There’s something special about fall in Central Ohio. Cooler evenings, changing leaves, football weekends, pumpkin patches, cider, Halloween events, and community festivals give us plenty of reasons to get outside and enjoy the season.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly Halloween event, a pumpkin farm for a Saturday afternoon, a spooky ghost tour, or a festive way to spend Thanksgiving morning, there’s something happening throughout the region this fall.
We’ve rounded up some of the events, farms and seasonal traditions worth adding to your 2026 fall calendar.
Dates, hours, and ticket availability can change, so be sure to check each event’s website before heading out.
Fall Events Around Central Ohio
Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival
September 24–October 25, 2026
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Start fall with an evening surrounded by glowing wildlife displays, colorful light installations, and illuminated scenes throughout the Columbus Zoo. The 2026 festival also includes the new Bring Dinosaurs to Light experience.
Learn more about the Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival
New Albany Oktoberfest
October 3, 2026
Rose Run, New Albany
Celebrate fall with a full day of live entertainment, German-inspired food and drinks, contests and activities for the whole family. The event includes two entertainment stages, a biergarten, interactive kids’ art experiences and even a Wiener Dog Race.
Learn more about New Albany Oktoberfest
Ohio Gourd Show & Festival
October 2–4, 2026
Delaware County Fairgrounds
If there were ever a festival made for fall, this might be it. The annual Ohio Gourd Show celebrates everything gourd, including art, food, music, crafts, and plenty of creative displays.
Learn more about the Ohio Gourd Show
Oakland Nursery Fall Festival
October 10–11, 2026 | 12–4 PM
Oakland Nursery celebrates its 46th Annual Fall Festival with seasonal fun at participating locations, including Delaware, Dublin, and Columbus.
RidgeFest
October 17, 2026 | 12-4PM
Celebrate the season with our annual fall festival, RidgeFest! We have partnered with local organizations to celebrate the uniqueness of Glacier Ridge. Join us for a fun day filled with games, hay rides, archery, and much more!
Ridgefest at Glacier Ridge Metro Park
Halloween Fun for the Whole Family
Boo at the Zoo
October 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 & 24–25, 2026
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
One of Central Ohio’s longtime Halloween traditions returns for four weekends in October. Boo at the Zoo offers a family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween while spending the day at the zoo.
Learn more about Boo at the Zoo
Dublin Halloween Spooktacular
October 15, 2026 | 4–8 PM
October 16, 2026 | 1–5 PM
Coffman Park
5200 Emerald Parkway, Dublin
Costumes, treats, and plenty of Halloween fun take over Coffman Park during Dublin’s Halloween Spooktacular. A sensory-friendly period is also scheduled from 1–1:30 PM on October 16.
Learn more about Dublin Halloween Spooktacular
The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow
October 15–18, 2026 | 6:30–10 PM
Heritage Park
60 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville
Heritage Park glows with pumpkin displays and family-friendly fall attractions during the Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow. Visitors can enjoy pumpkin exhibits, mazes, LED mini golf, axe throwing, food trucks, and plenty of not-too-spooky fun.
Learn more about the Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow
Boo + Brew at Bridge Park
October 21, 2026
Bridge Park, Dublin
Businesses throughout Bridge Park will hand out candy and goodies while families enjoy face painting, balloon artists, and other activities. Adults can enjoy a few seasonal beverages along the way, too.
Great Gahanna Goblin Fest
October 23, 2026 | 5:30–9:30 PM
Academy Park
1201 Cherry Bottom Road, Gahanna
Gahanna’s Goblin Fest packs plenty into one spooky evening, including hayrides, live entertainment, storytelling, s’mores, and trick-or-treating.
Historic Dublin Candy Trail
October 24, 2026 | 3–5 PM
Historic Dublin
Bring your costumed crew to Historic Dublin, where participating local businesses will be handing out Halloween candy throughout the afternoon.
New Albany Parks & Rec Trunk or Treat
October 24, 2026
Bevelhymer Park
New Albany’s annual Trunk or Treat returns with an added sensory-friendly hour from 2–3 PM, featuring reduced crowds, lights, and sounds.
Learn more about New Albany Trunk or Treat
A Little Spookier…
Looking for something with more ghosts than pumpkins?
Uptown Westerville Ghost Story Tours
Friday & Saturday nights, September 25–October 31
Grab a lantern and explore the history, legends, and mysterious stories of Uptown Westerville. Costumed storytellers lead guests through an immersive walking tour blending local history with tales collected from the Westerville community.
Learn more about Uptown Ghost Story Tours
Ghost Walk of Haunted Historic Delaware
October 10, 2026
Boardman Arts Park
154 W. William St., Delaware
Explore the haunted streets and stories of Delaware’s historic Northwest Neighborhood. Tours are scheduled for 5, 6, and 7 PM, and tickets tend to go quickly.
Learn more about the Delaware Ghost Walk
For even more haunted houses, corn mazes, spooky walks, and Halloween attractions throughout Ohio, check out Ohio Haunted Houses.
Fall Fun for Kids
New Albany Fall Festival & TreatFest
October 11, 2026 | 1–4 PM
Marburn Academy
9555 Johnstown Road, New Albany
This free family event includes trick-or-treating, a costume contest, bounce parks, pumpkins, and plenty of activities. Families can also participate in the New Albany Pumpkin Run and Trick-or-Treat Fun Run.
Early registration is encouraged.
Pumpkin Patches, Farms & Orchards Near Columbus
Of course, it wouldn’t be fall in Central Ohio without at least one trip to a pumpkin patch.
Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm
2920 State Route 203, Radnor
Named the No. 1 pumpkin farm in the country in a USA Today list, Lehner’s offers plenty beyond pumpkins. Attractions include a giant slingshot, paintball, barrel rides, and seasonal group activities.
Leeds Farm
8738 Marysville Road, Ostrander
Leeds Farm is packed with activities for the whole family, including hayrides, zip lines, pedal carts and more.
Lynd Fruit Farm
9851 Morse Road SW, Pataskala
Lynd’s fall maze is open Friday through Sunday through November 1, making it an easy addition to a fall weekend of apple picking and seasonal fun.
Lohstroh Family Farms
15632 State Route 56 SE, Mt. Sterling
Hop aboard the pumpkin wagon and head into the field to choose your own pumpkin. Weekend wagon rides run throughout the fall season.
The Orchard & Company
7255 US Highway 42, Plain City
The Orchard & Company packs a lot into one fall outing. Families can enjoy u-pick apples, tractor-drawn wagon rides, a large corn pit, hill slide, animal barn, jumping pillows, pedal carts, and more.
Make sure you save room for an apple cider slushy or pumpkin donut before heading home.
More Central Ohio Farms to Explore
Add these to your fall list, too:
- A Maize at Little Darby Creek — 8657 Axe Handle Road, Milford Center
- Jacquemin Farms — 7437 Hyland-Croy Road, Plain City
- Hunt’s Farm — 3184 S. Old State Road, Delaware
- Miller’s Country Gardens — 2492 State Route 37 W, Delaware
- Kuhlwein’s Farm Market & Deli — 1859 Walker Road, Hilliard
- Groovy Plants Ranch — 4140 County Road 15, Marengo
- Moser’s Farm Market and Barn — 3350 Clark-Shaw Road, Powell
- Bambi’s Farm Market at Hidden Creek Farms — 581 S. Galena Road, Sunbury
- The Farm at Locust Creek — 2700 Prospect-Mt. Vernon Road E, Waldo
- Westervelt Farms — 724 Africa Road, Westerville
Fall Fun Doesn’t End on Halloween
There’s still plenty happening once the costumes are put away.
Harvest Market at Bridge Park
November 7, 2026
Longshore Street, Dublin
Think of this as the autumn version of the Dublin Market. Shop seasonal goods, find ingredients for fall recipes, and get an early start on holiday shopping.
Learn more about the Harvest Market
New Albany Diwali Celebration
November 7, 2026
Hinson Amphitheater
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with music, dancing, food, and fireworks in New Albany. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
Learn more about New Albany’s Diwali Celebration
Flying Feather Four Miler
November 26, 2026
The Club at Corazon, Dublin
Start Thanksgiving morning with a Central Ohio tradition. Younger runners can participate in the Kids Gobbler Chase before the Flying Feather Four Miler gets underway.
Learn more about the Flying Feather Four Miler
Make the Most of Fall in Central Ohio
Whether your perfect fall Saturday involves picking pumpkins, wandering through glowing displays, listening to a ghost story, or simply enjoying cider and donuts with your family, Central Ohio has no shortage of ways to celebrate the season.
Pick a few favorites, try somewhere new, and enjoy everything fall has to offer before Ohio winter makes its arrival.
From all of us at Crunelle Insurance, have a safe and happy fall!
