Best Halloween Events and Haunted Attractions in Columbus

Fall in Columbus brings out a sharp division between cozy harvest festivals and genuine after-dark frights, and with Halloween falling squarely on a Saturday this year, the city’s calendar is packed with events stretching from late September through the opening hours of November.

According to CityScene Magazine, the local lineup spans massive, multi-week haunted attractions, upscale themed pop-up bars, film retrospectives, and sprawling neighborhood bar crawls. While venues like Fear Columbus and The Haunt Columbus opened their doors as early as September, the city’s nightlife district is bracing for a massive surge of costumed revelers as October 31 approaches.

Haunted Houses and Paranormal Tours Drive the Season

For those looking for high-production scares, Fear Columbus Haunted House at 2605 Northland Plaza Dr. anchors the local lineup. Running from September 11 through November 1, the massive attraction features elaborate costumes and trained actors that regularly earn it national recognition. Not far behind is The Haunt Columbus at 3770 Refugee Rd., operating through October 31 with distinct immersive zones like “Lugaroo Bayou” and “Black Hollow Medical.”

Excited for another amazing year with Fear Columbus Haunted House. Open select nights Sept. 11 – Nov. 2. The team has been working all year on brand new attractions, characters and plenty of other surprises!

— https://x.com/_NickFrancis/status/2094751423313678523

Year-round operations also ramp up their schedules for the autumn rush. Columbus Ghost Tours runs daily excursions throughout October, guiding visitors through paranormal investigations and walking tours of downtown. Meanwhile, US Ghost Adventures offers routes through notorious local landmarks, including the Statehouse, the Lazarus Building, and Elevator Brewery.

Upscale Pop-Ups and Cult Film Screenings

Not every Halloween offering relies on jump scares. Downtown, The Citizens Trust at 11 W. Gay St. hosts the Black Lagoon Pop-Up through October 31, offering seasonal cocktails and themed decor inside an upscale historic bank venue.

Film enthusiasts have spent the weekends at the Gateway Film Center for “Hitchcocktober,” which features 4K restorations of classic thrillers culminating in a Halloween night screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece, Psycho. Simultaneously, Short North Stage has been staging its annual theatrical interpretation of The Rocky Horror Show at 1187 N. High St., running through October 31.

Saturday Night Parties and the Short North Bar Crawl

When Halloween arrives on Saturday, October 31, the focus shifts entirely to nightlife and community fundraisers. The annual Halloween Bar Crawl kicks off at 4 p.m. at check-in points like Bernard’s Tavern and DraftKings Sports and Social, routing participants through up to 11 venues in the Short North before wrapping up at Gaswerks.

For a philanthropic twist, the Columbus Fashion Alliance hosts its “Dressed to Kill” Halloween Party at The Loom from 7 p.m. to midnight. Proceeds directly benefit Access Granted, an initiative designed to eliminate financial barriers for local fashion artists. High above the street, Stories on High at 404 N. High St. rounds out the night with rooftop views, specialty cocktails, and music from DJ Quincy Williams.

Trick-Or-Treat Hours Run from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M.

As organizers finalize their plans, local authorities and neighborhood guides remind residents that standard trick-or-treat hours across most Columbus neighborhoods will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Attendees are encouraged to check municipal pages for specific local guidance as the weekend approaches.