Columbus' Family Friendly Festivals

The City of Dublin hosts its annual Halloween Spooktacular, providing merry, not scary, fun for everyone. Highlights include Trunk or Treat, crafts, straw maze, games, and live performances. Complimentary timed tickets are required for the Trunk or Treat Trail. 

Katie G. said:  For a few days in March, thousands of athletes from all over the world come to Columbus for the Arnold Sports Festival. Founded by the former bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger, this 4-day festival brings athletes in town to compete in more than 70 sports and events.

The Kids & Teen Expo takes place at the Ohio Expo Center Bricker Building and will include a sports area with more than 20 sports, contests, games, demonstrations, a fun zone, face painting and more. There is plenty to do and see for the whole family.

Teen events are on Saturday & Sunday

Katie G. said:  The Circleville Pumpkin Show is one of the premier festivals in central Ohio. This fall festival celebrates all things pumpkin. There are two parades held each day, several arts and craft vendors, amusement rides, music entertainment, huge pumpkin displays, Pumpkin Show beauty pageants and lots of food! Several food vendors serve pumpkin theme selections such as pumpkin pizza, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin burgers, pumpkin chili, pumpkin ice cream and of course, pumpkin pie. This festival gets crowded so be sure to get there early!

See website for full schedule of events

Katie G. said:  Nationwide Children's Hospital will be hosting a day of family fun. There will be hayrides, live entertainment, rides, bounce houses, face painting, balloon artists, crafts, games and more. All proceeds will benefit the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Nationwide Children's.

10 AM - 4 PM

Katie G. said:  Fall is a fun time at Young's Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs. In addition to the many fall activities offered on the farm, Young's will be holding their annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival. During the festival, you can see cheese making, cow milking, sample pumpkin donut holes, try pumpkin bowling and visit Humongous Gus, the 800+ pound pumpkin. While you're there, grab a bite to eat in the Golden Jersey Inn restaurant or food court and be sure to enjoy some homemade ice cream. Festival will be held rain or shine.

11 AM - 6 PM

Katie G. said:  If you like Italian food then you don't want to miss the Columbus Italian Festival. Held Columbus Day weekend, the festival attracts over 35,000 visitors each year. The festival features many local Italian restaurants serving favorites such as pizza, sausages and cannoli. There's a parade, marching band competition, Italian cultural events, bocce ball tournament, kids events and cash raffle.

Fri: 5 - 11 PM, Sat: 12 - 11 PM, Sun: 12 - 7 PM

Kelly R said:  This Oktoberfest celebration at Powell's Village Green benefits Olentangy Rotary's charitable projects. The event kicks off Friday with a VIP ticketed tasting event for adults only. All are welcome at Saturday's festivities to enjoy traditional food from Schmidt's, live entertainment, polka dance lessons, a yodeling contest, a cornhole tournament, and much more. Children's activities take place in a special tent and include animal demonstrations, games, crafts, a pumpkin rolling competition, and a variety of kid friendly entertainment.

Friday 6 - 10 PM (adults only)

Saturday 11 AM - 10 PM (all ages)

Kristy Pepping said:  Powell Kidsfest is all about the kids! There will be Nerf wars with equipment, video game truck, carnival rides with prizes, mini golf, balloon artist, glitter tattoos, a scavenger hunt with prizes, festival performances, food trucks and a marketplace zone featuring local businesses with activities. The Powell KidsFest benefits People in Need, Inc. of Delaware County. Please consider donating food to the collection bin at the fest. Items needed are cereal, canned fruit, baked beans, canned soup, boxed potatoes, pancake mix, pancake syrup, saltine crackers, pasta and spaghetti sauce.

8 am - Noon

Brigitte Nohra Miller said:  Celebrate the diverse cultural community of Columbus and discover international cultures and traditions from around the world. With great shows, tasty food and festival “Passport” and global activities for kids as well as arts and crafts, your family is sure to enjoy this festival. Don't miss the Parade of Nations.

10 AM - 6 PM

Kelly R said:  Celebrate Harvest Fair at Stratford Ecological center with kid-focused games and crafts, farm animal encounters, live music, fishing, wagon rides, pony rides, raffle prizes, apple cider making, and more!

10 AM - 3 PM

Kelly R said:  This traditional family-friendly county fair includes entertainment, fair animal exhibits, harness racing, motor sports, amusement rides, and more.

Gates are open daily from 8 am - 9 pm

Kelly R said:  This event features a large variety of food trucks to suit every taste, along with live music, activities for kids, and a community food packing service project. This event benefits Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM).

Kelly R said:  

Learn more about the importance of honey bees and enjoy what they have to offer at the unique Lithopolis Honeyfest. There are live music performances, demonstrations, a glass-walled observation hive, a food court with honey-made food, and an array of honey and honey products. Check out the honey bake-off, meet this year's American Honey Princess, and chat with local Ohio beekeepers. Adults can enjoy mead tastings and honey-brewed beer. For kids, there is a Busy Beehive crafting area, and they won't want to miss seeing a honey bee beard!

Fri: 3 - 7 PM & Sat: 10 AM - 7 PM

Katie G. said:  The Marion Popcorn Festival is the largest popcorn festival in the world drawing over 250,000 attendees to downtown Marion. The festival has something for everyone including music and entertainment on three different stages, carnival rides for the kids, a popcorn parade, wine garden and beer tasting for adults and plenty of food including yummy popcorn treats!

See website for full schedule

Katie G. said:  Take me out to the ballgame at Ohio Village's Vintage Baseball festival called the Ohio Cup. With more than 30 teams competing from all over the country, guests can experience what baseball was like in the 1860s. There will be historic games and sports for kids to enjoy along with a chance to play with Columbus' own Ohio Village Muffins.

9 AM - 5 PM