30 Things to do this Fall in Columbus

Another fall is here, which means it is time for all of the seasonal fun! I put together this initial list a few years ago filled with our tried and true things to do and then other ideas for inspiration. Since a few of our favorite fall activities are no longer in existence (Demonye’s haunted greenhouse and Schacht Farms pumpkin patch), I will be turning to this list for inspiration on creating new memories this fall. Check out the list and be sure to share your favorite fall activity with me.

Sign up for the Columbus Buddy Walk. This year the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio is celebrating the limitless potential of people with Down Syndrome by raising funds during the 2022 Columbus Buddy Walk. Whether you have Down syndrome, know someone who does, or just want to show your support, on Sunday, October 2nd head down to the Buddy Walk for tailgating, music & dancing, food trucks, touch-a-truck, balloon twisters, airbrush tattoos, pumpkin painting, sensory room, inflatables, mascots, a toddler ball pit, and more!   

Visit The Plant Kindness Project in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. This magical place started out as a personal garden and has evolved into a community garden and kindness initiative. Walk the gourd tunnel, take in the beauty of the flowers, and hang out with the farm cat, “Cheese.” Be sure to pick up produce at the farm stand, where nothing is priced and everything is donation based. Located at 2075 Bullard-Rutan Rd, Mechanicsburg, OH 43044.

Go Apple Picking. Nothing says fall like a barrel of apples and fresh apple cider and there are quite a few spots in the Central Ohio area to choose from:

• Branstool Orchards – Utica, Ohio
• CherryHawk Farm Apple Orchard – Marysville, Ohio
• Legend Hills Orchard – Utica, Ohio
• Lynd Fruit Farm – Pataskala, Ohio
• The Orchard & Company – Plain City, Ohio

Visit the Ohio Railway Museum. The museum offers a glimpse of railroading’s past through exhibits, static equipment displays of electric traction and steam. The museum offers rides on both the streetcars and the Pullman passenger car. Visit and explore a century of rail evolution!

Check out Chalk the Block at Easton on October 1st and 2nd. This event features artists working to transform a 10′ square space into a work of chalk art. On Saturday, the artists take to the streets, to create elaborate, original designs, while listening to the music of a local musical acts. On Sunday, the audience is invited back to see the finished products.

Experience Harvest Blooms at Franklin Park Conservatory from September 24th – October 30th. Harvest Blooms returns to infuse the botanical garden landscapes and containers with the magic of the fall season! Thousands of hearty pumpkins, rich mums, exquisite cabbages and more fill the gardens. Discover larger-than-life autumnal decorations: two pumpkins houses and—new this year—an overflowing decorative cornucopia and magnificent pumpkin tree.

Pumpkins Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory from 5-9pm on select dates: October 12–16, 19–23 & 26-30. Hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins illuminate the Conservatory. There will be two pumpkin houses, a spooky forest, a foggy creek, a ghostly graveyard, and new this year, singing jack o’ lanterns, dancing skeletons and more!

Find the perfect pumpkin and have some family fall fun:

• Circle S Farms – Grove City, Ohio
• Doran’s Farm Market – New Albany, Ohio
• Hendren Farm Market – Johnstown, Ohio
• Leeds Farm – Ostrander, Ohio
• Lohstroh Family Farm – Mt. Sterling, Ohio
• Lynd Fruit Farm – Pataskala, Ohio
• The Maize at Little Darby Creek – Milford Center, Ohio
• Pigeon Roost Farm – Hebron, Ohio
• Pumpkin Head Pumpkin Patch – Mansfield, Ohio
• Young’s Jersey Dairy – Yellow Springs, Ohio

Take a walk through Hoover Gardens Haunted Maze. Recommended for those 7 and up, (but my 2 and 5 year old LOVED it), the maze features spooky ghosts, goblins, and surprises around every bend!

All Hallows Eve at The 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 and strange characters roaming Ohio Village. Revel in Victorian-era entertainment including fortune telling, crafts, games and more! All Hallows Eve will be on Saturday, Oct. 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th.

Boo at the Zoo at the Columbus Zoo is a frightfully delightful event of spirited fun for the whole family. The zoo will be transformed into a Halloween wonderland during the weekends of October 14th-16th, 21st-23rd, and 28th–30th.

The Fall Color Driving Tour through Blendon Woods.If you have family members with limited mobility or just need to go for a drive, the Fall Color Driving Tour is designed for you at Blendon Woods Metro Park. Follow the signs for the driving tour, which is a little over 2 miles long, and includes a section of the roadway not normally open to general park visitors.

Take a Fall Hike to observe all the fall color. A few of our favorite fall foliage hikes include: 

• Dripping Rock Trail at Highbanks Metro Park: A 2.6 mile loop that travels through the forest and along a creek. The fall foliage at peak is quite stunning.
• Five Oaks Trail Loop at Slate Run Metro Park: A 1.5 mile gravel hike that goes through a steep ravine with black shale outcrops.
• Rockstall Nature Preserve: A 1.1 mile loop that takes you through the woods, over creeks, and down a staircase into a holler. The holler is filled with beautiful open faced rock structures and flowing water. This hike is not stroller friendly.
• Sugarbush Trail at Blendon Woods Metro Park: A 2 mile trail that passes through a woods that opens onto a meadow. Heavily populated with many different species of birds.
• Sweetgum Trail at Walnut Woods Metro Park: A 2.3 mile loop through the sweet gum trees, tall pine trees, and wildflower fields. The trail is perfect for strollers and scooters.