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Halloween events in Columbus
Columbus does Halloween properly: haunted houses that actually scare you, pumpkin patches worth the drive, and trick-or-treat streets the kids talk about all year. Here's what's on — confirmed dates first, then the annual traditions to watch for.
Confirmed dates
Spooky Sip 'n Paint
Oct 14, 2026 · Whitehall
Come enjoy an artisanal beverage while painting a spooky design of your imagining
Exploring Watercolors: Pumpkins
Oct 15, 2026 · Parsons
Join us to explore watercolors and create fun pumpkin paintings. All materials provided and no experience necessary.
Spooky Columbus
Oct 15, 2026 · Martin Luther King
Interested in graveyards, potential hauntings, and other creepy stories? Join librarians from Local History and Genealogy to discover spooky legends from Columbus’s past.
Spooky Columbus
Oct 20, 2026 · Karl Road
These Haunted Hills
Oct 21, 2026 · South High
60 minutes of creative writing exercises to enrich your fiction and poetry, based in creepy verse and the folklore, folktales and cryptids of Appalachian traditions.
Spooky Creative Writing Workshop: These Haunted Hills:
Oct 22, 2026 · Parsons
Gather tips, resources, and reflections to use as prompts for your own short stories and verse, developed in the dark shadows of your imagination.
HALLOWEEN COVER SHOWS FOR WCBE ft. Lou Mercy * BeachKitty * King Serpent * Shame Chamber * Lovely Weather * Carpet Dancers (Show #1)
Oct 24, 2026 · Rumba Cafe · $12 USD
HALLOWEEN COVER SHOWS FOR WCBE - Show #1 FEATURING: Lou Mercy as Queens of the Stone Age Carpet Dancers as Beastie Boys BeachKitty as Nirvana King Serpent as No Doubt Shame Chamber as Smasking Pumpkins Lovely Weather as The Cure All proceeds for this show will be donated to WCBE
$10 suggested donation
Thurber House - Ghost Writing Workshop
Oct 24, 2026 · Hilliard
We will share the scary turned silly ghost story from James Thurber, go over the ins and outs of a good scary story, and then turn students loose to write their own. For kids in grades 4-6.
HALLOWEEN COVER SHOWS FOR WCBE ft. REM-nants playing R.E.M. * FreeTVs playing Radiohead * Izöra Patriksootír playing Björk * The Secret Life of Houseplants playing The Replacements (Show #2)
Oct 25, 2026 · Rumba Cafe · $12 USD
HALLOWEEN COVER SHOWS FOR WCBE - Show #2 WCBE Happy Hour Show FEATURING: REM-nants playing "Life's Rich Pageant" album by R.E.M FreeTVs playing "The Bends" album by Radiohead Izöra Patriksootír playing "Debut" album by Björk The Secret Life of Houseplants playing The
Replacements All proceeds for this show will be donated to WCBE $10 suggested donation
Spooky Columbus
Oct 26, 2026 · Linden
Halloween Scream-a-long!
Oct 27, 2026 · Canal Winchester
Children will use their voices and bodies to dance as skeletons, make jack-o-lantern faces, and say BOO, while engaging their imaginations in fun & interactive music program led by Mister E.
Halloween Toddler Storytime
Oct 27, 2026 · Main Library
Calling all little pumpkins! Join us for a not-so-spooky Halloween Storytime. We’ll share stories, sing festive songs, and other fun activities. Costumes are encouraged.
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
Kids Create: Spooky Spider Web Painting
Oct 27, 2026 · Main Library
Come practice your painting skills by creating and decorating a spooky spider web!
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
Halloween Costume Ball
Oct 28, 2026 · Hilliard
Come to the library dressed in your Halloween costume and stay for the fun! We'll sing songs, read stories, have a Halloween puppet show and trick or treat around the library. For ages 6 and under.
Halloween Family Storytime
Oct 28, 2026 · Main Library
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
Halloween Scream-a-long with Mister E
Oct 28, 2026 · Marion-Franklin
BOOOO! Join Mister E. for a fun and interactive Halloween musical program. Use your voice and body to dance as skeletons, make jack-o-lantern faces and sing some classical Halloween favorites.
Mario Kart Band Halloween!
Oct 28, 2026 · Rumba Cafe · $18.95 USD
MARIO KART BAND HALLOWEEN 🎃⭐️ You play Mario Kart, we play the music LIVE! 🍄👻 Costumes Encouraged 👾
Trick or Treat Storytime
Oct 28, 2026 · Whetstone
Join us for a special Halloween-themed storytime, then trick-or-treat through the library. Come in costume for extra fun!
Halloween Family Storytime
Oct 29, 2026 · Main Library
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
Halloween Scream-a-long with Mister E
Oct 29, 2026 · Southeast
Halloween Family Storytime
Oct 30, 2026 · Main Library
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
Haunted Fest Columbus
Oct 30, 2026 · KEMBA Live!
Halloween Bash
Oct 31, 2026 · New Albany
Wear your costume and enjoy stories and fun activities around the library! Storytimes at 10:15am and 11:15am. Limited space. For ages 6 and under and families.
Halloween Family Storytime
Oct 31, 2026 · Main Library
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
SKULLY'S HALLOWEEN BASH 2026 💀
Oct 31, 2026 · Skully's Music Diner · $25.95 USD
SKULLY'S HALLOWEEN BASH 2026 🎃 Skully's Annual Halloween Bash is BACK on Saturday, October 31! 🕷️ Carrying on our tradition, we will be hosting a COSTUME CONTEST with CA$H PRIZES 🤑 so be sure to come dressed in your best costume fits!
👻 Featuring spins by DJ CHUCK STAR ⭐️ ⏰ 8PM DOORS 🐈⬛ FREE ENTRY UNTIL 10PM 🧛🏻 TICKETS: $20 AFTER 10PM 🩸 AGES 18+ 💀 UNDER 21 PAY $5 UNDERAGE FEE ALL NIGHT
Spooky STEAM Haunted House
Oct 31, 2026 · Main Library
Join Makerspace Central & Motherboard Labs for a fun event that teaches K-12 youth how objects we use every day can turn into spooky ones.
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
Trick or Treat Storytime
Oct 31, 2026 · Whetstone
Halloween Family Storytime
Nov 1, 2026 · Main Library
Photo: © Main Library — nominative use (identification only)
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Good to know
- Haunted houses sell out on the last two weekends — book ahead, don't walk up.
- Pumpkin patches are best on weekday mornings: smaller crowds, better light for photos.
- Bring cash for the farm stands; card readers and corn mazes don't always mix.
- Check age guidance before bringing small kids to a haunt — 'family fright nights' are the gentler pick.
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