30 Fun Ideas for Fall in Columbus

Another fall season is upon us, which means it is time for all of the seasonal fun! This list evolves from year to year and consists of tried and true things to do and new ideas for inspiration. Check it out and share your favorites!

Sign up for the Columbus Buddy Walk.  Join the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio as they unite for a common cause and raise funds during the 2023 Columbus Buddy Walk®! Whether you have Down syndrome, know someone who does, or just want to show your support, on Sunday, October 1st, 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!   

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 September 23rd and 24th. 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 23rd – October 29th. Harvest Blooms is returning this fall to infuse the botanical garden landscapes and containers with the essence of fall: thousands of pumpkins, mums, cabbages and more. Explore and discover two pumpkin houses along with a larger than life cornucopia filled with overflowing color and a whimsical ‘tree of pumpkins’.

Pumpkins Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory on select dates: 5-9 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays and 5-10 pm Fridays & Saturdays during October 11–15, 18–22 & 25-29. During this time the Conservatory’s grounds are illuminated with hundreds of pumpkins. This year will include the gardening skeletons and Pumpkin Houses, and new bewitching displays, the pumpkin tunnel light show and an alien invasion.

Find the perfect pumpkin and have some family fall fun:

• Circle S Farms – Grove City, Ohio
• Doran’s Farm Market – New Albany, Ohio
• Leeds Farm – Ostrander, Ohio
• Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm – Radnor, 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

Jack O’Lantern World is new this year and arrives to Columbus from September 29th through October 29th. Take a ¾ mile long walk through 17 immersive worlds featuring 1000’s of hand carved Jack O’lanterns. Enjoy this one-of-a-kind whimsical celebration of Halloween, art, nature & fall.

Take a walk through Hoover Gardens Haunted Maze. Recommended for those 7 and up, 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. 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th. Advanced ticketing required.

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 weekends October 6th – 29th.

Check out 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.