Hope Heritage Days
Bartholomew County’s oldest and largest multi-day autumn festival.
Columbus Unique & Unusual Halloween Events 2026
10 unique & unusual Halloween events in Columbus and nearby.
Halloween events are rolling into Columbus and surrounding areas. From ticketed celebrations to free community gatherings, find your perfect way to celebrate the season.
For those seeking immersive experiences, consider the Día de Muertos at Eiteljorg Museum. If a community festival is more your speed, you might find something at the Fall Fest at Garfield Park.
All Unique & Unusual Halloween Events Around Columbus
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Family-Friendly Fall Activities
1 of 27
Greenwood Halloween Fest
Greenwood
Features a trick-or-treating parade, live music, and costume contests.
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Food, Drink, and Parties
1 of 22
Spellbound Indy Halloween Dark Rave
Indianapolis
Dark rave featuring multiple guest DJs and a costume contest.
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Haunted Experiences
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Hanna Haunted Acres 2026 Season
Indianapolis
Multiple haunted attractions with live actors and special effects
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Movies, Theater, and Entertainment
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Dennis James Hosts Halloween
Bloomington
Live pipe organ accompaniment to classic silent horror-comedies and radio drama.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the photography etiquette at cultural and community events in Columbus?
Wide crowd shots are fine; portraits need permission, especially of children, performers mid-ritual, and personal ofrendas at Día de los Muertos events, where some altars honor recent losses. Ask first, accept no gracefully, and skip flash at night processions and candlelit events, where it genuinely disrupts. When an event posts photography guidance, that overrides all defaults. Buy from artists you photograph.
How do we pair a ghost tour with dinner in Columbus?
Eat first: tours run 90 minutes of walking, and most start between 7 and 9 pm, so book dinner two hours before the tour within a short walk of the meeting point, and keep it lighter than you would for a movie night. Afterward, a nightcap spot near the route's end lets the group unpack the stories, the debrief is half the fun.
What Halloween-season events in Columbus continue into early November?
The season doesn't end at midnight on the 31st: Día de los Muertos celebrations run October 31 through November 2, harvest markets and fall festivals continue into mid-November, and some attractions run one final discounted weekend. Costume and decor clearance peaks November 1-2 for next-year planning. If October overflowed, the first November weekend is the graceful catch-up window.