The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend (October 30th–November 1st)

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which feels like a pretty good excuse to make a whole weekend of it. Hoster Brewing is pouring its last beers before closing for good, and Green Lawn Cemetery is opening its illuminated mausoleums for a walking tour that goes until midnight. Add in Halloween shows, live music, and plenty of other things happening around Columbus, and you’ve got some decisions to make.

Columbus does trick-or-treat on Thursday, but Worthington is celebrating Saturday from 6-8pm. Our trick-or-treat guide has the details for surrounding communities, too. One reminder before you head out: the clocks fall back an hour Sunday morning. Here’s your weekend, friends!

This Weekend At A Glance

Friday, October 30th

🎤 Olivia Rodrigo At The Schottenstein Center

Olivia Rodrigo plays the second of two nights at the Schott on the Unraveled Tour, 7pm Friday, with tickets through Ticketmaster. The tour’s merch pop-up, the Unraveled Tour Experience, is at Easton both days in the parking lot behind Shake Shack and Sephora, open to everyone from noon to 7pm with an Amex cardmember hour at 11am.

Location: Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr.
When: Friday, 7pm; Easton pop-up noon–7pm
More info: Schottenstein Center · Easton pop-up

😂 Paula Poundstone At The Lincoln Theatre

Paula Poundstone, the longtime panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, does her stand-up at the Lincoln Theatre on Long Street at 8pm. CAPA sells the tickets.

Location: Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
When: Friday, 8pm
More info: CAPA

🏛️ Ohio Statehouse Trick-Or-Treat Tour

The Statehouse gives a free trick-or-treat tour for younger kids in costume, meeting in the Map Room, with treats at stops around the building and a bit of the building’s history along the way. Costumes are encouraged, and every child comes with an adult.

Location: Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square
When: Friday, 10–11am
Cost: Free
More info: Ohio Statehouse

🖼️ Pulp Stiction Opening Collage Party At Hopkins Hall Gallery

Hopkins Hall Gallery on the Oval throws the opening party for Pulp Stiction: Collage as an Act of Resistance, a national juried show of 73 works curated by Emily Morgan of Lovely But Dead, from 5 to 8pm. There’s a scrap room for making your own collage. It’s free, the gallery asks for an RSVP, and the show hangs through December 11th, weekdays from 11am to 4pm.

Location: Hopkins Hall Gallery, 128 N. Oval Mall
When: Friday, 5–8pm
Cost: Free
More info: Opening party · The exhibition

💀 Día De Los Muertos At The Wexner Center

The Wex’s Día de los Muertos is free with a ticket from its box office. Ofrendas, a comic-making workshop and hands-on art start at 4pm, the welcome is at 4:45, poetry readings at 5, dance at 5:15, and a reception at 5:45 in the lower lobby with free tamales, hot chocolate and pan de muerto.

Location: Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St.
When: Friday, from 4pm
Cost: Free with ticket
More info: Wexner Center

🎬 Frankenstein With A Live Score At Bexley Public Library

The ensemble Silent Treatment plays a live, original score to the 1931 Frankenstein in the library auditorium after hours. The library lists it for adults, and registration is only for an email reminder.

Location: Bexley Public Library, 2411 E. Main St., Bexley
When: Friday, 6:30–8pm
More info: Bexley Public Library

🔭 Cosmic Creeps And Celestial Treats At The Ohio State Planetarium

The Arne Slettebak Planetarium runs its 30-minute Halloween show twice, at 6 and 6:30pm, free with registration on Eventbrite, then opens the Smith Lab observing deck for a Spooktacular Star Party from 6:30 to 9:30pm, telescopes and staff provided, costumes welcome. The deck is two flights of stairs up from the planetarium; email ahead and they’ll set up a telescope on the plaza instead.

Location: Smith Lab 5033, 174 W. 19th Ave.
When: Friday, shows 6 & 6:30pm; star party 6:30–9:30pm
Cost: Free; register for the show
More info: Planetarium show · Star party

🎹 Nosferatu With Live Organ At First Congregational Church

Joshua Stafford plays a live organ accompaniment on the church’s 1931 Kimball organ under F.W. Murnau’s 1922 Nosferatu, in the sanctuary on East Broad Street. It’s free, with a freewill offering.

Location: First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St.
When: Friday, 7:30pm
Cost: Free; freewill offering
More info: First Church Arts

🎶 HalleBOOia! At Weigel Auditorium

Ohio State’s School of Music gives its 32nd annual Halloween concert, costumed student groups playing movie and TV themes, pop, folk and classical spoofs. It’s free with no ticket, and costumes are encouraged. It won’t be livestreamed.

Location: Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Rd.
When: Friday, 7:30–9pm
Cost: Free
More info: Ohio State School of Music

🎸 The Damned: Final Damnation 50 At The Newport

The Damned bring the Final Damnation 50 tour to the Newport with the Flamin’ Groovies and The Courettes opening. Doors are at 6pm.

Location: Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St.
When: Friday, doors 6pm
More info: PromoWest

🎧 Haunted Fest Columbus At KEMBA Live!

Haunted Fest takes the KEMBA Live! outdoor stage with it’s murph, MPH, Twin Diplomacy and SKILAH. Doors open at 6pm, and general admission starts at $57.

Location: KEMBA Live! outdoor stage, 405 Neil Ave.
When: Friday, doors 6pm
Cost: From $57
More info: PromoWest · Haunted Fest

🧹 Midnight Market In Grove City

Grove City’s second Midnight Market brings vendors selling handmade goods, spooky treasures and seasonal finds to Town Center Park, with entertainment and Halloween activities alongside. It runs with the season’s last Heart of Grove City Food Truck Friday, which goes from 4 to 9pm.

Location: Town Center Park, 3359 Park St., Grove City
When: Friday, 6–9pm; food trucks 4–9pm
More info: City of Grove City

🎭 bobrauschenbergamerica At The Riffe Center

Available Light Theatre opened Charles L. Mee’s bobrauschenbergamerica Thursday in Studio One at the Riffe Center, a play built like a Rauschenberg collage out of American scraps, and plays it again Friday and Saturday at 8pm. The company staged it in 2013 and brings it back for a run through November 14th. Pay what you want at the door, or reserve ahead through CAPA’s ticketing portal.

Location: Riffe Center Studio One, 77 S. High St.
When: Fri & Sat, 8pm
Cost: Pay what you want at the door
More info: Available Light

🎸 Speak Of The Devil And Screamers At Shadowbox Live

Shadowbox runs two Halloween shows in the Brewery District this weekend. Speak of the Devil is a rock show built on Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, with choreography and lighting to match, Friday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm. Screamers, sketch comedy cut with rock songs, plays Halloween night at 7pm. Both are seated cabaret-style, with tables sold whole and food and drink service before the show.

Location: Shadowbox Live, 503 S. Front St., Suite 260
When: Speak of the Devil Fri 7pm & Sun 2pm; Screamers Sat 7pm
More info: Speak of the Devil · Screamers

📚 Pride And Prejudice At Otterbein, Final Weekend

Otterbein’s theater department closes its run of Kate Hamill’s comic Pride and Prejudice this weekend, Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 2 and 7:30pm, in the Campus Center Theatre in Westerville. Tickets are $22.

Location: Campus Center Theatre, 100 W. Home St., Westerville
When: Fri 7:30pm; Sat 2 & 7:30pm
Cost: $22
More info: Otterbein University

🎃 Mini Halloween Village At Streetlight Guild, Last Two Days

Streetlight Guild has decked out both floors of its East Main Street building for the sixth year with its Mini Halloween Village, and the tour is free. Everyone leaves with a candy bag, and visitors in costume get an extra helping. It’s open from 5 to 8pm Friday and from noon to 5pm on Halloween, then it comes down.

Location: Streetlight Guild, 1367 E. Main St.
When: Fri 5–8pm; Sat noon–5pm
Cost: Free
More info: Streetlight Guild

Saturday, October 31st: Halloween

⚽️ Columbus Crew vs. D.C. United, Last Home Match Of The Regular Season

The Crew’s last regular-season home match is a 2pm Halloween kickoff against D.C. United. One road match follows before the regular season ends. The $49 Meal Deal package pairs a ticket with a personal Donatos pizza and a drink; single tickets are through Ticketmaster.

Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, 96 Columbus Crew Way
When: Saturday, 2pm
Cost: Meal Deal package $49
More info: Columbus Crew · Stadium page

🎃 Worthington Trick Or Treat Night

Worthington trick-or-treats on October 31st every year no matter the day, and the city doesn’t move it for weather. The city reminds Columbus addresses inside the Worthington school district to follow Columbus, which went Thursday.

Location: Worthington
When: Saturday, 6–8pm
More info: City of Worthington

🧪 Spooky STEAM Haunted House At Main Library

Makerspace Central and Motherboard Labs run a build-your-own haunted house morning at Main Library for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade and their families, where everyday objects get turned spooky.

Location: Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.
When: Saturday, 10am–1pm
More info: Columbus Metropolitan Library

🎵 SingUnited Chorus Finals At The Convention Center

SingUnited International, the barbershop organization that was Sweet Adelines International until this year, has been at the Convention Center all week for its international competition. The Quartet Finals are Friday from 11:30am and the Chorus Finals Saturday from 11:30am to 5:30pm, both in Exhibit Hall B, and single-session passes are sold only on site at the registration desk. Friday night’s Coronet Club show, An Evening with the Champions, is a separate ticket, $40 general, from 8 to 10:30pm in the same hall.

Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.
When: Quartet Finals Fri from 11:30am; Chorus Finals Sat 11:30am–5:30pm
Cost: Single-session passes on site; Coronet Club show $40
More info: SingUnited · Coronet Club show

🎪 UniverSoul Circus At Historic Crew Stadium

UniverSoul Circus is at Historic Crew Stadium through November 8th. The opening weekend has a 7pm show Friday, three shows Saturday at noon, 3:30 and 7:30pm, and three Sunday at noon, 3 and 6:30pm. Parking is $10 a car, and tickets are through Ticketmaster.

Location: Historic Crew Stadium, 1 Black & Gold Blvd.
When: Fri 7pm; Sat noon, 3:30 & 7:30pm; Sun noon, 3 & 6:30pm
Cost: Parking $10 a car
More info: UniverSoul Circus · Showtimes

🏊 Pumpkin Plunge In Groveport

Groveport floats a pumpkin patch in the Rec Center’s indoor pool and lets families hunt for pumpkins in it. Pre-registration is required and spots are limited; the city takes sign-ups through its Parks and Recreation page.

Location: Groveport Recreation Center, 7370 Groveport Rd., Groveport
When: Saturday, noon–3pm
More info: City of Groveport · Registration

👑 Nina West Drag Brunch: Halloween Edition (Sold Out)

Nina West hosts two Halloween brunches at Natalie’s Grandview with Plenty O’Smiles, Boyoncé and Deva Station, 11:30am on Charlie’s Stage and 2pm on the Music Hall Stage, 18 and up. Both are sold out; Natalie’s has a waitlist.

Location: Natalie’s Grandview, 945 King Ave.
When: Saturday, 11:30am & 2pm
Cost: Sold out
More info: Natalie’s

🧸 Haunted Toy Shoppe At Columbus Dance Theatre

The School of Columbus Dance Theatre’s student dancers perform their Halloween production, Haunted Toy Shoppe, at the company’s J. Nick Marzella Family Theater on East Main, three shows a day Saturday and Sunday.

Location: J. Nick Marzella Family Theater, 592 E. Main St.
When: Sat & Sun, 2, 3:30 & 5pm
More info: Columbus Dance Theatre

🍺 Hoster Halloween And Final Day

Hoster Brewing’s James Road taproom closes for good after Saturday; the brewery announced it in September. The last day starts at 4pm with Tortilla Street Food and classic scary movies on repeat, a costume contest once the crowd builds, beer pong if the weather holds, bobbing for apples, and the taproom stays open at least until its usual 10pm close. The brewery suggests black for anyone not dressing up. Its blacklight scavenger hunt runs through Saturday, and prizes have to be claimed by close of business on Halloween.

Location: Hoster Brewing Co., 653 N. James Rd.
When: Saturday, from 4pm
More info: Hoster Brewing

🎬 Hitchcocktober: Psycho In 4K At Gateway Film Center

Gateway’s Hitchcocktober series ends with the 4K restoration of Psycho, Saturday at 2 and 6:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. It’s rated R and runs 109 minutes.

Location: Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St.
When: Sat 2 & 6:30pm; Sun 2pm
More info: Gateway Film Center

📻 Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play In Worthington (Sold Out)

Joe Landry’s radio-play adaptation stages three Hitchcock stories, The Lodger, Sabotage and The 39 Steps, as a 1940s live broadcast with five actors playing dozens of characters, live sound effects and music. David Hemsley Caldwell directs, and a 15-minute Q&A follows. Tickets were $25 plus fees, and the box office shows none left.

Location: McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington
When: Saturday, 7pm
Cost: Sold out
More info: McConnell Arts Center

🎭 The Rocky Horror Show, Closing Night

Short North Stage’s ninth Rocky Horror, with Nick Hardin back as Frank-N-Furter, closes on Halloween with shows at 5 and 9pm at the Garden Theater, after a 7pm and an 11pm Friday. It’s rated R and runs two hours. Limited student rush and pay-what-you-want tickets go on sale at the door two hours before each show.

Location: Garden Theater, 1187 N. High St.
When: Fri 7 & 11pm; Sat 5 & 9pm
Cost: Student rush and pay what you want at the door
More info: Short North Stage

🏒 Ohio State Men’s Hockey vs. Michigan

Ohio State men’s hockey hosts Michigan at Value City Arena Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 7:30pm, a Big Ten rivalry series. The football team is in Los Angeles, at USC Saturday at 7:30pm on NBC, and the next home game is Oregon on November 7th.

Location: Value City Arena, 555 Borror Dr.
When: Sat 5pm; Sun 7:30pm
More info: Ohio State schedule

🎸 Hookahween Featuring Ekoostik Hookah At The Newport

Ekoostik Hookah plays its Halloween show at the Newport, presented by WCBE, with Brahctopus also on the bill. Doors open at 7pm.

Location: Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St.
When: Saturday, doors 7pm
More info: PromoWest

🕯️ Illuminated Mausoleum Tour At Green Lawn Cemetery

Green Lawn’s first nighttime walking tour of its illuminated mausoleums and monuments starts at 10:30pm and runs to midnight, when the carillon at Huntington Chapel tolls. It’s $50 a person, a fundraiser for restoration projects in the cemetery. Daylight saving time ends at 2am, so the night has an extra hour in it.

Location: Green Lawn Cemetery & Arboretum, 1000 Greenlawn Ave.
When: Saturday, 10:30pm–midnight
Cost: $50
More info: Green Lawn Cemetery · Tickets

Sunday, November 1st

💀 CMA Community Days: Día De Los Muertos

The Columbus Museum of Art’s free community day is a Día de los Muertos celebration that runs from 10am to 5pm. Artist Renee Zamora’s community ofrenda and a photo booth run from 10 to 4, and visitors can bring a photo or an object to add for someone they’ve lost. There’s art-making, performances, food, and bilingual storytime with Columbus Metropolitan Library at 10:30 and 11:30am. Registration is encouraged.

Location: Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St.
When: Sunday, 10am–5pm
Cost: Free
More info: Columbus Museum of Art

🌿 November Community Day At Franklin Park Conservatory

The Conservatory’s monthly free day for Columbus and Franklin County residents with ID falls on Sunday, with a Near East Side Celebration theme: Near East Side partners in the Veridian from 11am to 2pm and the Thiossane Institute’s West African dance performance at 1pm in the Garden Pavilion. The building closes early, at 4pm, to set up for the last night of Pumpkins Aglow.

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.
When: Sunday, 10am–4pm
Cost: Free with Columbus or Franklin County ID
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory

🎃 Pumpkins Aglow, Final Night

Pumpkins Aglow has its last three nights, from 5 to 10pm Friday and Saturday and from 5 to 9pm Sunday, with the pirates, mermaids, performing skeletons, pumpkin house and singing pumpkin patch, Amazing Giants’ sway pole witch and spider stilt walker at the Pergola from 6 to 8pm, and Liberty Kettle Corn, Taquitos and Red Head Chef for food. Tickets are $28.35 all in for ages 13 to 59, $24.15 for seniors and $17.33 for kids 3 to 12, and the Conservatory says many dates sell out. Harvest Blooms ends Sunday too.

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.
When: Fri & Sat 5–10pm; Sun 5–9pm
Cost: $28.35; seniors $24.15; kids 3–12 $17.33
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory

🥨 Columbus Maennerchor Autumn Schnitzel Dinner

The Columbus Maennerchor, the German singing society on South High Street, opens its club house to the public for its autumn schnitzel dinner, with seatings at 4:30 and 6:30pm and carry-out from 5:30 to 7. It’s $27 a person for pork or chicken schnitzel with salad, a roll, German potato salad, red cabbage and dessert, with a cash bar, and the choir sings a few songs during dessert. Tickets are sold ahead through Ticketor.

Location: Valter’s at the Columbus Maennerchor, 976 S. High St.
When: Sunday, seatings 4:30 & 6:30pm; carry-out 5:30–7pm
Cost: $27
More info: Columbus Maennerchor · Tickets

Sunday also has the Haunted Toy Shoppe’s three shows, the circus’s three shows, the Shadowbox matinee and the second Michigan game, all listed above. The Blue Jackets are back at Nationwide Arena Tuesday against Colorado.

Have fun, Columbus!