Things to do in Columbus
Things to do in Columbus, newest first: events, festivals, parks and family days out, with dates, times and the organizer's own link.
Top story
River Road trail link to RiverWalk goes out to bid
Columbus wants a builder for a 10-foot Dragonfly Trail link and footbridge from near Cascade Road to the RiverWalk at Lake Oliver Road. Bids are due Oct. 21.
Plan your weekend
Things to do
Things to do in Columbus this month: October 2026
Columbus in late October: free Rock the Lawn Oct. 17, the Marine Band Oct. 23, Boo Bash Oct. 24, a free Halloween movie night Oct. 31 and November's shows.
Trails
Parks and trails in Columbus
The Columbus RiverWalk runs 22 miles along the Chattahoochee. Free splash pads, pools, the Lake Oliver boat ramp and the skate park, with phones.
Halloween
Halloween in Columbus 2026: Boo Bash, Witches Ride, Oct. 31
Halloween 2026 in Columbus: Spooktacular Oct. 17, Boo Bash Oct. 24, the Witches Ride Oct. 25 and a free Civic Center movie night and Westville on Oct. 31.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Columbus 2026: races, meals, closures, trash
Thanksgiving 2026 in Columbus: Beat the Bird 5K Nov. 21, city offices closed Nov. 26-27, no METRA buses Thanksgiving Day, trash pickup and school break.
Fourth of July
Columbus Fourth of July fireworks 2027
Columbus watches July Fourth fireworks over the Chattahoochee from Woodruff Park and Phenix City. How the 2026 shows ran; 2027 details to come.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Columbus 2026: Boo Bash and Oct. 31
Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. Columbus has not set trick-or-treat hours as of Oct. 16; here are Boo Bash, Spooktacular and the Oct. 31 event times.
Christmas
Columbus Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026
Broadway Holiday Parade and tree lighting Friday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. in Uptown; the city's Christmas Parade is 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.
Fall festivals
Columbus fall festivals and pumpkin patches 2026
Fall in Columbus: the Scarecrow Trail all October, Spooktacular Oct. 17, the Museum Fall Festival Oct. 24 and the Callaway pumpkin trail to Nov. 1.
Fountain City Classic
Fountain City Classic 2026: Nov. 7, 2 p.m. kickoff, tickets
Fountain City Classic 2026 is Saturday, Nov. 7: parade 9 a.m. (live on WXTX Fox 54), Fort Valley State vs. Albany State 2 p.m. Tickets from $12.
Veterans Day
Columbus Veterans Day Parade 2026: date, time and route
Columbus' Veterans Day Parade is 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, from Dillingham Street to 9th Street in Uptown, run by Columbus Parks and Recreation.
Columbus Cup
Columbus Cup freestyle kayaking on the Chattahoochee: dates
The Columbus Cup freestyle kayak contest ran April 10-12, 2026, on the Chattahoochee in Uptown. 2027 dates are not out yet; here is what to know.
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Things to do
Things to do in Columbus this weekend, Oct. 16 to 18
Columbus this weekend, Oct. 16 to 18: free Rock the Lawn at the Civic Center, Covenant opens at the Springer, and Spooktacular at Lake Bottom Park.
Arts
Arts and exhibitions in Columbus: October 2026
Columbus arts, Oct. 16 to Nov. 27: We Are Carver at The Columbus Museum, Covenant at the Springer, the Marine Band, Kristin Chenoweth and the symphony.