Things to do in Columbus: Fall 2016

What are you most looking forward to this fall? Columbus has so much to offer and as usual I plan to do as much as possible, and sometimes benefiting a great cause in the process!

Remember when I made a list of all the things to do in Columbus this past summer? Well here’s your fall edition! And it’s here to prove to you that despite the temperatures dropping there is still plenty of things to do in this fine city of ours. I may have gone a bit overboard but I just couldn’t omit anything and I’m sure even more things will pop up as time goes on (and I discover things I overlooked). Obviously most of these things are food oriented because that’s where my mind lives most of the time when I’m not doing science at my day job. But anywho, what are you most looking forward to this fall?

September 8-18: Cones for the Cure – Get a free (yes, FREE) scoop of Elena’s blueberry pie ice cream at Graeter’s and find out how you can be a hero and help fight the battle against cancer. #ConesForTheCute

September 9: Ohio Bacon Fest – I actually listed this on my previous list for the summer because technically summer doesn’t end until September 22. But since I am publishing a new list today it is worthy of a repeat because, BACON!

September 9-11: Sip & Shop at Easton

• Friday, September 9, 5-9 pm at Whole Foods: Ohio wines, live music by The Shaw Brothers, food samples, and more for $5.
• Saturday, September 10, 3-7 pm: Pub crawl at select Easton Gateway restaurants and bars. Collect 5 tokens and redeem for an event t-shirt. Get an extra token by donating $2 to the Children’s Hunger Alliance.
• Sunday, September 11, store hours: Sidewalk sale featuring great deals from your favorite retailers.

September 10: Clintonville Arts & Music Festival – Free festival featuring local artisans, live music performers and food from Weiland’s Market at Whetstone Park, 10 am – 6 pm.

September 10: Creekside Hops & Vines Fest – An evening full of craft beer, wine and cocktail samplings, live music provided by The Martini Affair, and delicious food from local vendors from 6:30-10 pm. Tickets are $50 and includes 15 tasting tickets and food.

September 11: The Great Westerville Food Truck Fest – Another food truck festival? Heck yea! 25+ food trucks will be at Nationwide Children’s Westerville Surgery Center from noon – 7 pm.

September 12-17: Dine Originals Restaurant Week – Dozens of Columbus’ best independent restaurants are serving original prix-fixe menus all week! Unfortunately I only have time to go to one which is making the decision on where to go even more difficult.

September 13: Roast of the Disney Princesses – This event speaks to me because friends and I have coined our own event dubbed “Drunk Disney” where we watch our favorite childhood Disney movies and critique them through adult eyes. This event will have comedians playing some of your favorite fairy tale princesses to roast each other in an all out brawl to see who is the baddest babe.

September 14: Slice of Columbus – Slice means pizza! Over fifteen area pizza shops will serve their most savory pies from 5-9 pm. You will sample pizza and vote for you favorite pie with the “People’s Choice Award.” Event includes children’s activities, craft beers and wine.

September 16: 90s Fest – Bringing your favorite decade back to life in true, funky-fresh form. Come party like it’s 1999 with some of your favorite 90s bands at the Columbus Commons at 4pm.

September 17: 3-year Anniversary Party & Barrel-aged Release at Wolf’s Ridge – What better way to celebrate their 3-year birthday than a party with some long-awaited barrel-aged beers?

September 17-18: Independents’ Day Festival – Celebration of the music, art, performances, food and fun that fuels Columbus’ creative spirit. Admission is free! Saturday noon-midnight and Sunday noon – 8 pm.

September 18: Scioto Downs Craft Beer Fest –  From 2-6pm featuring approximately 40 regional and local breweries, food trucks and live entertainment from Junkbox, a popular Ohio party band. For $40, General Admission patrons will enjoy 25 sample tickets and a keeper sample glass.

September 19-24: Burger & Beer Week – 75 top local restaurants feature specialty burger creations for only $6! Plus, wash it down with beer specials from four local beer sponsors. I have a feeling I will not be cooking a single day that week as there are far too many great options.

September 22: Gildan Esprit de She 5k/10k – An evening run followed by a night on the town like no other. It begins with a timed 5K or 10K run at 6:30 pm in Genoa Park and ends with a post-race lifestyle market of festive proportions! Use code “GEDS16AMB088” during registration for $5 off.

September 22-24: The Lord of the Rings 35mm Weekend – Celebrate Tolkien Week with the first-ever all-35mm screening of Peter Jackson’s epic The Lord of the Rings Trilogy at the Gateway, screenings start at 7 pm.

September 23-24: Vintage Fall Fest – Antiques, Vintage, Barn Finds, Reclaimed Salvage & Picks, Crafted Items, Repurposed Items, Industrial Pieces, Fall Decorating Items, Food and more. Friday 4-8 pm and Saturday 10 am – 4 pm.

September 23-25: Oktoberfest – Soak in the German music, dancing, snacks, and shops at the Ohio Expo Center. Admission is free.

September 24: Cycle for Life – Cycling event to raise funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis with 20, 40, and 65 mile routes. Not a cyclist? Help me meet my fundraising goal for the 65 miler HERE!

September 24: Jim Gaffigan – No description necessary. 7 pm at the Palace Theater.

September 25: Yoga with Columbus Blue Jackets – A yoga class unlike any other. For $25 you get a 60-minute practice out front of Nationwide Arena, tickets to the CBJ vs. St. Louis Blues and giveaways including your chance at joining the High-Five Tunnel on the ice.

October 1: Made Local Marketplace Fall Show – Shop local from 130 amazing artists, crafters, food artisans, inventors, and entrepreneurs. Held at Bridgewater Banquet and Conference Center from 9 am – 4 pm.

October 1: Flavor Run – Everyone is familiar with the color run, but what if all those colors had a flavor? I present to you, the flavor run! Hosted at the Franklin County Fairgrounds at 10 am.

October 1: Apple Pie Takeover at Brother’s Drake – If you haven’t yet tried Brother’s Drake’s apple pie mead, you are missing out. Celebrate the 2016 Apple Pie Release Day with Verticle Vintage apple pie tasting flights, apple pie cocktails, apple pie & whiskey tasters, and guest meads. Starts at 11 am and goes all day long!

October 1: Zauber Oktoberfest – Features live music, beer from local breweries, spirits, and food. On display will be Columbus’ rich German heritage mixed with the passion of local entrepreneurship,  from 4-10pm.

October 7-9: Italian Festival – Three day celebration with the finest in food, entertainment and Italian culture. Friday 5-11 pm, Saturday noon – 11 pm, Sunday noon – 7 pm.

October 13: Best Bites Burgers – I already bought my tickets for this one! For $30 you get to try the best burgers in Columbus while raising money for charity. From 6-10pm at the new The Grand Event Center at Grandview Yard.

October 14: Mac & Cheese Festival – Do I even need to give the details? This event features an array of macaroni and cheese tastings from the best Columbus restaurants with live entertainment. Proceeds will benefit adolescent and young adult cancer research at the OSUCCC – James. Admission is$20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under. 

October 15: Octobercrest – Second Annual Octobercrest celebration at The Crest in Clintonville. Tickets are $15 and will include entry into the event, a special event pint glass, and a free beer fill!

October 16: Columbus Marathon & 1/2 – Starts at 7:30 am, benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital

October 22: Land-Grant Second Anniversary Party – I went last year to their 1st anniversary and had a great time! They will be taking over the parking lot and lot next door, brewing up special and beers, blasting local live music, rolling out their favorite food trucks, and showing the OSU/PSU game live under the stars.

October 28: Haunted Fest – Halloween EDM experience, at the Lausche Building in the Ohio Expo Center 6 pm – 2am.

October 30: Donut Run – Annual 5K running and walking event to benefit the Joan’s Foundation for Head and Neck Cancer Research. All participants will receive a t-shirt and a half dozen donuts. And in case that isn’t enough you can enjoy donut holes at every kilometer, and donuts and Starbucks coffee at the finish line.

November 3: A Taste of Tinseltown – Come dressed to impress in your finest cocktail attire and experience a night out on the town while you sample some of the most exquisite and creatively prepared cuisine around. This sophisticated event will offer an array of signature dishes, a full open bar and a special nod to our 2016 Tinseltown Honorees. Tickets at $100 and is hosted in the Ivory Room at Miranova from 6-10 pm.

November 19: Ohio Made Holiday Market – Featuring a diverse group of local handmade Ohio products. Held at the Hampton Inn at 501 North High Street from 9 am – 3 pm.

November 20: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K – Enjoy a beautiful run at 7:30 am through the city’s most scenic spots. Then, stuff your face at the post-race party with decadent fondue, watch the kids go crazy in the bounce house, and more.

November 26: Hungry Turkey Half Marathon and 5K – Fleece zip-up, finish-line cinnamon rolls, medal for every finisher, chip-timed, and benefits the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. What other reason do you need to get to Genoa Park at 8:45 am?

November 26: Small Business Saturday – Special open house featuring an artisan market, tours, and demos from 11 am – 3 pm at the Columbus Idea Foundry.

U-pick at Lynd Fruit Farms: Through the end of October there are all kinds of apples varieties and pumpkins to be picked. Check the schedule for when your favorite varieties will be ready. There’s also a corn maze every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from September 9 through October 30.

Columbus Crew Soccer: Only 3 home games left in the regular season! Last game is October 1. There’s also promos on certain days such as 1/2 price food nights, family 4-pack, and craft beer bundles.

Ohio State Football: If you don’t already have tickets they might be hard to come by as the season goes on. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the game at home or come on down campus and take part in some tailgating!

Clintonville Farmer’s Market: Saturdays, April 30-Nov 19, 9am to noon, and also Wednesdays, July 6-Sept 28, 4-7 pm.

Dublin Farmer’s Market: Every Wednesday, rain or shine, through September 3:30-6:30 pm in the parking lot of Oakland Nursery.

North Market Farmer’s Market: Saturdays throughout the growing season starting at 8 am till they run out!

North Market Peddler’s Picnic: Sundays until the end of October, 10 am-3 pm. Showcasing handmade, vintage, fine art, jewelry and more from local vendors.

Worthington Farmer’s Market: Year-round tradition that is held in the heart of Worthington. The summer market runs every Saturday from thru October from 8 am-12 pm and is followed by our indoor winter market, which runs Saturdays from November thru April from 9 am-noon.

400 West Rich Street Market: Once a month pop-up shop in the gallery space of 400 West Rich St the second Friday of each month during the “Franklinton Fridays” event.

Food Truck Food Court: Features local food trucks serving up some of the best eats Columbus has to offer on Thursdays through October 27. There will be 8 trucks on site all season long, plus two trucks that rotate monthly.

CRC Third Thursdays: An evening of food trucks, beer and live music from 5-9 pm. Proceeds benefit CRC’s food pantry, children services, senior services and much more. Live music featuring Wednesday Wine and craft beer from Lineage Brewery.

Moonlight Market: An outdoor street festival/marketplace on Gay Street in Downtown Columbus every second Saturday through October. Businesses in the area stay open late (6-11 pm) with special promotions, in addition to over 100 sidewalk vendors.