Halloween in Central Ohio is seriously magical — from merry-not-scary trunk-or-treats and spooky festivals to pumpkin-lit trails and boo bashes for the whole family. Whether you’re looking for free events, classic favorites like Boo at the Zoo, or new community celebrations, this 2025 roundup has you covered. I’ve organized everything by date, so you can easily plan your costumes, candy buckets, and weekend adventures.

Disclaimer: Event details are accurate as of posting, but things can change — especially with weather shifts or last-minute business updates. I highly recommend checking the links below or the event’s official social media pages before heading out to make sure nothing has changed.

Multiple Dates

Boo at the Zoo

📍 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH 43065
📅 October 10–12, 17–19, 24–26, Fridays 5–8 PM | Saturdays 10 AM–8 PM | Sundays 10 AM–5 PM
💲 Included with Zoo admission or membership
🎃 A merry-not-scary Halloween tradition! Costumes encouraged, themed decorations, character meet & greets, pumpkin magic, and treat stations.
👉 Facebook Event | Website

Pumpkins Aglow

📍 Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — 1777 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43203
📅 October 15–19, 22–26 & 29–November 2, 2025
🕔 Wed, Thu & Sun 5–9 PM | Fri & Sat 5–10 PM
💲 $0–$28 | Included with admission or membership
🎃 Stroll through 700+ hand-carved pumpkins glowing across themed displays — pirates, mermaids, spiders, and more. Enjoy enchanting live entertainment, food trucks, seasonal drinks, family crafts, and the iconic pumpkin house for the perfect fall photo.
👉 Event Info

The Annual Minion Hunt – Grove City

📍 Grove City Town Center (various locations)
📅 Friday, Oct 3 – Saturday, Nov 1, 2025
💲 Free
🟡 Fourteen costumed Minions are hiding around Town Center—find them all! Pick up a Minion Hunt card, record each Minion’s location, and return your completed card by Nov 1 to claim a prize (while supplies last).
📥 Pick-up / Drop-off Options (during business hours)

• Grove City Library – 3959 Broadway
• Grove City Welcome Center & Museum – 3378 Park St.
• Kingston Center, Parks & Recreation – 3226 Kingston Ave.
• City Hall – 4035 Harrisburg Pike
• Visit Grove City – 4060 Broadway

🎁 All completed cards are entered to win the Ultimate Minions Prize Pack.
📸 Share pics with #gcminionhunt #grovecityparksrec #gc123.
👉 Website

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Tuesday, October 22

Trunk or Treat – Violet Baptist Church

📍 8345 Blacklick-Eastern Road NW, Pickerington
🕓 6–7:30 PM
💲 FREE | No registration needed
🍬 Free candy, hot dogs, popcorn, crafts, pumpkins, games, and door prizes — rain or shine!
👉 Facebook Event | Website

Boo & Brew at Bridge Park

📍 Bridge Park — 6741 Longshore St, Dublin, OH 43017
💲 FREE
🍬 Calling all monsters, ghosts, and witches! Grab the family and join the fun at Boo & Brew at Bridge Park — their festive take on trick-or-treat. Bridge Park businesses will line the streets, handing out goodies to families and community-goers.
🎭 Beyond candy, enjoy a costume competition, face painting, balloon artists, and other fun activities for all ages.
👉 Event Info

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Thursday, October 23

CAPA Haunts the Palace

📍 Palace Theatre — 34 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
🕓 4–7 PM
💲 FREE Community Event
🎃 Get a jumpstart on trick-or-treating inside the historic Palace Theatre! Kids of all ages can explore a Halloween-themed version of the theatre and collect goodies in this fun, safe, weather-proof event.
🦉 “Creatures” courtesy of Ohio School of Falconry and a character from Castle on a Cloud Entertainment will be on hand, plus a Day of the Dead display. Guests can also make a craft, snap photos at selfie stations, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
♿ Accessibility Note: This event includes stairs, but an accessible path is available upon request.
👉 Event Info

Costume & Candy Crawl

📍 3061 Kingsdale Ctr, Columbus
🕓 4–6:30 PM
💲 FREE
🎨 The festivities will kick off at the green, where you will find free trick-or-treat bags, face painters, and balloon artists. After that, children are welcome to trick-or-treat around the shopping center.
👉 Facebook Event

Monster Mash at Easton Town Center

📍 Town Square near Brio, 160 Easton Town Ctr, Columbus
🕕 6–8 PM
💲 FREE
🎃 DJ + silent disco, live pumpkin carving, caricatures, photo ops, costumed characters, and sweet treats for purchase.
👉 Facebook Event

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Friday, October 24

Halloween on the Green

📍 Village Green — OH-161 & High St, Worthington, OH 43085
🕕 6–8 PM
💲 FREE
🍁 Crafts, carnival games, storytelling, stilt walkers, cider pressing, photo booth, balloon artists, and Trick-or-Treat Trail.
👉 Event Info

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Saturday, October 25

Classic Car Cruise-In & Trunk or Treat

📍 Groovy Plants Ranch — 4160 County Road 15, Marengo
🕙 10 AM–1 PM | Awards at 12:30
💲 FREE
🚗 Classic cars, groovy tunes, candy for kids, food, and commemorative dash plaques.
👉 Facebook Event

Historic Dublin Halloween Trail

📍 Historic Dublin – Bridge and High Streets Dublin, OH 43017
🕒 2–5 PM
💲 FREE
Kick things off with a Halloween Scream-a-long at 2 PM at Columbus Metropolitan Library Plaza.
Trick-or-treat at 16 participating local businesses from 3–5 PM (while supplies last).
Spot Glinda & Elphaba around town and meet them at Bri-Hi Square (Bridge & High St.).
📍 Pick up your trail map at any participating business.
👉 Event Info

Family Open Studio: GLOW Edition!

📍 OH What a Space – 6631 Commerce Pkwy, Metro North Business Park
🕒 9:00–10:00 AM & 10:30–11:30 AM
💲 $15
👧 Ages 3–12
✨ Step into a black light bonanza where the lights go off and the creativity lights up! 💡
From neon crafts to glow-in-the-dark play stations, this special Family Open Studio is sure to shine bright.Wear something neon and come ready to glow!
👉 Event Info

Bricks & Minifigs Westerville Grand Opening Halloween Party

📍 654 N State St, Westerville, OH 43082
🕒 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
💲 Free Entry
✨ Celebrate the grand opening of Bricks & Minifigs Westerville with $2,000+ in LEGO giveaways, treats, and family fun. Highlights include doorbuster freebies for the first 100 customers, hourly drawings, raffles, face painting, cotton candy, and Halloween treats.
👉 Event Info

Pumpkin Parade (Ages 0–7)

📍 Westerville Public Library — 126 S State St, Westerville
🕙 10–10:45 AM
💲 FREE
🎃 Storytime, costume parade through the library, and treats.
👉 Event Info | Facebook Event

READY TO TREAT: Mount Carmel New Albany Emergency Department Anniversary Bash

📍 7333 Smith’s Mill Rd, New Albany
🕐 1–4 PM
💲 FREE
🎨 Face painting, costume station, donuts, coffee, and health screenings.
👉 Facebook Event

5th Annual Trunk or Treat at Bevelhymer Park

📍 7860 Bevelhymer Rd, New Albany
🕒 3–6 PM
💲 FREE
🎉 60+ businesses, food trucks, magician, fire performers, stilt walkers, and character guests.
👉 Facebook Event | Vendor Sign-up

Trunk or Treat – Dublin Presbyterian Church

📍 5775 Dublinshire Dr, Dublin
🕔 5–7 PM
💲 FREE
🌭 Trick-or-treat, hot dogs + Dublin Fire truck tours
👉 Facebook Event

Fall Fun Fest 2025

📍 7539 Dustin Rd, Galena
🕔 5–8 PM
💲 FREE (Canned good donation encouraged)
🎡 Real axe throwing for adults, face painter, photo booth, bounce houses, fun games, petting zoo, free Kona Ice, free food trucks, 104.9 The River, and The Scally Brothers live in concert.
👉 Event Info

Halloween Trunk or Treat – Food Hall

📍 Bubbly Food Hall: 6065 Central College Rd, Columbus
🕕 6–9 PM
🎃 Mini pumpkin painting, costume contest, vendor market, food, games, and trick-or-treat bags for the first 50 kids.
👉 Facebook Event

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Sunday, October 26

Trunk or Treat & Chili Cook-Off – Encounter Church

📍 8110 Corporate Blvd, Plain City
🕔 5–7 PM
💲 FREE
🔥 Candy, chili cook-off, yard games, bounce house, and s’mores.
👉 Facebook Event | Website

Halloween Pop-Up Trick or Treat

📍 Diamonds Ice Cream: 5461 Bethel-Sawmill Center, Columbus, OH
🗓 12 PM – 6 PM
💲 FREE
🏰 Bounce house, meet Bluey, special discounts, costume contest, local vendors, and candy & mini popsicles for everyone!
👉 Facebook Event

Trunk or Treat – Tri-Village Christian Church

📍 7509 East Broad St SW, Pataskala
🕓 4–6 PM
💲 FREE
🚜 Hayrides, food, trunks, and candy.
👉 Facebook Event

Columbus Division of Police & Fire Trunk or Treat

📍 120 Marconi Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
🕓 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
💲 Free
👻Join the Columbus Division of Police and Fire for a spook-tacular trunk or treat in Downtown Columbus!
👉 Facebook Event

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Monday, October 27

KidX Candy Crawl

📍 Saks Court, Polaris Fashion Place: 1500 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43240
🕕 5 – 6:30 PM
💲 FREE
🧒 Trick-or-treating, costume contest judged by Lilo & Stitch, face painting, balloon twisting, free treat bags.
👉 Facebook Event

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Wednesday, October 29

HALL-o-ween at Reynoldsburg Community Church

📍 1636 Graham Rd, Reynoldsburg
🕠 Sensory friendly 5:30 PM | Open to public 6–7 PM
💲 FREE
🍭 Candy, crafts, and free food for all ages.
👉 Facebook Event

A Haunted Evening in the Garden

📍 Hoover Gardens & Gift Center: 182 N Sunbury Rd, Westerville, OH 43081
🕠 6 PM
💲 $5.00 per person
✨ The famous maze will be lit up for a fun and spooky evening! Enjoy popcorn, hot chocolate, and fall games while soaking up the Halloween spirit.
👉 Facebook Event

Weiland’s Market Trick or Treat

📍 3600 Indianola Ave, Clintonville
🕔 5–7 PM
💲 FREE
🍷 Candy, spooky photo ops, wine samples for adults, 10% off in-store for costumed shoppers.
👉 Facebook Event

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Friday, October 31

Dave & Boo-sters Bash

📍 Dave & Buster’s Polaris, 1554 Polaris Parkway
📅 October 31 | 🕔 5–8 PM
💲 $14.99
👻 Crafts, games, unlimited game play for 3 hours, 15% off food and drinks.
👉 Event Info

Trick-or-Treat Statehouse Tours

📍 Ohio Statehouse — Columbus
📅 Friday, October 31, 2025 | 🕙 10 AM, 11 AM & 12 PM
💲 FREE (RSVP required)
👻 For the first time ever, the Ohio Statehouse is offering trick-or-treat guided tours! Kids can explore the historic building, hear (not-so) spooky ghost stories, and collect treats at every stop. Costumes encouraged!
📌 Tours are designed for elementary-age children and last 30–45 minutes. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
✉️ RSVP by Oct. 29 to: tours@ohiostatehouse.org
👉 Event Info

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Trick-or-Treat

Heads up: These trick-or-treat times were gathered from city announcements and trusted local sources. Times can change (especially with weather), so be sure to double-check with your community before you head out to fill those candy buckets. 🎃🍬

• Bexley: Oct. 30, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Blendon Township: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Canal Winchester: Oct. 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Columbus: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Dublin: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Gahanna: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Genoa Township: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.
• Grandview Heights: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.
• Grove City: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Groveport: Oct. 30, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Hilliard: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Marysville: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.
• New Albany: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m. 
• Obetz: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Pataskala: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.
• Plain City: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m. 
• Pickerington: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Powell: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.
• Reynoldsburg: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Upper Arlington: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m. 
• Westerville: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m. 
• Whitehall: Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Worthington: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Have a Halloween event you want added? Send me the link or details and I’ll update this guide so other families don’t miss out on the spooky fun.