after dark at the Conservatory, with pirates, mermaids, performing skeletons, a pumpkin house, a singing pumpkin patch, a light-up dance floor and the illuminated Chihuly glass. This week’s entertainers are Amazing Giants’ sway pole witch and spider stilt walker at the Pergola from 6 to 8pm, and the food is Liberty Kettle Corn, Ninja Bowl and Mustafa’s gyros alongside the Garden Cafe and the Watershed bar. Entry is timed in half-hour slots, the last at 9pm Friday and Saturday and 8pm Sunday. Tickets are timed and sold through the Conservatory’s site, which says many dates sell out.

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.
When: Fri & Sat 5–10pm, Sun 5–9pm
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory

Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival, Final Weekend

Sunday is the last night of the Lantern Festival, which has been lighting up the Zoo since August 20th. More than 70 sets of lanterns hand-painted by artisans in China run from Entry Village through Adventure Cove, Conservation Lake, North America Trek, Asia Quest and Shores Park, with dinosaur lanterns new this year. The dragon dance is at 7:45 and 8:30pm in the Conservation Courtyard and the guzheng and Korean drum sets at 8 and 9pm on the Conservation Lake stage, and the ticket includes the Grand Carousel, the Zoo train and four other rides. It’s a separate ticket from daytime admission, with parking included.

Location: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell
When: Fri–Sun, 7:30–10:30pm
Cost: Separate ticket; parking included
More info: Columbus Zoo

Saturday, October 24th

Columbus Crew vs. Toronto FC

The Crew host Toronto on a Saturday afternoon, and kickoff is 3:30pm. Note this is a time change; the club moved it back an hour last May. The club’s schedule tags it Crew Throwback night, and the regular season’s last home match comes the following Saturday against D.C. United. Apple TV has the broadcast and Alt 105.7 the English radio call.

Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, 96 Columbus Crew Way
When: Saturday, 3:30pm
More info: Columbus Crew

Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights, Peanuts Spooktacular

The Jackets host the Golden Knights on the club’s Peanuts night, 60 years after It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first aired. The night has trick-or-treating on the concourse, a costume contest for everyone and a pillowcase giveaway while they last. Here’s how to watch if you’re staying in.

Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.
When: Saturday, 7pm
More info: Nationwide Arena · Promo calendar

Great Pumpkin Run 5K In Grandview

The Great Pumpkin Run turns 47 this year, sponsored by Grandview Heights Parks and Recreation. The Tiny Tot Pumpkin Trot goes first at 8:30am, free for ages 6 and under, with a shirt and goody bag for the first 100 kids registered, then the timed 5K at 9. Early registration is $34.09 and goes up late in the week. Park in the lot off Fairview Avenue; the Oakland Avenue lot is closed this year.

Location: Edison Intermediate/Larry Larson Middle School, Oakland Ave., Grandview Heights
When: Saturday, 8:30am trot, 9am 5K
Cost: 5K $34.09 early; Tiny Tot Trot free
More info: Registration

Old Hilliard Halloween Haunt

Kids will trick-or-treat at the businesses along Main Street while Mr. E plays Hilliard’s Station Park and Columbus DanceArts Academy performs its Haunted Hip Hop show on Main Street in front of the Shoppes by Westwood. A balloon twister works the park too. Destination Hilliard posts an interactive map of the participating businesses.

Location: Main St. and Hilliard’s Station Park, Hilliard
When: Saturday, 9–11am
Cost: Free
More info: Destination Hilliard

Trick-Or-Treat With The Pups

The Franklin County Dog Shelter runs Halloween in reverse. Kids in costume walk the kennels handing treats to the adoptable dogs, and there’s trick-or-treating through the building, crafts, games, prizes and face painting. No registration necessary. If one of the dogs goes home with you, here’s how adoptions work at the shelter.

Location: Franklin County Dog Shelter, 4340 Tamarack Blvd.
When: Saturday, 10am–noon
Cost: Free
More info: Franklin County

Gigi’s Walkin’ The Dog At Columbus Commons

A dog festival and fundraising walk take over the Commons for Gigi’s second annual Walkin’ the Dog. The festival is free, with adoptable dogs, local rescues, a market, dog demos and a kids zone, and at 1pm the walk heads out for one or two miles. Walking costs $15 and benefits the Jess Ross Sheehan Fund for Dogs at Gigi’s.

Location: Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St.
When: Saturday, 11am–5pm; walk at 1pm
Cost: Festival free; walk $15
More info: Columbus Commons

Boo Off Broadway In Grove City

Local businesses put up tents at Town Center Park, just off Broadway, and hand out candy for an afternoon.

Location: Grove City Town Center Park, 3378 Park St., Grove City
When: Saturday, noon–3pm
More info: Grove City Chamber

Ohio Craft Whiskey Festival At Henmick

A high-peak tent goes up on the grass at Henmick Farm and Brewery for its sixth whiskey festival, with 19 distilleries signed on so far and more coming: Watershed, Echo Spirits, Noble Cut, Dexter Bourbon, Buckeye Vodka, Ohio Shine Co. and the rest. A $50 tasting ticket gets eight pours, with more for sale, and an OHLQ bottle shop on site sells rare and limited bottles. The Mighty Troubadours play and seven food trucks park outside the tent. It’s 21 and up, no kids or dogs, and nothing is sold at the door. A $10 companion pass gets a non-tasting guest in. The taproom and courtyard stay open to everyone from noon to 10pm.

Location: Henmick Farm & Brewery, 4380 N. Old State Rd., Delaware
When: Saturday, noon–5pm; doors 11:30am
Cost: $50 tasting, $10 companion; 21+, advance only
More info: Henmick

Boo And Brew At Polaris

Polaris Fashion Place brings Boo and Brew back to the outdoor Lifestyle Center by The Cheesecake Factory, with the band Long Play on the main stage, beer sales, food trucks, pumpkin decorating, inflatables for the kids and a new Artisan Alley of market vendors. Bring a chair for the band. The kid costume contest is at 3pm, the dog costume contest at 3:15 and a K-pop performance at 4:30.

Location: Polaris Fashion Place Lifestyle Center, 1500 Polaris Pkwy.
When: Saturday, 2–6pm
More info: Polaris Fashion Place

Boo At The Zoo, Last Weekend

Boo at the Zoo wraps up Sunday after four weekends, and the Zoo bills it as merry-not-scary. New this year are a Rave at the Grave DJ dance party and a Trick or Treat Trail with 11 candy stops plus two teal-pumpkin stations for kids who can’t have candy, alongside the giant pumpkin carving, the Imaginarium fun house, Henry’s hay maze and the Halloween Hoedown with the Oak Ridge Bears. It’s included with admission, and the Zoo stays open an hour later than usual on Boo weekends. Costumes are welcome, but grown-ups keep their faces uncovered.

Location: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am–6pm
Cost: Included with admission; parking $12
More info: Columbus Zoo

All Hallows’ Eve At Ohio Village

Ohio Village holds the second and last night of All Hallows’ Eve on its newly renovated streets. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow gets told by the bonfire with a ghostly appearance by the Headless Horseman, the widow Claire explains how her latest husband passed, the funeral parlor is open for a look, and there’s fortune telling, crafts, games and traditional dancing. Pumpkin painting is $5 a pumpkin. Adults are $18, kids 4 to 12 are $14, 3 and under free. The event page says buy ahead; the ticket page says walk-ups get in but may wait.

Location: Ohio Village, 800 E. 17th Ave.
When: Saturday, from 5:30pm
Cost: $18 adults, $14 ages 4–12, 3 and under free
More info: Ohio History Connection

Halloween Party At Homestead Metro Park

Pixar’s Coco plays on the outdoor screen at Homestead’s Lakeside Pavilion for Metro Parks’ Halloween party, with caramel apples while they last and pumpkin decorating. Bring chairs or blankets.

Location: Homestead Metro Park, 4675 Cosgray Rd., Hilliard
When: Saturday, 5:30–9:30pm
More info: Metro Parks

Congress PBR At The Coliseum

The All American Quarter Horse Congress ends Saturday, and its ticketed night is the PBR Challenger Series bull riding in the Coliseum. The riders compete for $20,000, and it’s one of the last stops before the series championship. Admission to the horse show and the trade show is free all day; the PBR needs its own ticket.

Location: Ohio Expo Center Coliseum, 717 E. 17th Ave.
When: Saturday, 6pm
Cost: Separate ticket; Congress free; parking $25
More info: Quarter Horse Congress

All-Night Horror Marathon At Studio 35

Tricks and Treats, the eighth all-night marathon at Studio 35, is eight films with retro commercials and shorts between them, curated by Mike McGraner of Nite Owl Theatre, no host this time. On the slate: Friday the 13th Part V, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween 4 through 6, House of 1,000 Corpses and two mystery titles. The listing shows a 10:30pm showtime while the description says 11, so be in your seat by 10:30.

Location: Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse, 3055 Indianola Ave.
When: Saturday, 10:30pm, overnight
More info: Studio 35

Sunday, October 25th

Abuela At Columbus Children’s Theatre

Abuela, a 30-minute bilingual take on the picture book for ages 0 to 5, closes its SandBox Series run at Columbus Children’s Theatre, with music, movement, Spanish and English vocabulary, and kids pretending to fly over the city and spot the landmarks. Before each show, kids make paper birds, kites and a cityscape at the craft stations. Every child 1 and older needs a ticket, and each child ticket needs an adult ticket with it; the ticket page lists $11 for adults and $6.75 for kids.

Location: Columbus Children’s Theatre
When: Sunday, 9, 10 & 11am, 1 & 2pm
Cost: $11 adults, $6.75 kids
More info: Columbus Children’s Theatre

Fall Family Fest At The Grange Insurance Audubon Center

Fall Family Fest takes over the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Trunk or Tweet goodie collecting runs from 2 to 3pm, so bring a bag. Then Chris Rowlands plays his musical nature show from 3 to 4 and the Arch City Big Band plays from 4 to 5, outdoors if the weather holds. A ranger hayride leaves from the center entrance, and there are make-and-take fall crafts, a sensory scavenger hunt, live painting and Dirty Frank’s food truck. Sign up on the center’s ticket page before you go, and bring chairs.

Location: Grange Insurance Audubon Center, 505 W. Whittier St.
When: Sunday, 2–5pm
More info: Grange Insurance Audubon Center

Columbus Symphony Halloween Spooktacular

John Williams favorites, Star Wars among them, and Mussorgsky’s A Night on Bald Mountain make up the Symphony’s family Halloween concert at the Ohio Theatre, and there’s a costume contest. Family activities start at 2pm: paper bag monsters and spooky spider crafts, a string instrument petting zoo, selfies with Bee-thoven, ghost bowling, limbo and trick-or-treating. Seating is general admission.

Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.
When: Sunday, 3pm; activities from 2pm
More info: Columbus Symphony

Sunday is also the last day of the season at Circle S and Leeds. Circle S Farm in Grove City is open from 9am to 7pm, $11 a person with kids 2 and under free and pumpkins $5 each. Leeds Farm in Ostrander is open from 10am to 5pm, and the lines for the Big Zip, the hayride and the Pumpkin Plunge close at 4:30pm. Pigeon Roost Farm in Hebron, in its 46th year, keeps going Wednesday through Sunday until October 31st, with the market and pumpkin area free and the fun center $12 for ages 2 and up. Lynd’s corn maze in Pataskala runs Friday through Sunday until November 1st, $13 a person. The rest are in the pumpkin patch guide and the corn maze guide.

The Lantern Festival ends Sunday night too, and Sunday brings the last day of Boo at the Zoo, the ASL matinee of Rocky Horror, three Unorthodocs screenings and a 5-to-9 night at Pumpkins Aglow.

Everything after this weekend is in the October guide, and trick-or-treat times for next week are here.

Have fun, Columbus!

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