October in Columbus is pure magic—crisp air, crunchy leaves, spooky decorations, and that perfect mix of wholesome and haunted. Whether you’re a pumpkin patch hopper, a live music junkie, or a parent looking to entertain little monsters, there’s something happening every weekend.
But let’s get one thing out of the way:
You cannot miss Bat Fest.
Yep, it’s real.
It’s educational, fun, FREE… and it might just be the most unexpectedly cool event this fall.
Let’s dive into all the best things happening around Columbus this October—starting with the winged VIPs.
1. Bat Fest at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center
- Where: Grange Insurance Audubon Center (505 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH)
- When: October 12, 2025 (date subject to update – check their site)
- Cost: Free! Family-friendly!
Bat Fest is where science meets spooky season. It’s hosted by wildlife experts and bat-lovers who are serious about showing bats in their best light—err, moonlight.
Why it’s awesome:
- Live bat demos (REAL BATS!)
- Kid-friendly games and bat crafts
- Learn echolocation through interactive play
- Bat mask-making and coloring stations
- Educational booths from wildlife and conservation orgs
- Bat-themed scavenger hunts
- Bats + cider + fall leaves = cozy perfection
Bonus: Local wildlife specialists will be on-site answering all your “Do bats really get stuck in your hair?” questions (spoiler: NO).
Perfect for: Families, nature lovers, homeschoolers, curious minds
Pro Tip: Dress in black and bring your best bat ears. Insta moment? Locked and loaded.
2. Circleville Pumpkin Show
- Where: Circleville (just 30 miles south of Columbus)
- When: October 15–18, 2025
- Cost: Free admission
Known as “The Greatest Free Show on Earth,” this massive pumpkin party draws people from all over Ohio—and honestly? It lives up to the hype.
Highlights:
- GIANT PUMPKINS (like, 1,000+ lbs of pumpkin-ness)
- Parades, crafts, carnival rides
- Pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING (donuts, pizza, burgers… yes, really)
- Baking contests and pumpkin-themed pageants
Perfect for: Families, foodies, fall fanatics
3. Franklin Park Conservatory – Harvest Blooms & Pumpkins Aglow
- Where: Franklin Park Conservatory
- When: All October, with special evenings Oct 16–31 for “Pumpkins Aglow”
- Cost: Admission ranges from $13–$22 (members free)
Daytime gives you dreamy mums, gourds, and fall flora. But at night? It turns into a glowing, mystical pumpkin wonderland.
Night Features:
- Thousands of jack-o’-lanterns
- Light installations
- Scarecrows and seasonal sculptures
- Storybook-themed gardens
Perfect for: Date nights, photo ops, chill autumn vibes
4. HighBall Halloween – Fashion, Freaks & Fabulousness
- Where: Short North Arts District
- When: October 25–26, 2025
- Cost: Tickets typically start at $20+ for evening events
This is not your grandma’s costume party. HighBall is part runway show, part Halloween rave, and 100% glam chaos.
Highlights:
- Epic costume contests
- Avant-garde fashion shows
- Live performances and DJs
- Food trucks and themed drinks
Perfect for: Adults, creatives, nightlife lovers, cosplay fans
Bring your A-game if you’re dressing up. The costume level is NEXT LEVEL.
5. Ohio Village: All Hallows’ Eve
- Where: Ohio History Center / Ohio Village
- When: Select weekends in October (check official calendar)
- Cost: Admission required, usually ~$15 adults / $10 kids
Travel back in time to a Halloween from the 1890s. This immersive, historic event is cozy, spooky, and incredibly charming.
What to Expect:
- Old-fashioned fortune telling
- Victorian mourning customs (surprisingly fascinating!)
- Candlelit jack-o’-lantern tours
- Spooky stories around the fire
- Trick-or-treating through the old village
Perfect for: Families, homeschoolers, history nerds, and kids who like low-key spooky vibes.
6. The Haunted Fest – EDM + Halloween = One Glowing Party
- Where: KEMBA Live! (Downtown Columbus)
- When: October 18, 2025
- Cost: $$$ – Prices vary depending on lineup/tier
Let’s be real, sometimes adults need their version of Halloween fun too—and this is it.
Huge lineups of DJs, neon outfits, glow sticks, and laser shows make this one of the wildest October nights in the city.
Perfect for: EDM fans, 18+/21+ partygoers, glow-in-the-dark costume lovers
7. Boo at the Zoo – Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
- Where: Columbus Zoo
- When: October 4–6, 11–13, 18–20, and 25–27
- Cost: Included with zoo admission
If you’ve got littles, this is the safest, most smile-inducing Halloween activity around.
What’s Inside:
- Trick-or-treat trails
- Spooky (but not scary) decorations
- Character meet-and-greets
- Hay maze and pumpkin patch
- Zoo animals being their adorable selves in costume settings
Perfect for: Kids of all ages, strollers, toddlers, and parents who want “fun Halloween” not “haunted Halloween”
8. Creepside Festival – Gahanna’s Family Halloween Bash
- Where: Creekside Plaza, Gahanna
- When: October 19, 2025
- Cost: Free
Think trick-or-treat meets community carnival. This one-day festival has so much going on:
- Costume contest
- Live music
- Food trucks
- Face painting
- Inflatable fun zones
Perfect for: Local families, young kids, and anyone not into big crowds
9. German Village Makers Market – Autumn Edition
- Where: German Village (outside The Red Stable)
- When: October 13, 2025
- Cost: Free to browse
Take a break from pumpkins and browse handmade jewelry, art, woodcrafts, candles, home goods, and more from local makers.
Grab a pumpkin latte, stroll the cobblestone streets, and feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie.
Perfect for: Couples, gift shoppers, small biz supporters
Don’t Forget: Explore Local Trails at Dusk
Columbus Metro Parks like Battelle Darby Creek, Inniswood, and Blendon Woods are gorgeous in October. Sunset hikes = dreamy. Bonus points if you spot real bats flitting by as the stars come out.
Bring a flashlight, a thermos of cider, and your favorite sweater.
Wrapping It Up: October in Columbus = Fall Magic
You’ve got:
- Festivals full of food and creativity
- Historic Halloween charm
- Live music and big-city nightlife
- Cozy kid-friendly events like Bat Fest
- Pumpkins. Everywhere. All the time.
And if you only remember one thing…
Mark your calendar for Bat Fest.
It’s the coolest way to learn, explore, and celebrate creatures that most kids (and adults!) misunderstand.
Bat Fest = fun + learning + crafts + real-life superheroes of the sky.