17 Things to Do in Columbus This Week · October 1–4, 2026

Music & Nightlife

Congress The Band

Congress The Band performs live at The Bluestone in downtown Columbus with opener Kid That Fly.

Friday, October 2, 2026 7:00 PM · The Bluestone, 583 E Broad St, Columbus, OH

Jo Koy at Palace Theater

Popular stand-up comedian Jo Koy brings his Just Being Koy tour to the historic Palace Theater in Columbus.

Saturday, October 10, 2026 · Palace Theater, Columbus

Food & Drink

Columbus Coffee Festival

The 11th annual Columbus Coffee Festival returns with nearly 50 coffee roasters and tea vendors, artisan vendors, food trucks, and live music at Franklin County Fairgrounds.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 · Franklin County Fairgrounds, Columbus

CYP Happy Hour at Parlay

Columbus Young Professionals Club hosts an after-work happy hour social networking event at Parlay Sporting Club + Kitchen in the Short North.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 6:00 PM · Parlay Sporting Club + Kitchen, 570 North High Street, Columbus

Sports

APP Columbus Open Pickleball Tournament

The 2026 APP Columbus Open Presented by the James features the world's best pickleball players competing at Pickle & Chill through October 4.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 · Pickle & Chill, Columbus

Arts & Culture

Sienna Hubert Ross

Boston-born comedian and content creator Sienna Hubert Ross, known for her viral impressions of Kamala Harris and Cynthia Erivo, performs live at Hashtag Comedy Club.

Friday, October 2, 2026 7:00 PM · The Hashtag Comedy Co., 1245 N High St, Columbus, OH

ARTober Columbus

All month long, Columbus celebrates ARTober with emerging musicians, national acts, gallery nights, studio tours, street performers, independent films, and neighborhood arts hops.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 · Columbus, Ohio

Palace Theatre 100-Year Celebration

The historic Palace Theatre in Downtown Columbus marks its centennial year, celebrating the 1926 opening of the Versailles-inspired venue designed by architect Thomas Lamb.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 · Palace Theatre, Downtown Columbus

Outdoors & Active

Short North Speed Workout with Brooks Running

Short North Running Club teams up with Brooks Running and Shokz for a playlist-enabled speed workout with t-shirt and Bluetooth speaker prizes.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 · Goodale Park, Columbus

Westside Run/Walk Benefiting Nationwide Children's Hospital

The Columbus Westside Running Club hosts its annual run/walk with a $10 donation made for every participant benefiting Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 8:00 AM · Columbus, Ohio

We're Not Really Runners (WNRR) Wednesday Run/Walk

Columbus's social-first run/walk club meets every Wednesday for a community run and midweek social gathering—all paces welcome.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 · Columbus

Festivals & Special Events

CrowFest

The 5th Annual CrowFest at The MAC in Mansfield, Ohio features crow-inspired art, hand-blown glass pumpkins, and magical fall crow flights through October 18.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 · The MAC, Mansfield, Ohio

Pinkchella 2026

A pink-themed community festival and celebration happening in Columbus.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 11:00 AM · Columbus

Free Events

Columbus Westside Running Club Weekly Run

The Columbus Westside Running Club welcomes runners and walkers of all levels to their regular community run—open to everyone.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 · Columbus, Ohio

Chamber AfterHours Networking

Columbus Chamber of Commerce hosts an informal afterhours networking reception for business professionals in a casual setting.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 4:00 PM · Columbus

Family-Friendly

The Dracula Experience at Haunted Mountain

A fully produced theatrical Halloween adventure featuring a Dracula show, haunted trail, and more in Chillicothe, Ohio, running throughout October.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 · Haunted Mountain, Chillicothe, Ohio

Family-Friendly Events Weekend: October 2–4

A curated roundup of the best family-friendly things to do in Columbus and Central Ohio for the October 2–4 weekend, including ongoing events and seasonal activities.

Friday, October 2, 2026 · Columbus, Ohio