Halloween
Events in Columbus 2026

Halloween 2026 Celebrations In Columbus

Columbus has plenty happening once Halloween season begins, with concerts, costume events, live performances and themed nights appearing across the city throughout October. You can catch electronic music at KEMBA Live!, hear Halloween classics performed by a string quartet, watch a sober drag show or dress up for a rock-focused costume party. Columbus also has events that lean into fantasy and pop culture, so the Halloween calendar is not limited to haunted houses and trick-or-treating. Whether you want live music, costumes or something theatrical, Halloween 2026 brings several different ways to spend October in Columbus.

Fun Things To Do In Columbus On Halloween 2026

Halloween activities in Columbus range from large live music shows to smaller themed performances. Electronic music fans can check out Haunted Fest, while a candlelit concert offers a quieter take on Halloween music. There is also an alcohol-free drag show, a rock costume party in nearby Worthington and a fantasy-inspired masquerade. The events below cover different dates throughout October, making it easier to find something that fits your Halloween plans.

1) 2026 Haunted Fest - Friday | KEMBA Live!

Electronic music takes over KEMBA Live! just before Halloween. Happening on October 30, 2026, 2026 Haunted Fest - Friday features it's murph, MPH, Twin Diplomacy and SKILAH at KEMBA Live! Outdoor. Doors open at 6 PM, with the event scheduled rain or shine, and all ages are welcome with a ticket. The combination of a Halloween-weekend date, outdoor festival setting and electronic lineup makes Haunted Fest one of the larger music-focused events on Columbus' October calendar.

2) Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Columbus Museum of Art

Halloween music gets a calmer setting at the Columbus Museum of Art. Happening on October 25, 2026 at 6:30 PM, Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics presents familiar spooky-season music as live string arrangements surrounded by candlelight. The program includes music associated with Halloween, Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, Stranger Things and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The concert runs for about an hour and is open to guests ages eight and older, with younger attendees requiring an accompanying adult.

3) HALLOWEEN IN HELL COSTUME PARTY | The KING of CLUBS

Heavy music and Halloween costumes come together on Halloween night. Happening on October 31, 2026 at 6 PM, HALLOWEEN IN HELL COSTUME PARTY takes place at The KING of CLUBS in Worthington, just outside Columbus. The lineup includes Penntera, a Pantera tribute, Sanitarium, a Metallica tribute, along with XFactor1 and 8LB Pressure. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes, with prizes planned for standout looks. The event is listed as all ages with an accompanying adult, making it a live-music option for rock and metal fans during Halloween weekend.

4) HAUNTING THE HOUSE DOWN II: Columbus's Premier Sober Halloween Drag Show | Clintonville Books

For something theatrical and alcohol-free, head to Clintonville Books early in the month. Happening on October 3, 2026 from 7:30 PM to 10 PM, HAUNTING THE HOUSE DOWN II: Columbus's Premier Sober Halloween Drag Show brings a new Halloween-themed drag lineup to the bookstore. Performers include Hee Haw the Drag Donkey, Homer E. Rodick, Morte, Snot Rokette and Susan Starr, along with special guests. The event is 18+ and alcohol-free, giving adults a Halloween performance option built around drag, costumes and stage entertainment rather than nightlife.

5) The Butcher's Masquerade | Autonomy Project

Fantasy fans get a Halloween event inspired by Dungeon Crawler Carl. Happening on October 24, 2026 from 8 PM to 1 AM, The Butcher's Masquerade takes place at the Autonomy Project's Wicked Eden space on South High Street. The 21+ event is built around the fictional Butcher's Masquerade from the LitRPG series, with costumes, dancing, themed photo opportunities, a charity raffle and a costume contest. Guests can dress as characters from the books or choose dark fantasy, gothic or other Halloween-inspired looks. This is an adults-only event.