Unbe-leaf-able Fall Fun in Columbus: A Family Guide to Fall 2023

Autumn in Columbus is undeniably magical. As the leaves change colors and the days get cooler, our city comes alive with a plethora of events to celebrate the season. Columbus and the surrounding areas offer a myriad of fall events and attractions, making it a haven for autumn enthusiasts. Here is an exhaustive list of activities, events, pumpkin patches, and more to experience this fall in Columbus! Be sure to also check out this huge post from Eat Play Cbus for more fall funtivities.

Be sure to check back as this post will update as more events get scheduled! If you are a local business who would like their event posted, please email Hannah at thebeardandthebaker@gmail.com.

Events + Festivals

Columbus Oktoberfest

• Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 10
• FREE
• Ohio Expo Center / Ohio State Fairgrounds
• Revel in German culture with bountiful beers, scrumptious food, and lively music. This celebration has been a Columbus staple for over 50 years. With two stages of entertainment across all three days, there’s boundless enjoyment awaiting! More details here.

Columbus Commons Harvest Festival

• Saturday, September 9 from 4PM-8PM
• FREE
• Columbus Commons
• Downtown pumpkin patch ($3 per mini pumpkin, card only), Pumpkin decorating by Urban Arts Space, Inflatables from Supergames including Corn Maze, pumpkin bounce, and Scarecrow slide, Face painting and balloon twisting, Stilt walkers from The Amazing Giants, Parachute play with The Parachute People, Farm experience and apple cidering with Bring the Farm to You, Pumpkin carving demonstrations with Rock On Ice, Fall foliage backdrops for family photos, thanks to EMI Environmental Management Columbus Public Health will also be providing free school-age vaccines for children 4-18 years old.

Columbus Home & Garden Show

• September 8-10, 2023 • 10 am – 6 pm
• Ohio Expo Center – Bricker Building
• FREE
• Welcome to the Central Ohio Fall Home Show presented by Rosati Windows. Find ideas and inspiration for every space with more than 170 companies in remodeling, kitchen, bath, decor, and more! Connect in-person with local experts and know-how for every space to make your home more functional and beautiful! There is an incredible toddler area this year!

Celebrando – A Dialogue on Latinx and Hispanic Cultural Experiences

• Sunday, September 17 from 10AM-4PM
• FREE
• Ohio History Connection
• “We are uniting with cultural organizations from around America to pay tribute to the generations of Latine and Hispanic Americans who have enriched our nation and society. Join us as we learn about Latino heritage from the perspectives of Ohioans with different cultural backgrounds. Activities include a dialogue on placemaking and identity; dance and music performances; art and craft activities; food samples and vendors; and a pop-up shopping experience of talented Latinx and Hispanic artisans hosted by El Mercadito Cositas Lindas.” More details here.

Welcome to Fall Event at Highbanks

• Saturday, September 23 at 5PM
• FREE
• Highbanks Metro Park
• Join us for a fun family event to celebrate the first day of fall! Enjoy hayrides, campfires & marshmallows, scavenger hunts, and other outdoor activities. Stay afterwards and enjoy the outdoor movie “Minions: Rise of Gru” starting at dark (approx 8:15pm). All ages. FREE! Meeting location notes: Big Meadows Picnic Area is located in the back of the park. After you enter the park, take the main road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, a sign will be on the right side saying “Big Meadows picnic area”. After the sign, take the ROAD on the LEFT. Park in the first lot on the left. Meet near the restrooms/bulletin board/playground area. More details here.

Sunday Funday: Oktoberfest

• Sunday, September 24 from 12PM-5PM
• FREE
• Downtown Worthington
• It’s that time of year! We’ll be celebrating pretzels, beers, and all fun things Oktoberfest! We’ll have great food specials, live music, games, and entertainment. Our DORA is every day, which means you can get a beverage to go to and enjoy the shops and neighborhood. More details here.

The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow

• October 19 – 22 from 6:30PM-10:30PM
• Heritage Park | 60 N. Cleveland Ave. 
• Ticket sales open September 1
  • $15 for Adults
  • $12 youth (ages 3-15) and seniors
  • FREE for children under 3
• The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow is our signature fall event! New in 2023: wind your way through special exhibits and an enchanting trail of glowing pumpkins dotted throughout Heritage Park. The largest gourds we could find will be on display and plenty of fun activities are included with the price of admission. 

Enjoy the Dawes Arboretum thoughout Fall!

• Experience the autumn beauty of the Arboretum on guided Fall Wagon Tours! Tours begin as follows:
  • 1 p.m. on Saturdays between Sept. 2 and Sept 23 (Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23)
  • 11 a.m. on Saturdays between Sept. 30 and Oct. 31 (Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28)
  • 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sundays between Oct.1 and Oct 31 (Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29)
• Explore the Avian Avatars before they leave in November!
• Tour the Daweswood House Museum!
• Explore and experience the Fall Colors at the Arboretum! Guests are recommended to visit between the 3^rd and 4^th week of October, as fall colors are anticipated to peak during that time frame.
• Prices vary – read more here.

Ohio Renaissance Festival

• Weekends & Labor Day from September 2 – October 29 from 10:30AM – 7PM
• Ticket prices vary, purchase them ahead of time online.
  • In 2022, the festival got VERY busy so plan accordingly.
• 10542 Ohio 73 Waynesville, Ohio 45068
• Where fantasy and history collide! Immerse yourself in a world of lively shows, tantalizing food & drink, and unique shops that transport you back in time to the days of knights and queens.

Columbus Italian Festival

• Friday, October 6 through Sunday, October 8
• $10, Free under age 12
• St. John The Baptist Catholic Church
• Immerse yourself in Italian culture, relishing the musical performances, scrumptious cuisine, a lively parade, and even a bocce ball tournament. More details here.

3rd Annual EASE Touch-a-Truck 

• Sunday, October 15th at 11AM
• FREE
• 6000 Perimeter Dr, Dublin, OH 43017-3233
• Join us for our third annual TOUCH-A-TRUCK event! Come interact with more than a dozen cool vehicles and enjoy food and fun for families and friends of all ages! Bring canned food items for the Dublin Food Pantry! Donations are encouraged, but not required. Use #GIVEwithEASE and #EASETouchATruck For more information, visit: https://easelogistics.com/touch-a-truck/

Harvest Blooms

• Saturday, September 23 – Sunday, October 29
• Tickets included in admission (use the culture pass for this!)
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• Wander amidst pumpkins, mums, and cabbages as the gardens come alive. Capture Instagram-worthy moments at the pumpkin houses and marvel at the magnificent pumpkin tree.

Treat Street

• Saturday, October 9th from 12PM-2PM
• FREE
• The Shops on Lane Avenue
• Come dressed in your favorite costume for an afternoon of spooktacular fun! While supplies last, children 12 and under will enjoy Trick-or-Treating, festive music, refreshments, and more. This is a free community event. RSVP here.

All Hallows’ Eve

• Saturdays, October 7, 14, 21, and 28
• Tickets are required:
  • $18/Adult; $14 Youth (ages 4-12); Free/Child (age 3 & under)
  • $13/Adult Member; $9/Youth Member; Free/Child (age 3 & under) 
  • Free/Premium Adult Member; Free/Premium Child Member; Free/Child (age 3 & under) 
• Ohio History Connection
• Enjoy an evening of 1890s-style family fun at All Hallows’ Eve, with a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by the bonfire, pumpkin carving ($5 per pumpkin), and strange characters within Ohio Village. Come revel in Victorian-era entertainment including fortune telling, crafts, games and more! All Hallows Eve will be occurring Saturday, Oct. 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th. “Programming will include: Follow the lit pumpkin path to the amphitheater to watch for the ghostly apparition of the Headless Horseman, as our storyteller retells Washington Irving’s famous story. Take part in a 19th century masquerade party. Hear from the widow Claire on how her most recent and unfortunate husband has passed, and the bizarre circumstances around it. Explore the funeral parlor and learn about 19th century funeral practices.” More details here.

Highlight’s Kid’s Run

• Saturday, October 14 starting at 1PM
• FREE
• McFerson Commons Park (218 West Street, Columbus, OH 43215)
• Youngsters ages 11 and under have their own challenge during the Columbus Marathon​ race weekend. Participants each receive a medal and refreshments for finishing Included is the “Diaper Dash” for toddlers and separate races for ages 11 and under:
  • 3 – 5 years
  • 6 – 8 years
  • 9 – 11 years
• Register here.

Boo at the Zoo

• Oct., 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, & 27-29 (Friday – Sunday)
• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
• Price included in admission.
• Get ready for lighthearted Halloween fun (without the fright) during Boo at the Zoo! Join your favorite Zoo Character Ambassadors for a merry-not-scary, frightfully delightful event of spirited fun for the whole family. Get your favorite costume ready, and make plans to visit your Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for this Spooktacular Halloween Celebration. Read more here.

Boo! On the Moon

• October 24th from 5PM-7PM
• Prices vary, free for Ohio History Museum members! Read more here.
• Armstrong Air & Space Museum500 Apollo Drive, Wapakoneta, OH, USA
• Grab your masks and candy bags and head to the Armstrong Air & Space Museum for their annual Boo! on the Moon Halloween event! Guests have the opportunity to walk around the museum’s spooky galleries and collect candy from staff members, along with other fun, family friendly activities and games.

Hilliard Halloween Haunt

• Saturday, October 28 from 9AM-11AM
• FREE
• Main St, Hilliard, OH 43026
• Join us on Saturday, October 28 for a FREE, fun-filled event for families! Trick-or-treat at the participating businesses located in Old Hilliard! Kids are encouraged to wear costumes, and there will be scattered free activities along the way. Stay tuned for more details! This event is made possible through the sponsorship of Heartland Bank.

Pumpkin Patches and Farms

1. Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm – Radnor, OH | Website
2. Miller’s Country Gardens – Delaware, OH | Website
3. Hann Farm’s Market – Columbus, OH | Website
4. Freeman’s Farm – Galena, OH | Website
5. Jacquemin Farms – Plain City, OH | Website
6. Lynd Fruit Farm – Pataskala, OH | Website
7. Pigeon Roost Farm – Hebron, OH | Website
8. Leeds Farm – Ostrander, OH | Website
9. Hidden Creek Farms – Sunbury, OH | Website
10. Circle S Farms – Grove City, OH | Website
11. Van Buren Acres – Hebron, OH | Website

With a list this comprehensive, anyone looking for fall-themed activities in the Columbus area will be well-prepared for an action-packed season. Whether you’re seeking lively events, quiet natural beauty, or a blend of both, Columbus offers a rich palette of autumnal delights.

These are just a few highlights of what Columbus has in store for us this fall. I hope you find as much joy in these events as I do. Let’s embrace the autumn vibes and create heartwarming memories together!