Columbus in Wonderland

HighBall Halloween returns with high fashion + creative costumes in Columbus, Ohio

For the first time since 2019, HighBall will be held as a street festival. | Photo via HighBall Halloween

It’s time to have a ball, CBUS — a HighBall Halloween, that is.

For 15 years, HighBall Halloween has been the ultimate celebration of elaborate costume designs combined with a thorough love of high fashion. Local designers, regional creators, and national influencers all hail into the city each year to showcase their craziest concepts. Tickets are on sale now for this one day event on Sat., Oct. 22 on Goodale + Park streets.

Though this year will feature many of the iconic events that have made this decade+ old event what it is, organizers have also added a focus on family and pets this year. From 2 p.m.-6 p.m., kids, parents, and dogs can stop by HighBall to find a costume contest for kids, a street band + free Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream (‘nuf said).

CBUStoday HighBall Halloween 2 — You are what you wear at HighBall Halloween. | Photo via HighBall Halloween

Of course, the main focus of the event are the adult costume designs, and you’ll be hard pressed to miss them. Designs range from extravagant headdresses to wedding dresses that would make the corpse’s bride jealous — each one just as eye-grabbing as the next. This costume couture contest kicks off at 10 p.m.

But what’s a ball without accouterments for the attendees? At HighBall, you’ll be able to sip locally crafted cocktails from Middle West Spirits, or munch on tacos from Condado. Other local highlights include Cameron Mitchell, Columbus Brewing Company, and White Castle.

Don’t forget about the pups, either. With the new focus on dogs, BarkBox has sponsored this year’s event, including a dog costume contest at 5:15 p.m.

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

Slander | Wed., Oct. 19 | 5:30 p.m. | KEMBA Live!, 405 Neil Avenue, Columbus | Enjoy a high energy EDM show from these two LA-based DJs.
Excesss Trivia| Wed., Oct. 19 | 7-9 p.m. | Oddfellows Liquor Bar, 1038 N High St., Columbus | Free | Head on out to Oddfellows Liquor Bar for Jeopardy-style trivia.

Thursday, October 20

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Nashville Predators | Thu., Oct. 20 | 7 p.m. | Nationwide Arena, 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus | $38.00 - $285.00 | Support the Jackets as they welcome in this out-of-division foe. 🏒

Friday, October 21

CAAMP: Lavender Days Tour | Fri., Oct. 21 | 7 p.m. | Nationwide Arena, 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus | $29.50 - $75.00 | Listen to this local indie + folk group fresh off the release of their latest album. 🎶

Saturday, October 22

Art of Yoga | Sat., Oct. 22 | 10-11 a.m. | Wild Goose Creative, 2491 Summit Street, Columbus | Kick start your weekend with this relaxing + inspiring yoga class.
Columbus Happy Hour Halloweekend Pub Crawl | Sat., Oct. 22 | 6-11 p.m. | Howl at the Moon Columbus, 504 Park St, Columbus | We want to get spooky with you on this Columbus Bar Crawl.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

50º | Scattered showers | 40% chance of rain

Open

Amazon Style, a new brick-and-mortar retail venture from Amazon, opened its second ever location yesterday at Easton Town Center. The store replaces the former space of Forever 21 + functions similarly to a TJ Maxx with discounted name brands for men, women, and kids. 🛍 (The Columbus Dispatch)
With toppings from edge-to-edge, Hoppy’s Pizza, a Columbus-style pizzeria, is now open at 3503 Parsons Ave. The pizza shop, which opened in mid-September, replaces Mo’s Place, which closed earlier this year. 🍕 (614now)

Coming Soon

Tupelo Honey, a Southern-style kitchen and bar, will host its grand opening on Wed., Oct. 26 at 1678 W. Lane Ave. While fried chicken is Tupelo’s most popular menu item, other favorites include fried green tomatoes and fried pickles. 🍗 (Columbus Underground)

Closing

Nearly all the retail shops in the Thurber Village shopping center — including Boston Stoker + Nails on Neil — will close on Mon., Oct. 31. In its place, Casto, a local developer, will build a five-story, 225-unit apartment building which will house local shops like Lucky’s Market. (Columbus Business First)

Edu

The Ohio State University is one of the leading colleges in the country as it reportedly maintained an 88% graduation rate within six years of enrollment for freshman. This puts the university more than 20% ahead of the national average, which sits at 64%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. 🎓 (NBC4)

Biz

Union Café + Axis Nightclub, two popular LGBTQ+ nightlife spots in the Short North, are partnering with the Old Bag of Nails, a central Ohio restaurant chain with locations in Columbus and Delaware. While full details about the partnership were not disclosed, a representative said they plan to expand offerings at Union and Axis in the future. 🏳️‍🌈 (Columbus Business First)

Try This

Columbus Square Bowling Palace updated its 64-lanes with HyperBowling — an interactive + immersive video game-themed spin on bowling. Bowlers will attempt to gain the highest score in five throws, with a maximum of 3,000 points per turn. 🎳 (Spectrum News 1)

Community

As the leaves begin to fall in Hilliard, the city begins its leaf collection program from now until Fri., Dec. 16. Residents are encouraged to rake leaves near the curb for pick-up + avoid street parking on collection days. 🍂 (ABC6 On Your Side)
The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow officially kicks off today through Sun., Oct. 23 + COTA has extended its services in that area to midnight in honor of the event. Browse 1,500+ pumpkins and avoid parking struggles by taking the bus. 🚌

Seasonal

If you WFH like us, it’s nearly time to break out the space heater. Solve chilly mornings the energy efficient way with the Dr. Infrared Heater that warms objects, not the air. Hello, cozy legs. Bonus: Heat your patio with infrared, too. 🔥*

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Culture

How to celebrate Halloween all month in Columbus, Ohio

When jack-o-lanterns are glowing on porches, that’s when its October in CBUS. | Photo via Pexels

We’re past the mid-point of October + it’s a good time to remind you — Halloween never ends in CBUS.

Tricks 👻

Find events more geared for adults.

Fear Columbus | Weekends all October | 7-11:45 p.m. | Fear Columbus, 2605 Northland Plaza | $20+ | Test your nerves at the largest haunted house in Columbus.
Nightmare Film Festival | Thurs., Oct. 20-Sun., Oct. 23 | Times vary | Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St. | $149 | Watch indie horror shorts and films.
Halloween (1979) | Thurs., Oct. 27-Sun., Oct. 31 | Times vary | Marcus Theaters Crosswoods, 200 Hutchinson Ave. | $10+ | Watch the classic slasher staring Jamie Lee Curtis + Michael Myers.

CBUStoday Boo at the Zoo.png — Find kid-friendly costumed characters at the zoo. | Photo via @columbuszoo

Treats 🍫

Find family-friend events.

Halloween Family Storytime | Sat., Oct. 29 | 11-11:30 a.m. | Columbus Metropolitan Library - Whetstone, 3909 N. High St. | Free | Bring the kids for a Halloween-themed book reading.
Trick-or-Treat Night | Mon., Oct. 31 | 6 p.m. | Citywide

MORE HALLOWEEN EVENTS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Mitch.

Editor’s pick: Over the weekend, I went to a wedding at Camp Mary Orton + can’t recommend it as a venue enough. Not only is it beautifully scenic, it benefits their local programs like summer camp so kids in Columbus can learn + have fun while school is out.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Here’s the cost of living in Columbus.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Mitch Hooper, Hanna Williford, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

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