Looking for something fun to do **this weekend** in Columbus? Try out one of these family-friendly **Columbus and Ohio** –**based** events and activities! Local farms are gearing up for Fall Festivals and activities! Start your planning by checking out these posts: * 6 Farms Where You Can Pick Your Own Apples * A Complete List of Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals Near Central Ohio * Get Lost in One of these Corn Mazes in Central Ohio * The Best Places to See Fall Colors in Columbus, Ohio and Beyond * Halloween Events and Trick-or-Treat Times in Columbus ### 1. Fall Festivals This is the season when local pumpkin farms and apple orchards hold Fall Festivals on the weekends! These weekends include hayrides, pumpkin picking, farmyard games, corn mazes and much more! Click the link above to see a list of local fall festivals! ### 2. Fall Fun at Olentangy Caverns A Fall Fun Activity Area will be open at Olentangy Caverns daily through October 31st. The area includes rubber duck races, shooting hoops, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin bouncers, straw bale obstacle course and more! Activity area is available for guests who purhcase admission to any paid activity. Pumpkins and mums will also be for sale. There will be an educational talk and animal ambassadors from Ohio Wildlife Center on Sunday at 2:00 PM. ### 3. Haunted Maze at Hoover Gardens The Haunted Maze will be open at Hoover Gardens every day during business hours. Cost is $3 per person. ### 4. Scarecrow City in Olde Town & JFK Park Walk through Olde Reynoldsburg and JFK Park to check out scarecrow creations every day throughout the month of October. ### 5. Brick or Treat Monster Party at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Now through October 31st, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus is hosting a Monster Party, featuring a special LEGO 4D Halloween movie, a Monster Rockers scavenger hunt in MINILAND, Monster games, a special Halloween build, and more. All activities are included in regular admission and take place daily. Reserve tickets online. ### 6. Wizards & Wands Festival at Westerville Public Library Throughout the entire month of October, there will be a celebration of magic and books at the Westerville Public Library. There will be an enchanted forest in the Kids Area, as well as many other themed areas throughout the library and special events every day! Check the link for all the details and this weekend’s specific events. ### 7. Minion Hunt in Grove City Town Center Find all 14 minions hiding around Grove City Town Center and record each one’s location on a Minion Hunt Card. Turn it in to the Grove City Library, Grove City Welcome Center or Kingston Center for a prize! The deadline is November 1! Check out my list of things to do in Grove City while you’re hunting! ### 8. Pumpkins Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory Wednesday through Sunday you can attend this Special Engagement Event at Franklin Park Conservatory to enjoy over a thousand illuminated pumpkins along the paths, a pumpkin tunnel light show, pumpkin houses, spiders, mermaids, aliens and more! There will be activities for kids, lawn games and refreshments for sale. Hours are 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are required. ### 9. In the Land of Oz at Columbus Children’s Theatre This spooky, immersive theatre experience includes a journey through Oz on cursed yellow brick roads. It’s a 60-minute experience recommended for ages 10 and up. Shows take place on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 PM and also Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. ### 10. Shrek the Musical at King Avenue UMC Watch the King Avenue Players perform Shrek the Musical, based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the Book by William Steig. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 7:30 PM and Saturday at 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM. ### 11. Fall Big Book Sale at Columbus Metropolitan Library Shop the Big Book Sale at the Main Library for books, DVD’s, CD’, records, comic books, audiobooks and more! Prices start at $1. Hour are Friday and Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Sunday is the Bag Sale. Bring a bag to fill for $5. ### 12. Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo Enjoy merry-not-scary activities at the Columbus Zoo during Boo at the Zoo. This is the last weekend! Hours are Fridays: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Sundays: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Activities include a trick-or-treat trail, hay maze, Halloween Hoedown, character ambassadors, kid-friendly activities and more! Included in regular admission. ### 13. Great Gahanna Goblin Fest at Academy Park On Friday from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM at Academy Park, enjoy hayrides, live entertainment, stilt walkers, fire breathers, food vendors, storytelling, s’mores and a trick-or-treat trail. ### 14. Halloween on the Green in Worthington On Friday from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in Worthington Village Green, enjoy crafts, games, live entertainment and a trick-or-treat trail. There will be stil walkers, a balloon artist, carnival games, cider pressing and more! Read this list of 13 things to do in Worthington before you go! ### 15. Sawmill Forest Spooky Trail This neighborhood Halloween display is open on Friday and Saturday from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. You can park your car and walk through this kid-friendly display that includes lights, music, animatronics, bubbles and more! ### 16. Slaybrook Manor in Westerville This haunted house is scary but family-friendly, and it will be open this Friday and Saturday from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. It’s recommended for ages 7 and up and is less scary between 6:30 PM and 7:45 PM. Tickets are recommended. Walk-ins will be taken as time allows. Check out this list of 11 fun things to do in Westerville! ### 17. Hilliard Halloween Haunt From 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Saturday, kids can dress up and enjoy trick-or-treating at participating businesses along Main Street and Hilliard’s Station Park. There will be treats, photo ops, live music and balloon twisting. ### 18. Grand Opening Party at Bricks & Minifigs Westerville Celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Bricks & Minifigs Westerville on Saturday from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM with free Halloween Minifigs to the first 100 customers, over $2,000 in LEGO giveaways, raffle prizes, cotton candy, face painting, a costume party, candy and Cheryl’s Cookies! Check the link for the exact times of activities. ### 19. Spooky Open House at The Bibliophile Candle Co. On Saturday at 10:00 AM there will be a Kids Story Hour and then a spooky open house from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Activities will include photo ops, festive treats and cozy candlelight. Costumes welcome. Read more about Bibliophile Candle Co. on my list of bookstores in Columbus! ### 20. Dick’s X Columbus Futsal Street Clash This event takes place in the parking lot of DICK’S House of Sport at Polaris Fashion Place on Saturday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. There will be a live DJ, local graffiti artist, food carts, a Youth Futsal Clinic and a Street Clash Futsal Tournament. Register online. ### 21. Scarysville in Marysville On Saturday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, kids can enjoy a costume contest, pumpkin painting, candy and more at local businesses in Historic Uptown Marysville. Check out my itinerary for a fun, fall day in Marysville! ### 22. Pumpkin Painting at Hoover Gardens Every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in October, kids can paint pumpkins at Hoover Gardens for $5 a pumpkin. Hours are 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM both days. (Then go through the Haunted Maze!) ### 23. Fall Fest at The Little Grand Market On Saturday beginning at 11:00 AM, The Little Grand Market will host a Fall Fest featuring a farmers market, a Family Trick-or-Treat Extravaganza (until 3:00 PM) and activities like pumpkin painting, coloring, free hot apple cider and family-friendly Halloween movies. Read more about The Little Grand on my list of restaurants in Grandview! ### 24. Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad Pumpkin Train Head to Zanesville this weekend for a 40-minute scenic train ride to the Pumpkin Patch on the Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad. This event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 12:00 PM with the last ride beginning at 4:00 PM. Tickets are required. ### 25. Boo Off Broadway in Grove City Town Center Trick-or-treat in Town Center Park in Grove City from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM on Saturday. ### 26. An Afternoon with Author & Artist Misako Rocks at Cover to Cover On Saturday at 1:00 PM join author and artist Misako Rocks to celebrate her new graphic novel Bounce Back 3: Sew Totally Nala at Cover to Cover. This book is recommended for ages 9 and up. ### 27. Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Go on a scavenger hunt in Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park with Jackie O’Lantern the Pumpkin on Saturday at 2:00 PM. Costumes welcome. ### 28. Haunted Hilltop Spooktacular at Ohio Department of Public Safety This free event takes place on Saturday from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM in the parking lot of the Shipley building and will include games, a trunk-or-treat and a pumpkin patch. Families can learn about safety while having fun! ### 29. Trunk or Treat at Bevelhymer Park Enjoy a family-friendly Trunk-or-Treat featuring over 60 businesses, food trucks, a magician, fire performers, stilt walkers, special guests and more! Come in costume and bring a candy bucket! This event takes place on Saturday from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. ### 30. Historic Dublin Halloween Trail Kids can collect candy and enjoy fun activities at 15 stops in Historic Dublin on Saturday from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Glinda and Elphaba will also be wandering the streets! ### 31. Trick or Treat Trail at Westland High School This free event takes place on Saturday from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Westland High School. Trick-or-Treat from local businesses and organizations on the trail in the parking lot. The Central Ohio Ghostbusters will be there as well as food trucks and vendors. ### 32. Haunted Tram Ride at Blendon Woods Metro Park Take a tram ride through Blendon Woods to learn about the spooky animals that live there. Board at the Nature Center between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM on Saturday. ### 33. Fright at the Museum at Ohio History Center Fright at the Museum takes place on Saturday from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Ohio History Center. There will be hands-on activities, old-fashioned apple cider making, a mid-century Monster Mash, spooky stories, visitors from the Ohio Wildlife Center and more! Tickets are available online. ### 34. HighBall Halloween in the Short North This annual event is the nation’s “Most Fabulous Costume Party” and it takes place this Saturday in the Short North from 6:00 PM – Midnight. Admission is free. Events include a public costume contest, a Costume Couture Fashion Show, live music and performances, a vendor market featuring seasonal oddities and spooky finds, yard games, photo ops and street performances. While this event is not geared towards kids, all ages are welcome. ### 35. Family Sunday Halloween Party at Land-Grant On Sunday from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, enjoy a Halloween movie, pumpkin painting, face painting, food vendors and more! Costumes welcome. ### 36. UnderCurrent: Walk, Roll, and Play in Downtown Columbus This free event will include local food trucks, pop-up workout classes, live art and more free activities under Current at High & Gay Streets in downtown Columbus. It will take place on Sunday from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM and guests are encouraged to walk, scoot or skate to the event where the streets will be closed to cars for this special event. ### 37. Pumpkin Patch Express at Ohio Railway Museum This event takes place at Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington on Sunday from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. It includes a trolley ride to the pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkin and enjoy crafts and treats. This event also includes trick-or-treating through the museum. This is a family-friendly (not scary) event. ### 38. Trunk or Treat at PicNaz Church Enjoy food, a trunk-or-treat, hayride, bonfire and hot cocoa at this free community event in Pickerington on Sunday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. ### 39. Final Weekend! Operation Thank You for Veterans with Seeds of Caring Share thanks with local veterans in this creative and crafty Anywhere Project from Seeds of Caring! Kids 2-12 will explore the meaning of respect and the many ways we can show it through age-appropriate discussion and a hands-on activity. Then, helping hands will decorate paper grocery bags for veterans supported by the Military and Service Heroes’ food pantry. Participate any time through Oct. 26. _**Share this post with your friends!**_ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more fun things to do in Columbus, Ohio! _*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!*_