These Halloween activities and haunts are family-friendly and full of fun. If you are wanting the fully spooky (a.k.a. SCARY) experience, check out the list of Haunted Houses and Spooky Trails. Also, don’t forget about our list of Trunk-or-Treating events (a.k.a. cars decorated in a theme and children collect candy) for additional family-friendly excitement!
Halloween Haunts, Activities and Events:
Family-Friendly Haunts
Haunted Greenhouse Maze at DeMonye’s Greenhouse
Address: 2500 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219
- Indoor fall/Halloween activities such as family games, corn box, bounce house, haunted house, little straw maze, animals, and more.
- Each child gets a small pumpkin, juice, popcorn, and treat bag!
- Opens September 28, 2019
Dates: The trail will take place from now until October 31, 2019. Their hours are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday- Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Address: 6058 Glick Rd, Powell, OH 43065 (Just down the street from the Zoo and across from the Bogey Inn.)
This FREE trail is filled with various mummies, witches, zombies and other creepy things. It’s a short trail that weaves through the enclosed garden area, but it definitely is a bit spooky.
Alum Creek State Park Fall Fest
Dates: October 4 & 5, 2019, 7:00 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: Alum Creek State Park (3305 S. Old State Rd, Delaware, OH 43015)
Scavenger hunt, wagon rides, fishing, night hikes, seasonal movies, and the wonderfully scary “Haunted Trail”
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Dates: Weekends of October 11-13, 2019 and October 18-20, 2019 and October 25 – 27, 2019
Address: Powell, OH
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will host Boo at the Zoo for Halloween fun without the fright!
Superhero characters, HOWL-O- WEEN animal show, hayride, pumpkin junction express, hay maze, and more!
Date: October 11, 2019 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Where: Everal Barn at Heritage Park in Westerville (60 N. Cleveland Ave.)
“Dance the night away with ghosts and goblins as we celebrate Halloween with our first ever Boo-tacular! We’ll enjoy pizza, snacks and beverages along with games and of course dancing. Don’t forget to dress in your favorite Halloween costume, parents too!”
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This one is for adults, but this is an elaborate event worth mentioning.
Dates: October 11 & 12, 2019 beginning at 6 pm
Where: Short North Arts District
Watch the fashion show, be entertained by the street performers, listen to musical performances and more.
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Date: October 12, 2019 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Address: 4100 Columbia Street (Weaver Park in Hilliard)
“Tour historic buildings which MAY have visitors from another dimension or strange occurrences when you least expect them. Kids bring your treat bags. Safe treats in every building. Fun appropriate for all ages. Take a hayride that ends at a bonfire where you can cook your own hot dogs or buy a s’more kit to enjoy.”
Dates: October 12 & 13, 2019
Address: Various Oakland Nurseries
“Experience door prizes, special guests & events, and all-you-can-carry pumpkins! Events include: Woody’s Barnyard Racers (consisting of various animal racers), musical entertainment with the Paul Clark Party Band, tractor-pulled hay rides, pony rides, kids’ games, special guests, Oakland’s Whimsical Fall Forest, superhero visits, storytelling, s’more making station, concessions, pumpkin & face painting, PLUS…
Saturday, October 19! Trick or Treat Trail with Children’s Costume Contest at the Columbus Location Only!”
Check out the options here: Oakland Nursery Fall Fest
All Hallows’ Eve at Ohio Village
Dates: Sat., Oct. 12, 2019 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 19, 2019, 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Address: Ohio Village 800 E. 17th Street.
(The Ohio History Center will close at 4 p.m. on each day to prepare for this event)
“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. Come revel in Victorian-era entertainment including fortune telling, crafts, games and more!”
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Date: October 18, 2019
Where: Everal Barn at Heritage Park in Westerville
“Join us for this fun-filled night as you travel along the treat trail which includes Halloween-themed games and vendor alley. Don’t forget to take a ride through the park in our horse-drawn carriage. Remember to wear your costume. Event is rain or shine.”
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Dates: Oct 18-20 and October 25- 27, 2019
Time: Friday and Saturday nights from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: The Ohio Railway Museum (990 Proprietors Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085)
Tour the decorated rail cars and listen to the story of Ghost Trolley. Rated: PG
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Date: October 19, 2019 from 11:00-a.m- 3:00 p.m.
Address: Creekside Park & Plaza: 117 Mill St., Gahanna
This is a FREE event. Come in costume and enjoy the live music, games, activities, haunted trail and trick or treat for candy courtesy of local organizations.
Date: October 19, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m.
Where: Polaris Lifestyle Center near Cheesecake Factory
This event will feature live entertainment from The Reaganomics, family-friendly activities, food trucks, beer, and giveaways and a great haunt!
Trick or Treat from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and join in on the costume parade and contest from 5:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dates: October 19 – 27, 2019 7:00 -10:00 p.m.
Where: The Ohio Statehouse
“Meet figures from the past as you follow conductors with lanterns through the darkened hallways and chambers of the Statehouse. This historical tour is spooky but appropriate for all members of the family.”
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Easton Halloween Pet Parade and Fall Festival
Dates: October 20, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m.
Address: Fenlon Square at Easton Mall
Dress your pet in their best costume and bring ’em to Easton for the Halloween Pet Parade and Fall Festival. Don’t miss activities for the kids too, all in Fenlon Square.
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Date: October 23, 2019 – October 27, 2019
Where: Everal Barn at Heritage Park in Westerville
“For the first time, Westerville Parks and Recreation will transform Heritage Park, 60 N. Cleveland Avenue, into a magical fall wonderland for the Westerville Pumpkin Glow in this October. Attendees will walk through a display of thousands of decorated jack-o-lanterns in the park during the City’s new signature event. The glowing pumpkins will depict various scenes sure to delight all ages”
Dates: Thursday, October 24, 2019
Time: 3:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
Where: Dublin Community Recreation Center: 5600 Post Road
- “There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow in the moonlight. Sharing his tips and tricks, a professional pumpkin carver will be on hand to create amazing works of art. Goblins and ghouls will want to check out Carroll Baker’s magic shows and the Dublin Dance Centre & Gymnastics dance performances in the Abbey Theater. New in 2019, is a petting zoo from Honey Hill Farms in Kentucky sponsored by Shannon Grimm & Partners Team with HER Realtors. Twenty animals, including chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep, goats, alpacas, and a mini horse will be ready to meet and greet guests. Also new in 2019, is the STEM stop inside the Dublin Community Recreation Center. Don’t miss returning favorites like the Haunted Trail and Trunk or Treat Trail, or eerie exhibits featuring the Turtle Lady and the Bug Man, and more. Squier Photography will be back to take portraits from 3-8 p.m.” [hr]
Dates: October 24, 25, & Nov 1, 2019 from 4-7 pm
Where: Ohio Wildlife Center (9000 Dublin Road, Powell, OH 43065)
Walkthrough White Tail Trail and visit with “spooky” animal ambassadors. Admission is $5 per person, children 5 and under are free. Bring a donation from their wish list to enjoy the event for free.
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Day of the Dead Bilingual Storytime
Date: October 24, 2019 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Worthington Park Library Meeting Room
“Celebrate family through books, music and activities. / Celebra la familia con libros, mύsica y actividades. Presented in Spanish and English.” For ages 2 -8
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Date: October 25, 2019 from 10:30-11:30 am
Where: Old Worthington Library meeting room
Dress in costume, listen to a Halloween story and parade around the library (weather permitting). Ages 5 and under.
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Date: October 25, 2019 from 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Where: Worthington Community Center
Annual Halloween Party featuring treat trail, music, hayrides, and games.
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Dates: Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, 2019
Time: 10:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Bring your own reusable bag, wear your costume and visit the trick-or-treat stations throughout the Conservatory and Children’s Garden with your own reusable bag.
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Dates: Sunday, October 27, 2019 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join the North Market from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. for a full day of free family Halloween fun! Enjoy craft activities, trick or treating, music and more. See their website for updated information.
Inniswood Annual Halloween Party
Dates: Sunday, October 27, 2019 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Halloween Party: Join us in the gardens. Enjoy activities and crafts in celebration of this traditional holiday. Meet in the Education Pavilion for activities and crafts.
Date: October 30, 2019 from 6-8 p.m.
Where: Olde Pickerington Village
This event is FREE for all ages and includes ghost tours, storytelling, trick or treating through Old Pickerington businesses, haunted garden, haunted museum, haunted house, food and more.
Day/Overnight Trips:
Dates: Fridays-Sundays from September 15-October 28 (No Haunt on Sundays)
Where: Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH
The entire park is decorated for Halloween. The Great Pumpkin Fest is full of fun for children. There’s a parade, Hexed Spellbound (a toned-down haunted house for all ages during the daytime), Magical House on Boo Hill, Trick or Treating in a designated area and lots of Halloween spirit. At night, things get a lot scarier in certain areas of the park. Haunt offers 6 outdoor mazes, 6 scare zones, live shows and other surprises.
Dates: Friday and Saturday nights from September 20- October 26 (Open on Sundays, but no Haunt.)
Where: Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio
Feel festive as you roam around Kings Island and admire the Halloween decorations and attractions. The family-friendly activities are known as The Great Pumpkin Fest, while The Haunt is scarier with 10 haunted attractions.
Haunted Wagon Rides- Young’s Jersey Dairy
Dates: Friday and Saturday nights in October (Also September 27 and 28 this year)
Where: Young Jersey’s Dairy in Yellow Springs, OH
These scary stories are designed for families, but they are spooky. The ride goes into a dark cornfield where various monsters and goblins will jump out. They don’t chase, run or grab anyone.
Dates: September 28 – October 31, 2019
Where: EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester, OH
This place has the World’s Largest Indoor Model Train Display and during Halloween, there are special decorations and activities. There are two outdoor train rides, straw maze, an indoor pumpkin patch and maze to trick-or-treat through and all of the normal fun (A-Maze-N-Funhouse, kids’ play area and train displays).
