Spooky Cbus: 10 Ways to Celebrate Halloween in Columbus
By Mariah West
It’s that time of year again when the goblins and ghouls of Columbus begin to creep amongst the streets. Whether you’re seeking scares, parties, or just a place to show off your costume, here are 10 different ways to celebrate Halloween in the city.
Randall Schieber via Facebook
HighBall Halloween
Highball is by far the city’s largest party of the season, every year bringing 30,000 costume-clad revelers together to celebrate the high-fashion side of Halloween in the streets of the Short North. Hosted by NBC4’s Monica Day & Matt Barnes and local drag celeb Nina West, the event features live music, food & drink, and a series of contests & couture fashion shows highlighting some of the most over-the-top, elaborate costume creations you’ll set eyes on this holiday.
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Via CityNova
Haunted Hoochie at Dead Acres
Haunted Hoochie is hands down the most incredible, infamous annual haunted attraction in the Central Ohio area. Recognized with several awards and titles, the event draws thousands of people every year to brave the sensory assault that is the Hoochie experience. The attraction puts guests into the middle of a series of extreme horror scenes, with actors in full effects makeup all around the grounds, over-the-top gore, mind-blowing special effects, and high-tech animatronics. This event is a totally satisfying thrill for both seasoned horror hounds & those just looking for some Halloween screams.
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Via Harrison House
Boos & Beers Tour: Haunted History
This event is for those who want their haunts with a side of history. ShowMeColumbus.com’s Boos & Beers tour is a 3-hour walking journey that takes guests to a series of locations throughout the Short North, Arena District, and Downtown, each stop with its own spooky stories from the past. As the event’s name promises, the group keeps the fun rolling with several stops where guests can grab a drink or two.
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German Village Monster Bash
Trick or treating isn’t just for the kids anymore thanks to the German Village Society & their annual Monster Bash. This event kicks off with a round of adults-only trick or treating for creepy concoctions & edible delights at stops around the neighborhood, followed by an all-inclusive Halloween party at the German Village Meeting Haus with dancing & music, a bier garten, costume contest, and more.
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Via Facebook
Nina West’s Heels of Horror
Local drag celeb Nina West brings the laughs, scares, and costume glamour to Halloween with her annual “Heels of Horror” show at Axis. For this tradition, Nina and a number of her pals in drag will take to the stage in a variety of costumes to dance, lip-synch, and work the crowd with a dazzling mix of theatrics, camp, and comedy. With nonstop sell-out shows, every year, “Heels of Horror” is one of the city’s most entertaining Halloween events amongst the LGBT community and beyond.
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Via Facebook
ScareAtorium
Another favorite annual Columbus haunt, the ScareAtorium, is also returning for another season of scares. Guest of this event will brave their way through two unique attractions, the first a self-guided tour through The Northland Asylum, a former mental hospital still haunted by crazed patients, nurses, and a mad scientist doctor. The second half features a blacklight maze known as RIP’s 3D Funhouse, a creepy carnival complete with 3D & optical illusions and eye-popping scenery around every corner. ScareAtorium also has several 3-minute escape room experiences, 13 Coffins, Lyncom Labs, Cut-Throat Cabin, and RIP’s Boxcar, for those who want to test their wits.
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Films
There’s no better time to indulge your inner horror flick fan than Halloween season. Luckily, theatres around town often host a plethora of special screenings this time of year. Some worthy of mention include Studio 35’s annual Rocky Horror Halloween Show, equipped with live performers, the Drexel’s annual 24-hour Shock Around the Clock horror marathon, and the Gateway Film Center’s month-long Hitchcocktober series and Nightmares Film Festival. Check these and other theatres for even more current and throwback horror showings.
Via Trauma Columbus
TRAUMA
For those who really want to let their freak flag fly this season, the annual TRAUMA Halloween Fetish Party at the Bluestone is just the place. Costumes are required at this sexy event, which hosts a different theme each night. The bash is centered on a large roster of dark, avant-garde performances and attractions like body suspension, BDSM demos, special effects makeup presentations, burlesque & theatrical dancers, live music, and much more.
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Carnage Haunted House
Brand new to the Ohio haunt scene for 2017 is Columbus’ very own Carnage Haunted House, which includes 22 rooms, food trucks, and even a live DJ on certain nights. So far, the attraction has been praised for its high level of detail in its props & sets, awesome staff, inventive scares, and hidden horror “Easter eggs” throughout the scenery. Carnage promises to be a must-visit haunt for years to come.
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Escape Rooms
Columbus is no stranger to the emerging trend of escape room attractions, which can provide a more relaxed & intellectual alternative to the classic haunted house. Check out the zombie-themed “Infected” room at Trapped Columbus & “Trapped In a Room With a Zombie” at Room Escape Adventures, or the ghostly “Haunted Prison” at Lockdown Columbus and “Mystery Mansion” at Breakout Games to stick with the Halloween vibe.