List: Pumpkins, Bigfoot, more weekend festivities for September 19-21, 2025

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — With the Buckeyes off this weekend, it is the perfect chance for people to hit the road and explore central Ohio’s festivals and outdoor fun.

The Jack Pine Glass Pumpkin Festival in Laurelville features thousands of hand-blown pumpkins and live glassblowing, while the Mohican Bigfoot Festival in Loudonville offers everything from river trips to Bigfoot speakers and photo ops. Runners and hikers can head to Hocking Hills State Park for the 47th annual Trail Run through caves, waterfalls, and scenic gorges.

For sports fans staying in town, the Columbus Clippers wrap up a series against the Omaha Storm Chasers at Huntington Park, and the Columbus Crew takes on Toronto FC at Lower.com Field.

Live entertainment lovers can catch MadLab’s surreal play “Clowntime is Over,” or laugh along at Comedy Night at Nostalgia Brewing in Gahanna. Meanwhile, music fans have two chances to see Cody Johnson at Nationwide Arena.

Rounding out the weekend are events for every interest, from the North Market Wine Fest at Bridge Park to the Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens and DogFest North Central, a family- and dog-friendly fundraiser featuring service dog demonstrations. Additionally, the citywide Cartoon Crossroads Columbus festival showcases comics and animation through films and discussions. Families can enjoy free activities and entertainment at the Maloney Park Cap City Festival.

Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) 2025

Various locations around Columbus, through Sept. 22
• Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) is an annual comics art and animation festival across the city of Columbus. The event brings internationally renowned cartoonists and animators to give talks, presentations and sell their work. This year's show features Jhonen Vasquez, John Musker, Charles Burns and more, as well as a new international manga programming track.

Columbus Clippers vs. Omaha Storm Chasers

Huntington Park, through Sept. 22
• Columbus Clippers, Triple-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, will play the Omaha Storm Chasers at Huntington Park. Admission is $6 to $21.
• Game Times:
September 18: 6:15 p.m.
September 19: 7:05 p.m.
September 20: 7:05 p.m.
September 21: 1:05 p.m.

Comedy Night at Nostalgia Brewing

Nostalgia Brewing Co., 81 Mill St., Gahanna, Friday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m.
• Next Stop Comedy is back with a night of high-energy performances featuring new comedians and nonstop good vibes. Each show has a new lineup with no drink minimum. Performances may contain adult content. Refunds are available until showtime. Admission is $25.

Cody Johnson

Nationwide Arena, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 and 20, 7:30 p.m.
• Cody Johnson will perform his Leather Deluxe Tour at Nationwide Arena. Friday special guests Clint Black and Drew Baldridge. Saturday special guests Ian Munsick and Walker Montgomery. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets $80 and up.

MadLab 'Clowntime is Over'

MadLab, 227 N. 3rd. St., Columbus, Thursday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Oct. 4
• A surreal comedy suffused with dread, “Clowntime” is one of MadLab’s best-received shows. “Clowntime” tells the tale of Max P. Twinkle, a television clown who lives to entertain — because he is too exhausted by life to do anything else. Today, however, is different, as he finds himself trapped in a room with a bitter llama, a loveless bunny rabbit and a fitfully hungry serpent that may destroy them all. All shows start at 8 p.m. Admission is $15 to $20.

Jack Pine Glass Pumpkin Festival

Laurelville, Friday through Sunday, Sept. 19 to 21
• This nationally ranked festival showcases thousands of hand-blown glass pumpkins, live glassblowing, regional artists, food trucks, music, and family-friendly activities. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Festivalgoers are encouraged to carpool and reserve VIP Advance Discount Parking for $5 at GlassPumpkinFestival.com. Guests who reserve parking receive a $5 coupon towards their Jack Pine pumpkin purchase. Plenty of day-of parking is available for $10 per car. Admission is free.

Maloney Park Cap City Festival

Maloney Park, 1701 Joyce Ave, Columbus, Friday, Sept. 19, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• An afternoon of free fun and entertainment for the whole family. With activities, resources and food in a safe and enjoyable environment. Admission is free.

North Market Wine Fest at Bridge Park

North Market Bridge Park, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 and 20
• The wine festival will take place at North Market Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio. This two-day event brings distributors and wineries from around the world. Hours are Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $60 to $85, which includes taste tickets and food vouchers.

Mohican Bigfoot Festival

Lost Horizons Campground Friday, Sept. 19 & Downtown Loudonville, Saturday, Sept. 20
• Friday's activities feature a river trip, thermal drone demo, community campfire, Bigfoot shows, and activities for kids. On Saturday, there will be downtown sidewalk sales, food and merchandise vendors, speakers at the Ohio Theatre, photo ops with a nine-foot Bigfoot, a Walk Like a Bigfoot contest, a Bigfoot sighting board, and DJ Wolf Rock Radio, Brian Wolf.

• Speakers at the Ohio Theatre include Larry Sidwell of BFRO West Virginia, Rod Rodabaugh an Ohio Bigfoot investigator, Bea Mills of the Hocking Hills Bigfoot Festival, Shane Grove, “From the Shadows” podcaster and keynote speaker, Matt Pruitt, author of “The Phenomenal Sasquatch” and producer and editor of “Bigfoot and Beyond Podcast with Cliff and Bobo.”

Hocking Hills Trail Run

Hocking Hills State Park, Saturday, Sept. 20
• The 47th annual trail run offers distances from 5K to 60K on scenic courses winding past waterfalls, caves, and gorges. All runners will be equipped with chip timing devices. Races meet and finish at the Hocking Hills State Park Naturalist Cabin, 19852 S.R. 664 S in Hocking County.  Refreshments will be available for runners after their races. All races must start before 11 a.m. and end by 3 p.m. to be considered for timing and awards. The event also welcomes walkers and leashed pets. Each participant receives a medallion handcrafted by local high school art students and a t-shirt. Cost is $25 for the 5K run, $35 for the 10K, and $45 for 20K, 40K and 60K routes, with day-of signup offered for an additional $10.

Columbus Crew vs. Toronto FC

Lower.com Field, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.
• Columbus Crew is set to host Toronto FC. Tickets are $41 and up

Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens

Short North, Sunday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• From Queen Anne mansion to fashionable farmhouse, this year’s tour showcases the unique, eclectic character that is the Short North. A self-guided exploration through the Short North’s Victorian Village and Italian Village neighborhoods, highlighting exceptional restoration, innovative renovation and use of outdoor spaces. The tour starts at the Goodale Park Gazebo, 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus. There are free shuttles to all nine tour stops. Tickets are $25 each.

DogFest

Canine Companions North Central Training Center, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• DogFest North Central is a community festival benefiting Canine Companions, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of expertly trained service dogs. DogFest is a family-friendly and dog-friendly event featuring amazing service dog skill demonstrations, music, local vendors, food trucks, activities for kids and the ribbon cutting of Canine Companions North Central’s new, fully accessible playground. Every dollar raised helps provide service dogs — free of charge — to adults, children and veterans with disabilities. NBC4 anchor Andrea Robinson as she emcees the event.