5 Halloween Events in Columbus You Don’t Want to Miss Out On

By Brigid McCuen on October 27, 2014

 

Though it’s mostly known for a night of trick-or-treating, Halloween has so much more to offer than just candy and costumes.  Check out these festive events in the Columbus area over the next week to broaden your Hallow-weekend horizon!

1. Haunted Fest

Hosted at the Columbus Convention Center, this festival is taking place this upcoming Friday (10/31) and will encompass a plethora of activities that are all things Halloween.  From a music lineup to a DJ competition to a costume contest, there’s bound to be something to pique your interest.  On site, there will also be a full bar, food and merch vendors, and a VIP Mezzanine, if you’re willing to splurge on a slightly more expensive ticket.  The event is for those 18 and older, so it’s a perfect weekend activity if you’re looking to get off campus for a bit, but still want the college atmosphere.  More information about ticket prices, headliners, and package discounts can be found here.

2. The Experience Haunted Attraction

The Experience, hosted by Dark Woods Entertainment, takes the “haunted house” scheme and gives it an unrefined, earthy spin.  This award-winning attraction reenacts “The Legend of Saran,” which is an urban tale about a young girl who disappeared in the woods.  Live actors retell the story as you trek through the woods, while special effects and presentations animate the oral history.  This isn’t your run-of-the-mill commercialized haunted house that tries to dupe you into being scared.  It’s a legitimately good story, and the whole experience feels authentic.  In that respect, The Experience is actually spookier than walking through a creepily embellished house with fake zombies popping out at you behind every corner.  The event will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights after dark.  You can read more details about The Experience here.

3. Sips and Spirits Halloween Party

This Wednesday night, the Camelot Cellars Winery on High Street is hosting a free Halloween soiree from 7-9pm.  The urban boutique Winery will feature psychic readings, Halloween makeup, “Vampire Vino” wine tastings, and goody bags for each attendee! Did I mention it’s free?  A chill weeknight event like this will get you in the spooky holiday spirit and in the mood for a fun Hallow-weekend.

4. OUAB Presents: Judy Smith – The Real Olivia Pope

Okay, so this one isn’t Halloween-themed at all, but it’s such a cool opportunity that I had to include it.  Judy Smith was the crisis manager for the first Bush administration in the early ‘90s, and later became the VP of Communications for NBC.  This spurred her introduction to Shonda Rhimes, and their meeting resulted in the creation of Scandal, the political thriller series focused on crisis manager Olivia Pope.  Scandal is one of the most popular shows on TV right now, so hosting “The Real Olivia Pope” on campus is a pretty big deal.  If you’re interested in hearing the realistic experiences that inspired a hit series, you can attend the event in the Archie Griffin Grand Ballroom at the Ohio Union at 7:30PM this upcoming Monday (11/3).

5. Flicks for Free – Hocus Pocus

 “Come little children, I’ll take thee away / Into a land of enchantment / Come little children, the times come to play / Here in my garden of magic!”  This is a direct quote from the Halloween favorite Hocus Pocus; it’s also a creative but mildly creepy way for me to tell you all to actually go see the movie this Wednesday at 6:30PM in the US Bank Conference Theatre at the Ohio Union.  It’s OUAB’s pick for the weekly “Flicks for Free” event, and fittingly so. Senior Finance major James Meyer (’15) is a big advocate for attending the free weekly movie: “It’s a great way to see relatively new movies that I missed in theaters and to see seasonal movies like this week’s. And there’s free popcorn, and that alone could get me to go pretty much anywhere.”  This family comedy about three resurrected Salem witches and their “reign of terror” is a staple this time of year, so don’t miss out!

No matter which events you choose, all of these options are a sure way to spice up your Halloween beyond just costume parties and holiday sweets.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format