Fall Activities to Look Forward to in Gahanna
Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 by Juli Lindenmayer.
Although some people may have started as early as the first of August, Fall is just around the corner, this year falling on Monday, September 22.
To help you find all the best seasonal activities, read on to find some assistance in curating the perfect vibes for whatever description best suits your desires!
For the Adventurer:
Celestial Paddling; October 6, 2025, from 6-8 pm:
If you're someone who likes to take on adventures that only come around once in a Blue Moon, signing up for Gahanna’s Celestial Paddle sounds like your type of activity! ACA-certified instructors lead the groups of paddlers on the Hoover Reservoir to take in the glow of the Harvest Moon. Find your perfect view of this celestial experience on the water. Kayaks, PFDs, and paddles are provided for your convenience.
Basset Fest; October 11, 2025, from 11-3 pm:
Find a furry best friend that matches your adventurous energy! The annual festival fundraiser consists of a costume contest, tons of raffle prizes, and pawprint painting, to name a few of the activities available for you and your pup. Bring your own Basset for the Basset Race or find a friend to adopt (so that you can bring home the gold next year!)
For the Creature of Cozy Comforts:
Gahanna Market; September 24, 2025, from 4-7 pm:
Picture it: You are with your group of best friends, there’s a crisp chill in the air, and you're walking the Creekside Plaza, which has been lit up with fairy lights decorating each booth. You can hear live music behind your friends’ laughter. You inspect all the yummy foods, the tasty treats, and the cute creations that every booth is selling. You’ll have to buy something, because you will want to remember this moment forever. You’ve come to spend your evening at the Gahanna Market! The local food and handmade goods from vendors will be the perfect sweet spot between the excitement of being out and about and the comforts of being in the familiar and friendly space that is the spirit of Gahanna.
Visit Bibliophile Candle Co.; Bibliophile Candle Co.
What embodies the aesthetic of comfort more than a good book and a fragrant candle? Head over to Bibliophile Candle Co. and get two things checked off your self-care bucket list. Bibliophile has new and used books for purchase, a help-yourself coffee station, and candles carefully crafted for a bookworm. Bibliophile drops new scents seasonally. This fall, candles like “Season of the Witch,” “Spice,” and “Fall in Stars Hollow” are up for grabs. Seasonal also means for a limited time! So, make sure to head over before they run out.
Visit East African Coffee House; East African Coffee House
A warm beverage and a sweet treat are fitting (and wonderfully filling) for a fall day. Relatively new to the city of Gahanna is the East African Coffee House (E.A.C.H. for short)! Their robust espresso and delicious flavors will be sure to perk you up and keep you warm when it starts to get chilly. The Somali Shaah is a black tea paired with flavors like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. If coffee is more of your thing, you can’t go wrong with a Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso or a creamy Biscoff Latte. You can even make a full day out of it! Grab your coffee first and then head over to Bibliophile Candle Co. to browse for books; end your evening at the Gahanna Market after adventuring around Gahanna and all it has to offer.
For the Athlete:
Spooky Shuffle 5K; October 11, 2025 @ 8:30 am:
The grind never stops! Sign up for the Spooky Shuffle 5K to support the Gahanna Community Chorus while also supporting your need for exercise. Want to get the whole family involved? Kids can be registered for the Monster Mash Dash before the 5K begins at 9 am. Skip the workout gear and opt for a costume; you can win the gold and the competition for best getup in the Spooky Costume Contest. Medals and T-shirts are included, along with refreshments at the finish line.
Hike the Big Walnut Trail; Big Walnut Trail Info
Walking 7.7 miles? For someone like you, it’s a cakewalk! While the trail is not yet fully continuous, there are plenty of places for easy transportation access. Big Walnut Trail is a constantly developing path along Big Walnut Creek. The longest completed section connects Hoover Reservoir to Inniswood Metro Garden, which was recently completed in 2023. The trail takes hikers through the heart of Gahanna, the Creekside area, where you can stop and refresh with yummy food and a refreshing beverage. Walk parts of it or challenge yourself to the whole thing.
Visit The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek; The Barn Menu
After all the exercising, you’re going to need to rest and recharge – and get your energy back up! Meet your macro count at The Barn, where they specialize in high-quality proteins. From sirloin to strips, and ribeyes to filets, all of The Barn’s beef is raised in the Midwest, aged, and hand-cut. Their seafood specialties provide a great source of healthy fats. Walleye, salmon, and scallops are all great dinner choices. For those looking for something less hearty and more healthy, check out their salad menu, with options like a Spinach Salad, their House Salad, or a classic Caesar. This place may be upscale, but for the taste, it is definitely worth it.
For the Little Ones:
Toad Abodes with Gahanna Parks & Recreation; September 20, 2025, from 10:30-11:30 am
While your house may be nice and cozy this fall, toads could use your help in giving them someplace to buckle down for the winter! Take the kids to Friendship Park on September 20 to create dwellings for toads, learn about their life cycles, their ecological significance, and meet some of the cute little guys! Animal interaction is something children of all ages always look forward to.
Campfire in the Park; 10/1; 10/8; 10/15 from 6:30-8:30 pm:
For three weeks in October, every Wednesday, a different park around the Gahanna area will set up a bonfire and provide FREE s’mores materials for all to partake in. All people and all ages are welcome to stop by for a quick gooey snack or set up shop and stay for the entire time. Kids will love to explore the different parks’ playgrounds and share snacks with friends, family, and the Gahanna community.
Storytime with Gahanna Parks & Recreation; 10/9 and 12/10 from 10-10:45 am:
Meet Parks and Recreation at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Gahanna Branch to listen to an entertaining story! Afterwards, kids get to make a special craft that they can take home. But before heading out, make sure to head into the library and pick out some of your own stories to read. Have your children be the ones telling the story while you listen this time!
Fun for Everyone:
Goblin Fest; October 25, 2025, from 5:30-9:30 pm:
A lot of people hold Fall as their favorite time of the year, and Halloween as their favorite holiday. What better way to celebrate the best time than with the best experience? Bring one and all to the Goblin Fest, held at Academy Park, this October! There is so much to see and do, including live entertainment, a choreographed light show, fire performers, stilt walkers, a trick or treat trail, hayrides, s'mores, and many more surprises along the way!
Saint Matthew Hometown Bazaar; November 8, 2025, from 9-3 pm:
The seasons fly by! Want to make sure you’re extra prepared for Holiday gift giving this year? Spend your Saturday at Saint Matthew’s annual Hometown Bazaar! Everything anyone could ever want is there: homemade baked goods, jewelry, wreaths, cups, sports paraphernalia, and much, much more. Santa will be roaming around, so make sure to be on your best behavior: say hi, be good, and feel free to tell him what you want most for Christmas.
Visit Gahanna’s Annual Holiday Lights Celebration; November 23, 2025, from 3-6:30 pm:
This is the event where all of your wonderful winter dreams come to fruition. The event will feature family-friendly activities and attractions, food trucks and vendors, a holiday stage with live entertainment, tree lighting, and, of course, Santa! However, there are some surprises left to be determined, as we are currently beginning the processes needed to make this Holiday Lights Celebration grander, more magical, and more memorable than ever before.