The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend (October 9–11)

The Italian Festival will take over Italian Village for three days, Ohio State returns to the Shoe, and Hoster will hold its last Oktoberfest on James Road plus much more on this busy fall weekend in Columbus.

The Columbus Italian Festival is the big one this weekend. It’s the 46th year on the steps of St. John the Baptist, Friday night through Sunday evening, with Sorelle on the Friday stage and a Sunday parade led by Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro. Ohio State’s homecoming parade steps off Friday at 6pm with a grand marshal who was crowned homecoming queen in 1926 (she was a cow), and the Buckeyes play Maryland Saturday at 4:15pm. The Blue Jackets host Pittsburgh Friday night, Grandview Heights swears in its first dog mayor, Groveport makes apple butter for the 53rd year, and Death Becomes Her closes its Columbus run Sunday. Here’s your weekend.

This Weekend At A Glance

Friday, October 9th

🇮🇹 Columbus Italian Festival

The Italian Festival is back on the steps of St. John the Baptist for the 46th edition, and this year’s theme is Roma Eterna: All Roads Lead to Rome. Friday night is the music night. Accordionist Cory Pesaturo plays at 7pm, Sorelle takes the ABC6 pavilion stage at 7:45pm and again at 9:45pm, and the Stromboleros play in between. New this year is Vino al Colosseo, a Friday-night wine tasting with three time slots, 21 and up, advance tickets only and none sold at the door. Saturday has a 4pm cooking demo with ABC6’s Jessica Ralston and Food Network’s Pizza Mike, then Elio Scaccio and the Rick Brunetto Big Band from 8:30pm. Admission is $15 online or at the gate, and kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. Make it easier on yourself by parking in the Columbus State garage at 534 E. Long St., where parking and the shuttles to the gate are free. No pets, and it goes ahead in any weather. The Sunday parade is further down this list.

Location: St. John the Baptist Church, 168 E. Lincoln St., Italian Village
When: Friday, 5–11pm; Saturday, 10am–11pm; Sunday, noon–7pm
Cost: $15; kids 12 and under free with an adult
More info: Columbus Italian Festival

🍺 Hoster Oktoberfest, The Last One On James Road

Hoster’s James Road taproom closes after Halloween, so this is the last Oktoberfest there. Friday has the Tortilla Street Food truck from 4 to 8pm, the Columbus Maennerchor at 7pm, and a cigar and beer pairing with Pipes & Pleasures from 8 to 10pm. Saturday is house cooked brats and hot dogs from noon to 4pm, Biergarten games in the afternoon, and the Machete Taqueria truck from 5 to 9pm. Two Oktoberfest lagers, a Marzen and a Festbier, are on alongside the full draft board.

Location: Hoster Brewing Co., 653 N. James Rd.
When: Friday, 4–10pm; Saturday, noon–10pm
More info: Hoster Brewing

🎉 Ohio State Homecoming Parade

The 114th homecoming parade has a new route because of the College Road construction. It starts at Cannon Drive and John Herrick Drive, runs south on Cannon past the new University Hospital, turns onto Neil Avenue to 12th Avenue, and ends at the Ohio Union. The grand marshal is Maudine Ormsby, the Holstein cow who became Ohio State’s homecoming queen in 1926, honored on the 100th anniversary of her crowning. Students, alumni and anyone else are welcome along the route. Roads around it close from about 5:15 to 7:30pm, and the organizers suggest parking on Neil Avenue or in the 11th Avenue Garage.

Location: Cannon Drive at John Herrick Drive to the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St.
When: Friday, 6pm
Cost: Free
More info: Ohio State Homecoming

🏒 Blue Jackets vs. Penguins

Pittsburgh is in town Friday at 7pm, the Blue Jackets’ only home game of the weekend. They play in St. Louis Saturday, have Sunday off, and will be back at Nationwide Arena Tuesday against Florida at 6:15pm.

Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.
When: Friday, 7pm
More info: Nationwide Arena

🍂 Bexley Harvest Festival

Bexley’s fall night in the Jeffrey Park meadow behind Jeffrey Mansion: hayrides, magic shows, pumpkin carving, an enchanted walk and music. The activities are free, and pizza, chili, soda and hot chocolate are for sale.

Location: Jeffrey Park meadow, behind Jeffrey Mansion, 165 N. Parkview Ave., Bexley
When: Friday, 5:30–8pm
Cost: Activities free
More info: City of Bexley

🐶 Grandview Heights Swears In Its First Dog Mayor

Grandview Heights residents voted through Wednesday on five finalists, D’artagnan, Hank, Kiki, River and Tater, and the winner is announced and sworn in Friday at 4:30pm at The Wag, the dog park bar on Norton Avenue. The Wag and the city run the election, and the winner represents Grandview Heights for the next year. People get in free; dogs need a registered visitor pass, $15 for the day.

Location: The Wag, 1330 Norton Ave., Grandview Heights
When: Friday, 4:30pm
Cost: Free for people; dog visitor pass $15
More info: The Wag

🎨 Franklinton Fridays

Second Friday of the month, so 400 Square opens more than 150 artist studios across 400 West Rich, Chromedge Studios and Strongwater, with food trucks on the lot.

Location: 400 Square, 401 W. Town St., Franklinton
When: Friday evening, until 10pm
More info: 400 Square

🎺 Columbus Jazz Orchestra: Ella & Louis

Byron Stripling picks up the trumpet for a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong at the Southern Theatre, with Carmen Bradford, who sang with the Count Basie Orchestra for nine years, as the Ella. Friday’s show has a conversation with Bradford and Stripling after the performance, and Sunday opens with Columbus Youth Jazz at 2pm. Tickets start at $47.59 with fees, and students can get $15 rush tickets at the box office the night of each show.

Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
When: Friday and Saturday, 7pm; Sunday, 3pm
Cost: From $47.59; student rush $15
More info: Columbus Jazz Orchestra

🎭 Death Becomes Her, Final Weekend

The Columbus premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical, based on the 1992 movie, closes Sunday at the Ohio Theatre. Jackie Burns and Kristen Beth Williams play Madeline and Helen, Ken Marino is Ernest, Nasia Thomas is Viola, and Christopher Gattelli directs. It’s recommended for ages 12 and up, and tickets start at $52.28. Saturday’s 2pm show has ASL interpretation and audio description.

Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.
When: Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday, 2 and 7:30pm; Sunday, 1 and 6:30pm
Cost: From $52.28; ages 12 and up
More info: CAPA

🚀 Columbus Symphony: Hollywood Sci-Fi Spectacular

Stuart Chafetz conducts the Pops through Star Wars, Back to the Future, Mars Attacks!, Interstellar, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek and the flying theme from E.T. at the Davidson Theatre. Costumes are encouraged. No weapons, fake or real, no fire and no body paint.

Location: Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St.
When: Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm
More info: Columbus Symphony

🍿 Hotel Transylvania At Bank Run Metro Park

Metro Parks’ free outdoor movie night at the Bank Run event center in Lockbourne starts at dusk, listed as 7:30pm. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. The series has one more night, Coco on October 24th.

Location: Bank Run Metro Park Event Center, 1570 Rohr Rd., Lockbourne
When: Friday, 7:30pm
Cost: Free
More info: Metro Parks

🎃 Pumpkins Aglow, Opening Weekend

Pumpkins Aglow opened Wednesday and runs through November 1st. The Conservatory closes at 4pm on Aglow nights and reopens at 5pm on a separate timed ticket: $28.35 for ages 13 to 59 with the culture fee, $24.15 for 60 and up, $17.33 for kids 3 to 12. Opening week has the Wheel of Death aerial acrobats and a fire duo from Cincinnati Circus from 6 to 8pm nightly, food trucks from Liberty Kettle Corn, Kubido and La Baia, and a new straw bale maze next to the pumpkin house, the singing pumpkin patch and the light-up dance floor. The Chihuly glass is lit inside after dark. Reserve ahead, since the page says many dates sell out, and parking is free in lots A and B and at the Wells Barn.

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.
When: Friday and Saturday, 5–10pm; Sunday, 5–9pm
Cost: $28.35 ages 13–59, $24.15 ages 60 and up, $17.33 ages 3–12
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory

Two more stage shows to note this weekend. Sweeney Todd, Short North Stage’s Sondheim production for its 15th anniversary season, plays the Garden Theater at 1187 N. High St. Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 2 and 7pm, and Sunday at 2pm with ASL interpretation. It runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, rated PG-13, with student rush and pay-what-you-want tickets at the door starting two hours before curtain. Battle of the Books, Columbus Children’s Theatre’s regional premiere for ages 12 and up, keeps the same schedule in Studio Two at the Riffe Center and runs through October 18th.

Saturday, October 10th

🏈 Ohio State vs. Maryland, Homecoming

Kickoff is 4:15pm on Big Ten Network. Ohio State is 9-0 against Maryland. The last meeting was in 2023, a 37-17 Buckeyes win in Columbus. The Skull Session at St. John Arena is free and first come, first served, and the band marches over two hours and twenty minutes before kickoff.

Location: Ohio Stadium, 411 Woody Hayes Dr.
When: Saturday, 4:15pm, Big Ten Network
More info: Ohio State Buckeyes

🍎 Groveport Apple Butter Day

Groveport has been making apple butter in Heritage Park for 53 years. The kettle-fresh stuff is $8 a 16-ounce jar, two for $15, and $1 on a slice of bread while it lasts. Around it: hayrides and antique tractors, pony rides, a petting zoo, pioneer demonstrations, crafts from local artisans, the Madison Christian School band on Wirt Road, and cane pole fishing, where the first 50 kids get to try with a pole and bait. All the kids’ activities are free. Vendors are on both sides of Wirt Road this year. Park at the Groveport Recreation Center and take the free shuttle.

Location: Heritage Park, 551 Wirt Rd., Groveport
When: Saturday, 10am–5pm
Cost: Kids’ activities free
More info: City of Groveport

🌽 Slate Run Fall Fest

Metro Parks‘ fall day at Slate Run’s Buzzards Roost picnic area: a pumpkin patch, a corn maze and hayrides with the line closing at 2:30pm, sack races, carnival games, face painting, s’mores, archery, a photo booth, the living historical farm, the Columbus Astronomical Society, and Ohio Wildlife Center animals from noon to 2pm. The family activities are free, and vendors and food trucks sell the rest.

Location: Slate Run Metro Park, 1375 State Route 674 N., Canal Winchester
When: Saturday, 11am–3pm
Cost: Activities free
More info: Metro Parks

👻 Boo At The Zoo

Weekend two of the Zoo’s daytime Halloween, included with admission, Saturdays and Sundays through October 25th. New this year are a Trick or Treat Trail with 11 candy stops and a Rave at the Grave DJ party, next to the giant pumpkin carving, the hay maze, the Imaginarium fun house and the Halloween Hoedown with the Oak Ridge Bears. Costumes are fine at any age within the Zoo’s rules. Online day passes start at $34.95 for ages 10 to 59, or $24.95 for Franklin County residents, parking is $12, and the Zoo is cashless.

Location: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell
When: Saturday and Sunday, 10am–6pm
Cost: Included with Zoo admission
More info: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

🎤 Jo Koy At The Palace

Jo Koy’s Koy Meets World Tour stops at the Palace Saturday night. Ages 12 and up. CAPA’s page has no price; the ticket center is 614-469-0939.

Location: Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
When: Saturday, 8pm
Cost: Ages 12 and up
More info: CAPA

👑 Nina West’s Drag Brunch: Loud And Proud

Nina West celebrates National Coming Out Day with four brunch shows at Natalie’s Grandview over Saturday and Sunday, with Virginia West, Maya Bizness and Cherry Poppins. The 11:30am shows are on Charlie’s Stage and the 2pm shows are in the Music Hall, and every show has a limited menu of wood-fired pizzas and cocktails. $30, 18 and up.

Location: Natalie’s Grandview, 945 King Ave.
When: Saturday and Sunday, 11:30am and 2pm
Cost: $30; 18 and up
More info: Natalie’s Grandview

🎵 Interpol With DIIV At KEMBA Live!

Interpol’s North America tour plays the outdoor stage at KEMBA Live! with DIIV opening.

Location: KEMBA Live!, 405 Neil Ave.
When: Saturday, doors 6:30pm
More info: PromoWest

🕵️ Halloween At Thurber House

Thurber House does two Halloweens in one Saturday. The afternoon is a free family drop-in, costumes welcome, best for ages 6 and up with an adult along, and registration is required even though it’s free; Froth & Fable sets up a pop-up bookstore and coffee shop. The evening is a one-hour murder mystery in reserved time slots, ages 14 and up, $25, and a 21-and-up Book Bar with Seventh Son beer, buffet appetizers and a Tastes & Tomes pop-up bookstore, $30 with food and one drink included, or $40 for both. Street parking around the Jefferson Avenue oval is free.

Location: Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Ave.
When: Saturday, 1–3pm family drop-in; 5–9pm murder mystery and Book Bar
Cost: Afternoon free with registration; evening $25 to $40
More info: Thurber House

⚔️ Time Travelers Weekend At The Ohio Renaissance Festival

The Ohio Renaissance Festival‘s cosplay weekend in Waynesville: dress as any movie, TV, comic book, sci-fi or fantasy character. Adult tickets for October dates are $39 plus fees online, kids 5 to 12 are $10 plus fees, parking is free, and date-specific tickets can sell out, so buy ahead.

Location: Ohio Renaissance Festival, 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville
When: Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am–7pm
Cost: $39 adults, $10 kids 5–12, plus fees
More info: Ohio Renaissance Festival

Saturday is also day two of the Italian Festival and Hoster’s Oktoberfest, the second night of the Sci-Fi Spectacular, and the Saturday shows of Ella & Louis, Death Becomes Her, Sweeney Todd and Battle of the Books.

Sunday, October 11th

🎺 Italian Festival Parade

The festival’s 17th parade steps off from Goodale Park at 1pm with Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro as grand marshal and runs Dennison, Buttles, High Street and Warren to the festival at Fourth Street. Before it, the festival Mass is at 10:30am at the ABC6 pavilion with a 10:15am processional. After it, the high school marching band competition takes the pavilion from 1:45 to 3pm, Fabbro does a meet and greet at the Kurtz Bros Italian Cultural Pavilion from 2 to 2:45pm, the Trip to Rome raffle is drawn at 5pm, and Elio Scaccio and the Big Band close the weekend from 5:30 to 7pm.

Location: Goodale Park to St. John the Baptist, 168 E. Lincoln St.
When: Sunday, 1pm; festival open noon–7pm
Cost: Festival admission $15; kids 12 and under free with an adult
More info: Columbus Italian Festival

🎃 New Albany Fall Festival & TreatFest

KidsLinked’s 11th TreatFest is outdoors at Marburn Academy: trick-or-treating, a costume contest on the main stage at 2:15pm, Spider-Man and Sonic, a magic show at 1:50pm, and a Pumpkin Run at 12:25pm with a trick-or-treat fun run at 12:45pm. The first 200 get a free pumpkin and free Timbits. Entry is free with online registration, which is limited, or $2 a person at the door, and the fun zone wristbands and carnival tickets are extra.

Location: Marburn Academy, 9555 Johnstown Rd., New Albany
When: Sunday, 1–4pm
Cost: Free with registration, or $2 at the door
More info: KidsLinked

🛍️ Not Your Mama’s BIG Fall Craft Market

Not Your Mama’s fall market moves to German Village this year, into the Schiller Park Community Center that hosts the Village Lights holiday market, with two gyms of makers, vintage, flash tattoos, treats, coffee and matcha. Free, no ticket needed. It’s indoors, and there’s a small lot plus street parking.

Location: Schiller Park Community Center, 1069 Jaeger St., German Village
When: Sunday, 11am–5pm
Cost: Free
More info: Not Your Mama’s Craft Market

🍼 Lenny Pearce: Toddler Rave World Tour

Lenny Pearce’s toddler techno family rave is indoors at KEMBA Live! with doors at 11:30am, and the pitch is big beats, little feet and home before bedtime. Strollers are allowed with security screening, a $3 stroller check is available, and unopened snacks, milk and formula can come in.

Location: KEMBA Live!, 405 Neil Ave.
When: Sunday, doors 11:30am
More info: PromoWest

🎻 New Albany Symphony: The Singing Rooms

The New Albany Symphony opens its 19th season on International Day of the Girl with three women composers: Fanny Mendelssohn’s Overture in C Major, Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with Isabelle Durrenberger, and Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms with the symphony chorus. Single tickets go through the CAPA ticket office on weekdays, and a limited number may be sold at the McCoy Center starting two hours before the concert.

Location: McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., New Albany
When: Sunday, 3pm
More info: New Albany Symphony

🌳 Green Columbus Linden Tree Giveaway

Green Columbus hands out free native trees from its own nursery on East 17th Avenue, 4 to 6 feet tall in 3-gallon pots, with red maple, red oak, black cherry, sycamore and tulip poplar to pick from. One per household, Franklin County residents only, reservation required, and sign-up closes Friday afternoon or when the trees are spoken for. Pickup is drive-through.

Location: Green Columbus Tree Nursery, 1142 E. 17th Ave., Linden
When: Sunday, 10am–2pm
Cost: Free, reservation required
More info: Green Columbus

🎧 DJ Shadow At The Bluestone

DJ Shadow marks 30 years of Endtroducing at The Bluestone. No age minimum, and no price is posted on the venue’s page.

Location: The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St.
When: Sunday, doors 7pm
More info: PromoWest

🖼️ Free Sunday At The Columbus Museum Of Art

General admission at the Columbus Museum of Art is free every Sunday, funded through 2026 by the Art Bridges Foundation. Parking in the museum lot is a flat $10.

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

Sunday is also the last day of the Italian Festival, the final two performances of Death Becomes Her, the 3pm Ella & Louis with Columbus Youth Jazz opening at 2pm, day two of Boo at the Zoo and Time Travelers Weekend, the last night of Pumpkins Aglow’s opening week, and the Sunday shows of Nina West’s brunch, Sweeney Todd and Battle of the Books.

With The Kids This Weekend

The Italian Festival is free for kids 12 and under, with a new Piazza del Bambini kids’ area and a Columbus Crew lounge with a visit from Crew Cat. Friday night has the free movie at Bank Run and Bexley’s free Harvest Festival. Saturday is the full day: Slate Run’s free fall fest, the free kids’ activities at Apple Butter Day, the free Thurber House afternoon (register first), Boo at the Zoo, and the New Albany Symphony’s sensory-friendly Inside the Music at 11:30am at the McCoy Center, which runs under an hour with the house lights up, general admission, $10. Sunday brings TreatFest in New Albany and the toddler rave at KEMBA Live!. Pumpkins Aglow is $17.33 for ages 3 to 12. For the rest of the season, the pumpkin patch guide and the fall festivals list cover the next few weekends.

For everything after this weekend, the monthly guide has you covered.

Have fun, Columbus!