Get ready to get spooky downtown. While Halloween often leads to rural fun at pumpkin patches and corn mazes, an urban Halloween awaits you this season right downtown. Find fun for all, from young to not-so-young.

Hooray for HighBall

Don’t miss HighBall Halloween, Columbus’ one-of-a-kind celebration of creativity. Proving conventional wisdom wrong, HighBall asserts that you are what you wear. Part cultural celebration part couture runway show, HighBall is Halloween at a whole new level. The fun runs in the Short North all weekend, featuring stage performances, costume contests, the fashion show, live art and street parties. So, mark your calendar for October 26 - 27, and say “Hi” to the HighBall.

He Wants to Suck Your Blood

Columbus Children’s Theatre presents the Halloween vampire classic through October 31 at Park Street Theatre. This version of the tale sees lawyer Jonathan Harker accidentally unleash Dracula on London after a trip to Transylvania. So, the heroes must hunt down the vampire post haste. Enjoy this night of horror and humor. Yes, they’ve geared this for kids, but those fourth grade and up. So, leave the little littles behind (but check out the Halloween funday at North Market below).

Halloween Gets Bookish

This quarter’s Thurber Center Series dials up a spooky angle. Each Thurber Center Series features an author with a connection to the Buckeye state. And, on October 24 from 7-9 p.m., listen to James A. Willis tell strange and spooky stories about Ohio. The author of Ohio’s Historic Haunts: Investigating the Paranormal in the Buckeye State and Weird Ohio, Willis knows his stuff. Plus, you can enter the raffle to win a ghost hunt with Willis in Thurber House, your chance to find out if Thurber’s story “The Night the Ghost Got In" is true.

Boozy Boos

Show Me Columbus tours offers this special, spooky and boozy tour for Halloween fun. So, sign up soon for a remaining date (now through November 1) or ask about a private tour. Then explore the haunted history of the Short North, Arena District and Downtown. You’ll hear scary stories while knocking back a pop or two.  

Family Fun

North Market hosts their Halloween Family Funday on October 28, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. So, gather your little goblins and find tons of free fun, from faceprinting, crafts, music and games to trick-or-treating from the merchants (which supplies last). And, animal lovers will love to visit with live farm animals from Shady Grove Farms.