Looking for the best haunted houses and Halloween fun in Columbus and Central Ohio? Whether your family loves a thrilling haunted trail, a ghostly hayride, or kid-friendly not-so-scary events, we’ve got you covered. This guide highlights the area’s most popular Columbus haunted houses, Halloween attractions, Trunk-or-Treats, and family-friendly spooky fun — everything you need for a frightfully fun fall season! 👻🎃
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Spooky Family Fun
The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek - 8657 Axe Handle Rd Milford Center OH 43045 | 937-349-4781
The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek, offers an array of family-friendly activities and events such as corn maze, pumpkin patch u-pick flower patch, and over 30 play attractions. There are special events throughout the season. Check them all out here. September 27th - November 2: Fridays: 5 PM-10 PM | Saturdays: 12 PM-10 PM: Sundays: 12 PM-6 PM *Operation of The MAiZE is weather dependant*
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Boo at the Zoo - 4850 Powell Rd, Powell, OH, 43065 | 614-645-3550
A merry-not-scary, frightfully delightful event of spirited fun for the whole family. Get your favorite costume ready, and make plans to visit your Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for this Spooktacular Halloween Celebration. Boo at the Zoo is included with Zoo admission, so arrive early to visit the animals! Weekends starting October 10: FRIDAYS: 5pm-8pm | SATURDAYS: 10am-8pm | SUNDAYS: 10am-5pm
Sawmill Forest Spooky Trail - 2483 Sawmill Forest Ave Dublin, OH 43016
"The Sawmill Forest Spooky Trail was created and designed by Myself, Brian and my now 12 Year old son, Oliver. I have always had a passion for Halloween and have shared this with my son who now has the “Halloween bug”. We now bring our Halloween display to life for our friends and neighbors and do something a little different."
During the weeknights, we will have the lights on if you want to come drive by and check it out, but on the weekends, it really comes alive with more lights, music, projections, fog and more.
Our trail is not grotesque, not violent , and is appropriate for any age.
The “scares” are all controlled by us, so if you have little ones that are too scared to come, just let us know and we will make it less spooky. 2024 hours: October 4 - 28: Fridays and Saturdays 6:30-9:30
Haunted Village - Hilliard Historical Village & Museum at Weaver Park
It’s not too spooky for the family, but a lot of fun! Friday, October 17th, 6 PM – 9 PM & Saturday, October 18th, 6 PM – 9 PM, at the Historical Village & Museum and collect candy through our decorated village & museum. Crafts in the chapel and stories in the schoolhouse. Kids wear your costumes for prizes! Food and drinks available.
The Pumpkin Patch Trolley - ORM 990 Proprietors Rd, Worthington, OH 43085 | 614-885-7345
Get ready for a fun Halloween adventure the whole family will enjoy! Dress up in your favorite costumes and join us for a day of fun and excitement. Trick-or-treat through the museum, play games, enjoy tasty treats, and take a thrilling trolley ride to the Pumpkin Patch to pick your very own pumpkin. Don’t miss this festively fun event packed with Halloween magic!
Howloween at OWC! - 9000 Dublin Rd. Powell, OH 43065 | 614.734.9453
Trick-or-treat along the trails, take a hike through the spooky forest, and meet animal ambassadors! They will also have activities in the barn including a creepy crawly table, mystery touch box, scat matching, activity pages, a sensory bin and more! Costumes heavily encouraged! Pre-Registration is required and spots are limited. Thursday, October 30th
Pumpkins Aglow - Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens | 1777 E. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43203
Fall evenings offer delights and spooky surprises during these after dark, family-friendly events. The Conservatory’s grounds are illuminated with hundreds of pumpkins carved by staff, volunteers and members. Visit returning favorites, the gardening skeletons and Pumpkin Houses, and new bewitching displays, the pumpkin tunnel light show and alien invasion. October 15–19, 22–26 & 29–November 2 from 5–9PM and 5-10PM Fridays and Saturdays
Fright at the Museum - Ohio History Center | 1800 East 17th Avenue Columbus, OH 43211
Discover the spooky side of Ohio history with Fright at the Museum! Celebrate the season with family-friendly activities for a frightful good time! 📅October 25 • 6-9pm
Blacklick Haunted Park - Groveport Blacklick Park 770 Blacklick Street, Groveport, OH 43125
📅 2025 Dates and Times: 👻 Fri., Oct. 24 • 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM 👻 Sat., Oct. 25 • 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM (For those seeking a good fright – parental discretion advised!) $5 admission
👻For younger ghouls and goblins, they have a not-so-scary Kids Event on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Kids aged 3-10 are invited to join the fun for FREE (must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). 🍬The first 250 kids will receive a FREE goodie bag!
Golden Bear Scare - Smith Nature Park (1340 Fishinger Rd, Upper Arlington, OH 43221) awaiting details
There are rumblings occurring in Smith Nature Park as Old Man Smith and the haunted forest is coming to life. Come out to the Park as a UACA 'Scare Ranger' will help guide along the path explaining how it came to be haunted! The forest starts less haunted for the little ones and gets progressively scarier as the night unfolds. October 27 - 29: 7-9pm each night. Elementary age kids: 6:00pm – 7:30pm (the earlier hours) (Safe for the younger attendees) | Middle School age: 7:30pm – 9:00pm (later hours) (A tad bit scarier; Elementary age kids welcome at their own risk…..)
Kid Friendly Halloween Event at Thurber House - Thurber Center 91 Jefferson Avenue Columbus OH 43215
October 11 - During this FREE family-friendly drop-in event, come celebrate Halloween at Thurber House with mini pumpkin/gourd painting and other interactive activities (1:00-3:15 pm), a teaser performance of The Nightmare Before Christmas (3:15-4:00 pm), sweet treats, and more!
This event is best suited for ages 6+ (minors must have at least one adult with them). You can participate in as many activities as you like. Costumes are welcome!
Special guest Mouth of the Wolf Productions will lead theater-inspired interactive activities that are fun for all ages, followed by a teaser performance of The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Boo! On the Moon - Armstrong Air & Space Museum 500 Apollo Dr, Wapakoneta, OH 45895 | (419) 738-8811
Grab your masks and candy bags and head to the Armstrong Air & Space Museum for their annual Boo! on the Moon Halloween event! Guests have the opportunity to walk around the museum’s spooky galleries and collect candy from staff members, along with other fun, family friendly activities and games. October 28
Scary Cherry Halloween Haunted House, Light Show, & Trick-or-Treating - 352 N Cherry Street, Kenton, OH
Scary On Cherry, the renowned Halloween house, is thrilled to unveil its annual event: the Scary on Cherry Trick-or-Treat Halloween Party. This extraordinary experience promises a spine-tingling journey into the realm of frightful fun and eerie entertainment.
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Spookier Events for older kids 12 and up
Field of Fright - The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek 8657 Axe Handle Rd Milford Center OH 43045 | 937-349-4781
The haunted path is open at dark. Fri & Sat Nights – Oct. 10 - November 1, 2025. The Field of Fright is not geared for small children.
In the Land of Oz - Columbus Children's Theatre 1165 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215. | 614-224-6673
This fall, Columbus Children’s Theatre (CCT) will unveil In the Land of Oz, a bold new immersive experience blending horror, theatricality, and interactive storytelling just in time for Halloween. The experience is designed for adults and teens (ages 10+) and features a professional cast of paid youth and adult performers – a cornerstone of CCT’s mission to elevate artist employment and create new pathways for young creatives to train, collaborate, and thrive. Opening September 26 and running through November 2.
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The Ghost Trolley - ORM 990 Proprietors Rd, Worthington, OH 43085 | 614-885-7345
The Ghost Trolley returns in 2025 with a spine-chilling new makeover! If you’ve braved this ride before, get ready for a completely reimagined adventure that’s darker, more intense, and filled with surprises. Designed to push the limits of fear, this year’s experience is not suited for young children—check out the Pumpkin Patch Express for family-friendly thrills instead.
Haunted Ohio Statehouse Tours - Ohio Statehouse 1 Capitol Square, Columbus OH 43215 | 614-728-9234
Meet figures from the past as you follow conductors with lanterns through the darkened hallways and chambers of the Statehouse. This historical tour is spooky and appropriate for ages twelve and older. Tours are offered October 17-18 & October 24-25, 2025.
Ghost Tours - Walnut Grove Cemetery5561 Milton Avenue Worthington OH 43085
The tour is designed for guests 13 and older. Join the Worthington Historical Society under the moon for a tour at Walnut Grove Cemetery. Worthington residents spanning the centuries who have made Walnut Grove their final resting place will be out and about after dark to share stories. October 24, 2024. Must register
Ghost Walk & Haunted History Tour - Landoll’s Mohican Castle 561 Twp Rd 3352, Loudonville, OH 44842
Every night this September and October we will take a trip back in time to the 1830's, as you embark on a one hour guided haunted history tour of Heyd cemetery and a replica of the original log cabin. As seen on the TV show Ghost Hunters, you will learn about the early pioneers of the castle property and the mischievous things they do to the current visitors. During the last 15 minutes of the tour, you will attempt to communicate with the spirits that call Landoll's Mohican Castle Home! Whether you're a believer in the supernatural or simply curious about the unknown, this event promises an unforgettable experience. Don't miss out on the chance to encounter the spirits that are said to roam these haunted grounds! Nightly in September & October There is no age limit for the ghost walk, it is at the judgment of the parent. It happens at night, begins by the lobby and ends in the cemetery.
The Dublin Ghost Walk - Historic Dublin, OH: 82 South High Street Dublin, OH 43017 | 614-284-6158
Take a ghost walk through Downtown Historic Dublin after the sun goes down. Travel on foot as you learn some of the history of Dublin and its urban legends. Hear accounts of local ghostly sightings while standing at the location. Tours are around 2 hours. October: Walk-up tours will be Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30pm. NOT recommended for children under 12.
Halloween Green Lawn Cemetery Bike Tour - You will receive an email with instructions and a starting location on the Wednesday before your tour date
Let's have a howling good time! Saddle up and get spooky with a Halloween bike tour through Green Lawn Cemetery & Arboretum. We'll explore some the strangest, weirdest, and most bizarre stories that rest eternally in Ohio's second largest cemetery. Ride through old growth forest and over a ravine, visiting historic mausoleums and creepy graves. October 25, 2025.
After the ride enjoy tasty treats and Halloween drinks.
- COLUMBUS GHOST TOURS -
Creepy Columbus Downtown Walking Tour runs throughout October and children 12 and up may attend when accompanied by an adult. This tour is approximately 90 minutes and covers a distance of about 1 mile. Ticket price: $30 per person plus tax.
Civil War Ghosts of Green Lawn Cemetery Tour is suitable for ages 12 and up when accompanied by an adult. This tour is on Saturdays from 3-5pm and a portion of the proceeds go towards preserving this historic landmark. Ticket price: $35 per person plus tax.
Carnage Haunted House - 3770 Refugee Rd, Columbus, OH 43232
Immerse yourself in highly-detailed sets that create a fully realistic horror experience.
-Rated as one of the Top 5 Haunted Attractions in Ohio in 2022
-Rated #5 in the country in 2019
Kids Haunt: October 26, 2025. Noon - 5pm
Fear Columbus Haunted House - 2605 Northland Plaza Dr, 43231
Fear Columbus is one of the largest and most elaborate haunted house productions in Ohio. Featuring multiple immersive attractions under one roof, photo ops, a retail store, endless scares, dozens of highly trained actors, elaborate costumes and makeup, a state of the art sound system, professionally designed lighting, movie quality set design and the best customer service possible! Fear Columbus is locally owned and operated. Come experience Columbus Ohio’s premier Halloween destination. September 12- November 1 (select nights)
Last updated September 24, 2025.
NW Columbus Macaroni Kid is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in Columbus, Ohio. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, giveaways and more. We proudly serve families in Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Powell, West Clintonville, West Worthington, Grandview, Upper Arlington and Plain City! NW Columbus Macaroni Kid is full of useful local information like this PLUS tons of kid-friendly events on our event calendar. Have an event you'd like submitted to our calendar for consideration? Submit an event here. Like what you see here and want to get all the fun delivered to your inbox weekly? Subscribe to our FREE weekly e-newsletter for the 411 on local family fun! #CbusMacKid
Dates, Admission, and Activities are subject to change without notice, please visit the links to confirm posted details before driving to the locations
All Hallows’ Eve - Ohio Village 800 E. 17th Ave. Columbus OH 43211 | 614.297.2663
Ohio Village is closed temporarily for construction through early 2026
Enjoy an evening of 1890s-style family fun at All Hallows’ Eve, including a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by the bonfire! There will also be pumpkin carving ($8 per pumpkin, cash and card accepted), and strange characters within Ohio Village. Come revel in Victorian-era entertainment including fortune telling, crafts, games and more! All Hallows Eve will be occurring Saturday, Oct. 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th.
ZOMBIEzi Bay : Central Ohio's Ultimate Halloween Experience - 4850 Powell Rd, Powell, OH, 43065 | 614-645-3550 AWAITING DETAILS FOR 2024
Explore a fiendish world of four haunted houses, two scare zones, six amusement rides, and other sinister surprises...We're waiting for YOU.Not suitable for children under 13 years because, at ZOMBIEzi Bay, the nightmares are real. Not happening in 2024
