The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend (September 25–27)

The Palace turns 100, COSI comes back from its annual scrub-down, and the Buckeyes kick off at noon.

There is a lot packed into three days. Easton hosts the Mac & Cheese Festival on Friday while a free bluegrass show plays Bicentennial Park. Saturday is the big one: Ohio State hosts Illinois, the Palace Theatre throws itself a free birthday party, COSI reopens, the Quarter Horse Congress moves into the fairgrounds for a month, and Franklin Park Conservatory unveils its pumpkin houses. Sunday ends with oysters on High Street and Messi’s club at the Crew stadium. The Delaware County Fair and the Parade of Homes both wrap up this weekend too. Here’s your weekend.

This Weekend At A Glance

Friday, September 25

🧀 Columbus Mac & Cheese Festival At Easton

Nine years in, the Mac & Cheese Festival is still the easiest fundraiser in town to say yes to. Restaurants line The Yard at Easton with sample-size mac from 4pm to 7:30pm, and the ticket covers every tasting, with drinks sold separately. Proceeds go to the young-adult cancer program at the James. Walk-up tickets only happen if there is capacity, so buy ahead.

Location: The Yard at Easton Town Center
When: Friday, 4–7:30pm
Cost: $30 ages 13 and up, $10 ages 3–12, under 3 free
More info: Easton Town Center

🎵 Dan Tyminski Band On The Scioto Mile

The voice behind “Man of Constant Sorrow” plays a free show at Bicentennial Park. The Scioto Mile concert series with CAPA runs 7pm to 9pm, with food trucks and a bar on site. Bring a chair or a blanket.

Location: Bicentennial Park, 233 S. Civic Center Dr.
When: Friday, 7–9pm
Cost: Free
More info: Scioto Mile

🎤 Ella Langley At The Schott

The Dandelion Tour stops at the Schottenstein Center. Doors are at 5:30pm and the show starts at 7pm.

Location: Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr.
When: Friday, doors 5:30pm, show 7pm
More info: Schottenstein Center

🍿 Mary Oliver Documentary At The Wex

Sasha Waters Freyer brings her new film about the Ohio-born poet to the Wexner Center’s Film/Video Theater and stays for the conversation afterward. Oliver grew up in Maple Heights outside Cleveland, so this is a homecoming of sorts.

Location: Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St.
When: Friday, 7pm
Cost: $12, $8 for members
More info: Wexner Center

🎭 Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Macbeth

One professional actor gets properly drunk before the curtain and the rest of the cast tries to hold the Scottish play together around them. The UK company has been doing this since 2010. It lands at the Southern Theatre for one night.

Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
When: Friday, 8pm
More info: CAPA

📚 Battle Of The Books Opens At The Riffe

Columbus Children’s Theatre opens a new show about two students whose rivalry at the Mount Vernon Battle of the Books gets out of hand. It runs through October 18 in Studio Two at the Riffe Center, rated PG and pitched at ages 12 and up. Opening weekend has a Friday 7pm show and a Saturday 2pm matinee.

Location: Studio Two Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St.
When: Friday 7pm, Saturday 2pm; through Oct. 18
More info: CAPA

🖍️ The Longest Community Doodle

Urban Arts Space wraps its whole downtown gallery in paper and hands visitors the markers. The result is one continuous drawing that everybody who walks in adds to. It costs nothing, kids are welcome, and they ask for an RSVP.

Location: Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St., Suite 130
When: Friday, 5–7pm
Cost: Free, RSVP requested
More info: Urban Arts Space

🍂 Fourth Friday: Autumn Fest In Westerville

Westerville closes State Street for the September edition of its Fourth Friday street festival, themed Autumn Fest this month. Live music, food trucks, vendors, and the Uptown DORA for anyone who wants to carry a drink between shops.

Location: State Street, Uptown Westerville
When: Friday, 6–9pm
Cost: Free
More info: Uptown Westerville Inc.

🎭 The Velocity Of Autumn Opens In Dublin

Eric Coble’s Broadway comedy about an 80-year-old artist barricaded in her Brooklyn brownstone, and the estranged son who climbs through her window to talk her down, opens the Abbey Theater of Dublin’s fall. Shows are at 7pm Friday through Sunday, then again October 1 through 4. Ages 13 and up.

Location: Abbey Theater of Dublin, Dublin
When: Fri–Sun, 7pm
More info: City of Dublin

🍵 Enchantea Tea Lab Reopens On Bethel Road

The Bethel Road matcha shop that closed for a rebuild in June comes back Friday as Enchantea Tea Lab, with a bigger room, a dessert case, and a tea-cocktail list that starts at 5pm each day. The matcha now comes from the owners’ own tea farm in Yunnan. Doors open at 9am.

Location: 809 Bethel Rd., Columbus
When: Friday from 9am; cocktails after 5pm
More info: Columbus Food Letter

🎡 Delaware County Fair, Final Two Days

The Jug ran Thursday, and the fair itself closes Saturday night. Friday is Military Day, with free admission for service members and veterans with ID. Everyone else pays $8 at the gate, kids under 8 are free, and the all-day ride wristband is $22.

Location: Delaware County Fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Ave., Delaware
When: Friday and Saturday, gates open 8am
Cost: $8, under 8 free, rides extra
More info: Delaware County Fair

🏠 BIA Parade Of Homes, Final Weekend

The Parade of Homes wraps its 2026 run Sunday. Model homes are open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6pm, no ticket needed, in featured neighborhoods around Columbus, Delaware, Dublin, Galena, Grove City, and Plain City. Pick a community on the map and make an afternoon of it.

Location: Featured neighborhoods across central Ohio
When: Fri–Sun, noon–6pm
Cost: Free
More info: BIA Parade of Homes

Two musicals are mid-run this weekend. Jagged Little Pill plays Studio One at the Riffe Center Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm, and Sweeney Todd is on the Garden Theater mainstage at 1187 N. High St. Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 2pm and 7pm, and Sunday at 2pm. Short North Stage holds pay-what-you-want and student rush tickets at the door two hours before curtain.

Saturday, September 26

🏈 Ohio State vs. Illinois At Noon

The Buckeyes host Illinois with a noon kickoff, which means a morning tailgate and a free afternoon. The gameday guide covers what changed at the Shoe this year, from ticket scans to parking prices.

Location: Ohio Stadium, 411 Woody Hayes Dr.
When: Saturday, noon
More info: Ohio State Buckeyes

🏛️ Palace 100: The Birthday Celebration

The Palace Theatre opened on West Broad Street in 1926 as a Keith-Albee vaudeville house, and CAPA is marking the hundredth birthday with a free open house. Drop in any time between 1pm and 5pm to walk the building on a self-led tour, run a scavenger hunt with the kids, catch pop-up performances, and get a photo on the Palace stage. No ticket required.

Location: Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
When: Saturday, 1–5pm
Cost: Free
More info: CAPA

🔬 COSI Reopens

COSI closes every year for deep cleaning and exhibit work, and this year’s shutdown ends Saturday. Buying online saves $5 a ticket: $30 for adults and $25 for kids 2 to 12 online, $35 and $30 at the door.

Location: COSI, 333 W. Broad St.
When: Saturday
Cost: $30 adults, $25 kids online; $5 more at the door
More info: COSI

🐴 Quarter Horse Congress Opens

The world’s largest single-breed horse show settles into the Ohio Expo Center for a month, from Saturday through October 24. General admission is free the whole run, and the trade show is the part most non-horse people come for. The PBR and Freestyle Reining nights are separate tickets. Expect street closures around the fairgrounds through late October.

Location: Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave.
When: Opens Saturday, runs through Oct. 24
Cost: Free admission; PBR and reining nights ticketed separately
More info: All American Quarter Horse Congress

🌕 Moon Festival & Kung-Fu Tai-Chi Day In Dublin

Dublin’s Mid-Autumn Festival celebration hits its tenth year at Riverside Crossing Park. It runs from noon until 9pm, so the lanterns get their turn after dark.

Location: Riverside Crossing Park, 6625 Riverside Dr., Dublin
When: Saturday, noon–9pm
More info: City of Dublin

🎨 The Grandview Hop

Grandview Avenue from First to Fifth turns into a street party from 5pm to 9pm: live music, local shops open late, art, food trucks, and activities for kids. Free.

Location: Grandview Avenue, 1st to 5th Ave., Grandview Heights
When: Saturday, 5–9pm
Cost: Free
More info: The Grandview Hop

🎃 Harvest Blooms Opens At Franklin Park Conservatory

Thousands of pumpkins, mums, and ornamental cabbages take over the outdoor gardens starting Saturday, along with the two pumpkin houses that show up on every fall Instagram feed in the city. It is included with regular admission and stays up through November 1. Pumpkins Aglow, the lit-up evening version, is a separate ticket on select October nights.

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.
When: Opens Saturday, through Nov. 1
Cost: Included with general admission
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory

📖 International Book Fair Of Columbus

The Main Library’s Reading Room fills with Latine authors, Spanish-language programming, and a vendor fair for Hispanic Heritage Month, presented with La Asociación de Escritores de Ohio. It runs all day Saturday.

Location: Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.
When: Saturday, 9am–6pm
More info: Columbus Metropolitan Library

🌲 Welcome To Fall At Highbanks, Then Zootopia 2

Metro Parks calls this Highbanks’ biggest event of the year: hayrides, inflatables, campfires with marshmallows, and archery at the Big Meadows Picnic Area from 5pm to 7:30pm. Stay for the outdoor screening of Zootopia 2 at about 7:45pm, when it gets dark. Bring a picnic dinner and something to sit on. The whole thing is free.

Location: Highbanks Metro Park, Big Meadows Picnic Area, 9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center
When: Saturday, 5–7:30pm; movie at 7:45pm
Cost: Free
More info: Metro Parks

🎺 Bands Of America Central Ohio Regional

High school marching bands from around the region compete all day in prelims and finals. The event moved from Historic Crew Stadium to Fortress Obetz this year after the stadium became unavailable, so anyone with an old Ticketmaster ticket needs a new one for the new venue.

Location: Fortress Obetz, 2015 Recreation Trail, Obetz
When: Saturday
More info: Bands of America

🍪 Cops And Cookies 5K At Genoa Park

The Columbus Police Honor Guard’s memorial 5K swaps bananas for cookies at the aid stations and the finish line, with the SWAT team, mounted unit, K9s, and a helicopter on display from 7:30am. The kids’ fun run starts at 9am and the 5K follows at 9:20am. Registration is $50 through Friday and $60 on race day.

Location: Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St.
When: Saturday, kids run 9am, 5K 9:20am
Cost: $50 through Friday, $60 race day
More info: Cops and Cookies 5K

🍎 Applefest At Lawrence Orchards

An hour north in Marion, Lawrence Orchards throws its annual Applefest from 10am to 5pm, with the Schmidt’s sausage truck parked there until 4pm, homemade ice cream, and the pick-your-own rows in season. For orchards closer in, the apple-picking guide has the list.

Location: Lawrence Orchards, 2634 Smeltzer Rd., Marion
When: Saturday, 10am–5pm
More info: Lawrence Orchards

Saturday is also the last day of the Delaware County Fair, the 2pm matinee of Battle of the Books at the Riffe, and the next-to-last day of the Parade of Homes.

Sunday, September 27

🦪 Hank’s Low Country Oyster Fest

Hank’s shuts down the corner of Gay and High under the Current sculpture for its third oyster festival: live shucking, Low Country plates, live music, and a kids’ zone with a bounce house and shell painting. Walking the festival is free. The VIP tent, done with Basil Hayden this year, is $150 a person in two seatings, 1pm to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm, with a private bar and buffet.

Location: Gay and High streets, downtown
When: Sunday, 1–6pm
Cost: Free to attend; VIP tent $150
More info: Hank’s Seafood Restaurant

⚽ Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami comes to town for a 7pm Sunday kickoff, which the Crew have paired with Latino Celebration Night. Whether Messi plays is the question the whole stadium will be asking until the lineups post.

Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, 96 Columbus Crew Way
When: Sunday, 7pm
More info: Columbus Crew

🎪 Orange Township Founders Festival

Bounce houses, games, a pumpkin patch, food trucks, and a township plow truck the kids get to paint. North Road Park in Lewis Center, 2pm to 5pm, free.

Location: North Road Park, 5864 North Rd., Lewis Center
When: Sunday, 2–5pm
Cost: Free
More info: Orange Township

🐎 Worthington Harvest Festival

Old Worthington’s Sunday Funday for September is harvest themed: food specials from the restaurants, live music, games, and a farm petting zoo from the Parks Department that includes a mini horse. The DORA runs every day, so a drink can come along on the walk.

Location: Old Worthington
When: Sunday, 1–5pm
More info: Experience Worthington

🌳 Green Columbus South Side Tree Giveaway

Green Columbus hands out free native trees from its Linden nursery, 4 to 6 feet tall, and the choice is red maple, red oak, black cherry, sycamore or tulip poplar. Sunday’s pickup is on the South Side at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital lot on Livingston Avenue from 10am to 1pm. Reserve a tree first. Franklinton gets a turn October 4 and Linden October 11.

Location: Nationwide Children’s Hospital parking lot, 300 E. Livingston Ave.
When: Sunday, 10am–1pm
Cost: Free, reservation required
More info: Green Columbus

Sunday also brings the 2pm matinees of Jagged Little Pill and Sweeney Todd, the last day of the Parade of Homes, day two of the Quarter Horse Congress, and the first full day of Harvest Blooms.

With The Kids This Weekend

The strongest kid days are Saturday and Sunday. Highbanks’ Welcome to Fall night with the movie afterward costs nothing, the Palace open house has a scavenger hunt built for them, COSI is back, and Battle of the Books is made for the middle-school crowd. Sunday’s Founders Festival in Lewis Center has the bounce houses and the paintable plow truck, and Hank’s Oyster Fest has a kids’ zone if the adults want oysters. 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 September guide has you covered.

Have fun, Columbus!