The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Month (October 2026)

October in Columbus is packed this year. Twenty One Pilots play a hometown stadium show at Ohio Stadium, the Crew host a U.S. Open Cup final downtown, and the Jonas Brothers, Weezer and Olivia Rodrigo all come through the arenas. The Blue Jackets open a new season with seven home games, and Ohio State has one home Saturday, Homecoming against Maryland.

Then there’s Halloween, which this city takes seriously: haunted tours inside the Statehouse, a lantern-lit Ohio Village, a free trick-or-treat party at the Palace Theatre, pumpkin nights at the Conservatory, and the Circleville Pumpkin Show, in its 119th year and still free.

October At A Glance

Blue Jackets Home Games

About: Hockey is back, and the home schedule is front-loaded. The Blue Jackets open the season against Buffalo on October 1st, then host Utah on October 3rd, Pittsburgh on October 9th, Florida on October 13th, the New York Rangers on October 17th, Toronto on October 20th, and Vegas on October 24th. The Florida game starts at 6:15 p.m., and every other home date is a 7 p.m. puck drop. Watching from home? Here’s how to watch Blue Jackets games this season.

Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.

When: Oct 1, 3, 9, 13, 17, 20 and 24

More info: Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Crew and the U.S. Open Cup Final

About: The match of the month is October 21st at 8 p.m., when the Crew host St. Louis CITY SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. It’s the club’s fourth Open Cup final and its first since 2010, and it’s in Columbus. Around it, the Crew have three league matches at home: Charlotte on October 14th at 7:30 p.m. (Black & Glow Night), Toronto on October 24th at 3:30 p.m. (Crew Throwback), and D.C. United on Halloween afternoon at 2 p.m., the last home match of the regular season.

Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field

When: Oct 14, 21, 24 and 31

More info: Columbus Crew Schedule

Ohio State vs. Maryland (Homecoming)

About: One home Saturday this month, and it’s Homecoming. The Buckeyes host Maryland on October 10th with a 4:15 p.m. kickoff on Big Ten Network. The rest of October is on the road: at Iowa on October 3rd, at Indiana on October 17th, and at USC on Halloween.

Location: Ohio Stadium

When: Oct 10, 4:15 p.m.

More info: Ohio State Football Schedule

Hops on High feat. HighBall Halloween

About: High Street goes car-free for the day, with a vendor market, a Trick or Treat Trail, and a main stage that builds to the HighBall Halloween Costume Couture fashion show from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Gallery Hop runs the same evening, so the whole district is open late. Here’s our guide to Hops on High.

Location: High Street, Short North Arts District

When: Saturday, Oct 3, noon to 8 p.m.

More info: Hops on High

Columbus Coffee Festival

About: Dozens of roasters and tea makers, a commemorative mug, food trucks and live music, spread over two days at the fairgrounds in Hilliard. Kids 12 and under are free with an adult.

Location: Franklin County Fairgrounds, Hilliard

When: Oct 3–4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More info: Columbus Coffee Festival

Opening-Weekend Festivals

About: The first weekend of the month is stacked. The Ohio Gourd Show is at the Delaware County Fairgrounds October 2-4 with free admission. Saturday, October 3rd, brings New Albany Oktoberfest at Rose Run Park from noon to 10 p.m. and Reynoldsburg’s Diwali-Tihar Festival at Huber Park from 2 to 8 p.m., with a parade at 2. La Feria, the free Latino Heritage Art Fest, is at Blockfort that afternoon from 3 to 8 p.m., and the Harvest Fair at Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and costs $5. Upper Arlington Fall Fest is Sunday, October 4th at Fancyburg Park from 1 to 5 p.m. Woof & Witches, the dog costume party at The Wag, is the same day from noon to 3 p.m.

Location: Various

When: Oct 2–4

More info: Ohio Gourd Show · New Albany Oktoberfest · Diwali-Tihar Festival · La Feria · Stratford Harvest Fair · UA Fall Fest · Woof & Witches

Boo at the Zoo and the Lantern Festival

About: The Zoo has two events going through October 25th. Boo at the Zoo runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting October 3rd, and it’s included with admission. After dark, the Lantern Festival runs Thursday through Sunday evenings from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. until its final night on October 25th.

Location: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell

When: Boo at the Zoo Sat–Sun Oct 3–25; Lantern Festival Thu–Sun through Oct 25

More info: Boo at the Zoo · Lantern Festival

Hitchcocktober and the Nightmares Film Festival

About: Gateway’s seventeenth Hitchcocktober puts one restored Hitchcock film on the big screen each Saturday: Vertigo on October 3rd, The Birds on October 10th, Rear Window on October 17th, Dial M for Murder in 3D on October 24th and Psycho on Halloween night. In between, the Nightmares Film Festival returns for its 11th edition October 15-18, four days of new horror and genre features and shorts.

Location: Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St.

When: Saturdays Oct 3–31; Oct 15–18

More info: Hitchcocktober · Nightmares Film Festival

Halloween On Stage: Sweeney Todd, Rocky Horror, Little Shop

About: Short North Stage has the month covered at the Garden Theater: Sweeney Todd runs through October 18th, then The Rocky Horror Show takes over October 22-31. Both offer a limited number of pay-what-you-want tickets two hours before curtain as part of ARTober. Across town, Gallery Players stage Little Shop of Horrors at the JCC’s Roth/Resler Theater October 10-25, tickets $35.

Location: Garden Theater, 1187 N. High St.; Columbus JCC, 1125 College Ave., Bexley

When: Sweeney Todd through Oct 18; Rocky Horror Oct 22–31; Little Shop Oct 10–25

More info: Short North Stage · Little Shop of Horrors

ARTober and Unorthodocs

About: The Greater Columbus Arts Council is calling October ARTober, and the headline deal is that the Wexner Center is free for exhibitions and screenings all month. The Wex’s documentary festival, Unorthodocs, marks its 10th year October 22-26 with talks and screenings; festival passes are $45, or $18 for students. Beyond the Wex, ARTober is mostly an invitation to go look at the city’s public art, and the Arts Council publishes free self-guided tours for exactly that.

Location: Wexner Center for the Arts, and citywide

When: All month; Unorthodocs Oct 22–26

More info: ARTober · Unorthodocs

Weezer, Then Johnny Blue Skies, Back To Back

About: Nationwide Arena has two very different shows on back-to-back nights. Weezer’s The Gathering tour comes to town on October 6th at 7 p.m. The next night at 8, Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds bring the Mutiny for the Masses tour to the same stage.

Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.

When: Tuesday, Oct 6, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct 7, 8 p.m.

More info: Weezer · Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

About: Wynton Marsalis brings the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to Mershon Auditorium, presented by the Wex with Columbus Jazz. Doors open at 6:30. General-public tickets run $50 to $125, with $20 student seats. If that whets the appetite, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra opens its own season with Ella & Louis at the Southern Theatre on October 9th at 7 p.m.

Location: Mershon Auditorium, Ohio State campus

When: Tuesday, Oct 6, 7 p.m.

More info: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra · Columbus Jazz Orchestra

Death Becomes Her

About: Broadway in Columbus opens its season with the Tony-winning musical comedy, eight performances at the Ohio Theatre. The first is October 6th at 7:30 p.m. and the last is October 11th at 6:30 p.m. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.

When: Oct 6–11

More info: Death Becomes Her

Pumpkins Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory

About: The Conservatory’s after-dark fall event returns Wednesday through Sunday evenings from October 7th through November 1st: 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with live entertainers nightly and food trucks on the weekends. Tickets for Friday, October 16th, were already unavailable at press time, and there are no reservations on Thursday, October 29th, because of the 21-plus Cocktails at the Conservatory night. Harvest Blooms, the daytime display, runs through November 1st with general admission.

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory

When: Oct 7–Nov 1, Wed–Sun evenings

More info: Pumpkins Aglow

Dan + Shay

About: The country duo play the Schottenstein Center with Tyler Hubbard and Josh Ross opening.

Location: Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr.

When: Thursday, Oct 8, 7 p.m.

More info: Dan + Shay

COSI After Dark: Halloween Tattoo Carnival

About: The 21-plus after-hours series returns with a tattoo-carnival theme presented with the Hell City Tattoo Festival. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door.

Location: COSI, 333 W. Broad St.

When: Thursday, Oct 8, 7–10 p.m.

More info: COSI After Dark

Columbus Italian Festival

About: This year’s theme is Roma Eterna, and the festival keeps its Columbus Day weekend slot, October 9-11. It’s open Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. The parade steps off from Goodale Park at 1 p.m. Sunday. Sorelle, the Ohio sister trio from The Voice, plays Friday night. Here’s our guide to the Italian Festival.

Location: St. John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church, Italian Village

When: Oct 9–11

More info: Columbus Italian Festival

Hoster Oktoberfest, the Send-Off

About: Hoster’s James Road taproom closes after Halloween, which makes this two-day Oktoberfest the last one there. It runs Friday from 4 to 10 p.m. with a food truck, and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. with brats cooked in Gold Top in the afternoon.

Location: Hoster Brewing, 653 N. James Rd.

When: Friday, Oct 9, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday, Oct 10, noon–10 p.m.

More info: Hoster Brewing

Grandview Heights Inaugurates a Dog Mayor

About: Grandview Heights is electing its first dog mayor, and the winner takes office at The Wag, with Mayor Greta Kearns doing the honors. The Wag is calling it an inauguration pawty.

Location: The Wag, 1330 Norton Ave., Grandview Heights

When: Friday, Oct 9

More info: The Wag Events

Fall Festival Weekend in the Suburbs

About: Four free ones in three days. Bexley’s Harvest Festival is in the Jeffrey Park meadow behind Jeffrey Mansion on Friday, October 9th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Groveport’s Apple Butter Day is downtown on Saturday, October 10th, the same day as Metro Parks’ Fall Fest at Slate Run, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 11th, brings the New Albany Fall Festival & TreatFest to Marburn Academy from 1 to 4 p.m., free to enter with registration.

Location: Bexley, Groveport, Slate Run Metro Park, New Albany

When: Oct 9–11

More info: Bexley Harvest Festival · Apple Butter Day · Slate Run Fall Fest · New Albany TreatFest

“42” at the Strand: The Ohio Goes to the Movies Finale

About: The statewide America 250 film series wraps up at the Strand Theatre in downtown Delaware with a screening of “42,” the Jackie Robinson story.

Location: Strand Theatre, downtown Delaware

When: Wednesday, Oct 14, 5 p.m.

More info: The Strand Theatre

Halloween Festivals, Wave One

About: Dublin’s Halloween Spooktacular takes over Coffman Park on Thursday, October 15th from 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday, October 16th from 1 to 5 p.m.; the Trunk-or-Treat Trail needs timed tickets, which open to Dublin residents on October 5th and to everyone else at 5 p.m. on October 8th. Also that week: Barktoberfest at Rocky Fork Metro Park on October 15th from 4 to 7 p.m., Reynoldsburg’s Halloweekend in the BURG at JFK Park on October 16th and 17th, and the Mystics and Marvels oddities market at the Franklin County Fairgrounds on October 17th and 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $6.

Location: Coffman Park, 5200 Emerald Pkwy., Dublin; Rocky Fork Metro Park, Westerville; JFK Park, 7232 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg; Franklin County Fairgrounds, Hilliard

When: Oct 15–18

More info: Halloween Spooktacular · Barktoberfest · Halloweekend in the BURG · Mystics and Marvels

Jonas Brothers

About: The Burning Up Tour All Over Again stops at Nationwide Arena.

Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.

When: Friday, Oct 16, 7:30 p.m.

More info: Jonas Brothers

BalletMet: Marilyn

About: BalletMet opens its season with Marilyn, a full-length ballet on the life of Marilyn Monroe, at the Davidson Theatre October 16-24, with evening performances and a Sunday matinee on October 18th.

Location: Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St.

When: Oct 16–24

More info: BalletMet: Marilyn

Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tours

About: The Statehouse runs its after-dark ghost-story tours over two weekends, October 16th and 17th and again October 23rd and 24th, with departures at 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $16. For the younger set there’s a free Trick-or-Treat tour on Friday, October 30th at 10 a.m.

Location: Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square

When: Oct 16–17 and 23–24

More info: Statehouse Haunted Tours

Twenty One Pilots at Ohio Stadium

About: The Columbus band plays a hometown stadium show at Ohio Stadium with Death Cab for Cutie opening. The Schottenstein Center, which is handling the show, calls it the biggest U.S. headline performance of the band’s career. Ohio State is away at Indiana that day, so the Horseshoe is theirs.

Location: Ohio Stadium

When: Saturday, Oct 17, 6 p.m.

More info: Twenty One Pilots

All Hallows’ Eve at Ohio Village

About: Two Saturday nights with a telling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by the bonfire, pumpkin painting and costumed villagers. Adults are $18, kids 4 to 12 are $14, and you need to buy ahead. One thing to know before you go: the Ohio History Center museum next door is closed through early December for building-system upgrades, so only the village is open.

Location: Ohio Village, East 17th Avenue at I-71

When: Saturdays, Oct 17 and 24, 5:30–9:30 p.m.

More info: All Hallows’ Eve

Columbus Marathon

About: The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon starts at North Bank Park, with corrals opening at 6 a.m. The full marathon is sold out. If you’re not running, expect streets along the route to be closed through the morning. Here’s our Columbus Marathon guide.

Location: North Bank Park, 311 W. Long St.

When: Sunday, Oct 18, 7:30 a.m. start

More info: Columbus Marathon

Circleville Pumpkin Show

About: The 119th Circleville Pumpkin Show runs Wednesday, October 21st, through Saturday, October 24th, its usual third-week slot, and its slogan is still “The Greatest Free Show on Earth.” Giant pumpkins on the scale, the pumpkin tower, parades every day, and pumpkin everything to eat. Our Pumpkin Show guide has the parking and food advice.

Location: Downtown Circleville

When: Oct 21–24

More info: Circleville Pumpkin Show

CAPA Haunts the Palace

About: The Palace Theatre’s 100th-anniversary year includes a free Halloween party for kids inside the theater. Costumes on, trick-or-treating in a 100-year-old movie palace.

Location: Palace Theatre, downtown

When: Wednesday, Oct 21, 4–7 p.m.

More info: CAPA Haunts the Palace

All American Quarter Horse Congress

About: The giant quarter horse show is at the Ohio Expo Center through October 24th, and the horse show and trade show are free to wander. The ticketed night is the Congress PBR bull riding on October 24th at 6 p.m.

Location: Ohio Expo Center

When: Through Oct 24; PBR Oct 24, 6 p.m.

More info: Quarter Horse Congress

Halloween Week, Suburb by Suburb

About: The free family Halloween events cluster in the last full week. Olde Pickerington Village hosts its Haunted Village on Thursday, October 22nd from 6 to 8 p.m. The Great Gahanna Goblin Fest is at Academy Park on Friday, October 23rd from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, October 24th, starts early with the Old Hilliard Halloween Haunt along Main Street and Hilliard’s Station Park from 9 to 11 a.m., then Trick-or-Treat with the Pups at the Franklin County Dog Shelter from 10 a.m. to noon, where kids trick-or-treat through the shelter and hand treats back to the adoptable dogs.

Location: Olde Pickerington Village; Academy Park, Gahanna; Old Hilliard; Franklin County Dog Shelter, 4340 Tamarack Blvd.

When: Oct 22–24

More info: Haunted Village · Goblin Fest · Old Hilliard Halloween Haunt · Trick-or-Treat with the Pups

Columbus Symphony: A World Premiere and a Halloween Spooktacular

About: The Symphony’s 75th-anniversary season brings a commissioned world premiere, Gregory Spears’s The Mysteries, with bass-baritone Davóne Tines, on October 23rd and 24th at 7:30 p.m. Then the family Halloween Spooktacular follows on Sunday, October 25th at 3 p.m., an afternoon of John Williams and film music.

Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.

When: Oct 23–24, 7:30 p.m.; Oct 25, 3 p.m.

More info: Columbus Symphony

Olivia Rodrigo

About: Olivia Rodrigo’s Unraveled Tour is at the Schottenstein Center for two nights.

Location: Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr.

When: Thursday and Friday, Oct 29 and 30, 7 p.m.

More info: Olivia Rodrigo

Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes

About: The farms are in full swing all month. Circle S Farms in Grove City is open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through October 25th. Leeds Farm in Ostrander runs weekends through October 25th, plus one Friday, October 16th. Pigeon Roost Farm in Hebron, in its 46th year, is open Wednesday through Sunday through October 31st, with a free market and pumpkin area and a $12 fun-center admission. Lynd Fruit Farm’s corn maze in Pataskala runs Friday through Sunday until November 1st, and its Market on Morse stays open daily through November 15th. More options in our pumpkin patch guide, corn maze guide and apple picking guide.

Location: Grove City, Ostrander, Hebron, Pataskala

When: All month

More info: Circle S Farms · Leeds Farm · Pigeon Roost Farm · Lynd Fruit Farm

October in Columbus: Quick Answers

What are the biggest events in Columbus in October 2026?

Twenty One Pilots at Ohio Stadium on October 17th, the Crew’s U.S. Open Cup final on October 21st, the Columbus Marathon on October 18th, the Columbus Italian Festival October 9-11, and the Circleville Pumpkin Show October 21-24. The arenas add the Jonas Brothers (October 16th), Weezer (October 6th), Dan + Shay (October 8th), Five Finger Death Punch (October 21st), Rod Wave (October 22nd) and two nights of Olivia Rodrigo (October 29th and 30th).

What can you do for free in Columbus this October?

Hops on High and Gallery Hop on October 3rd, the Ohio Gourd Show, La Feria, the Wexner Center all month under ARTober, the Quarter Horse Congress trade show, the Circleville Pumpkin Show, CAPA Haunts the Palace on October 21st, the suburb Halloween festivals in Bexley, Groveport, Dublin, Pickerington, Gahanna and Hilliard, and the Columbus Museum of Art every Sunday.

When is Beggars Night in Columbus?

Most central Ohio communities trick-or-treat on the same weeknight, and a few pick their own. Our trick-or-treat guide has the community-by-community list.

Does Ohio State play at home in October?

Once. Maryland on October 10th at 4:15 p.m., Homecoming, on Big Ten Network. The Buckeyes are at Iowa, Indiana and USC on the other three Saturdays, and Twenty One Pilots have the stadium on October 17th.

When do the leaves peak?

Central Ohio usually turns in the second half of October. Our fall foliage guide tracks the weekly outlook and the best drives.

Is the Ohio History Center open?

No. The museum is closed through early December for building-system upgrades. Ohio Village events go on as planned, and All Hallows’ Eve is still on for October 17th and 24th.

Where are the haunted houses?

The big attractions run Friday and Saturday nights through the season; our haunted houses guide covers the main ones. Check each attraction’s own calendar for added weeknights in late October.

Is there a COSI After Dark in October?

Yes, the Halloween Tattoo Carnival on October 8th from 7 to 10 p.m. It’s 21 and over, and tickets are $20 in advance.

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