A Halloween Costume Deserves More Than One Night
Every October, the same quiet tragedy plays out in households across central Ohio.
Six weeks of costume planning. A mind changed twice. One parent declaring “this is the final answer” to a child who has already moved on to a different idea. Possibly a sewing machine was involved. Definitely money was.
And the payoff? Roughly ninety minutes. In the cold. Under a winter coat that flattens the entire silhouette into something unrecognizable.
Jellystone Park™ Columbus North offers a better return on that investment: three Halloween weekends, one costume, and a campground built for trick or treating that does not involve a single crosswalk.
When are the Halloween weekends at Jellystone Park™ Columbus North in 2026?
The short answer, for anyone already pulling up a calendar.
Jellystone Park™ Columbus North hosts three Halloween weekends in 2026:
- Halloween Hijinks, October 2 to 4
- Halloween Haunts, October 9 to 11
- Witching Hour Wonders, October 16 to 18
Each weekend includes a costume contest that pets can enter, a haunted trail, a haunted house, the Magic Pumpkin Patch, park wide trick or treating, and a campsite and golf cart decorating contest where the winner takes home a free night of camping.
The park sits at 4185 Township Road 99 in Mount Gilead, Ohio, about 45 minutes north of Columbus off I-71. The 2026 season wraps after October 18, which means those three weekends are where all the Halloween lives.
Trick or treating, minus the logistics
Neighborhood Halloween has a reputation it has not entirely earned.
There’s the drive to the good neighborhood, because the home street has four houses and a neighbor who kills the porch light at 6:15. There’s the parking situation. There’s a mile of walking in the dark while an adult performs constant crosswalk math and a set of cardboard wings catches every gust of wind.
Park wide trick or treating removes all of it.
Everyone at the campground opted in. Sites are decorated, candy is handed out across the entire property, no cars are moving, and kids can run ahead without anyone executing the involuntary parent lunge every thirty seconds. Adults get to stand there with a hot drink and actually watch it happen.
It is Halloween the way it looks in the imagination, before the execution gets involved.
Weekend One: Halloween Hijinks, October 2 to 4
The season opens loud.
The costume contest starts things off and pets are welcome, which reliably produces at least one dog in a hot dog bun and an audience that folds instantly.
From there it’s the haunted trail and the haunted house, both calibrated to that perfect zone where the eight year old is genuinely rattled and the twelve year old is performing composure. Very few children sleep in their assigned bed afterward. Most families agree it was worth it.
The Magic Pumpkin Patch provides the gentler counterweight, and it is a useful thing to have in reserve.
Weekend one’s exclusive is the Halloween Science Show with Dr. Whiz Bang: bubbling cauldrons, spooky experiments, and loud bangs timed for maximum effect. The standard reaction is a shriek followed immediately by a question about when the next show starts.
Weekend Two: Halloween Haunts, October 9 to 11
Same lineup, no drop off. Costume contest, haunted trail, haunted house, Magic Pumpkin Patch, and trick or treating across the whole park.
This is also peak season for the site and golf cart decorating contest, and the energy level deserves fair warning.
The prize is a free night of camping, which sounds modest right up until the entries appear. Someone converts a golf cart into a hearse. Someone else runs fog, string lights and a full soundtrack off one deeply optimistic extension cord. There is always a family that clearly began sketching this in July, and frankly, they have earned the respect.
Competitive households should book this weekend.
Weekend Three: Witching Hour Wonders, October 16 to 18
The closer.
This is the final weekend of the 2026 season, which gives the whole park that end-of-run energy where everyone commits a little harder than usual. Anyone who has been somewhere on its last night knows the feeling exactly.
Everything runs one more time: costume contest, haunted trail, haunted house, Magic Pumpkin Patch, park wide trick or treating, decorating contest.
Families choosing a single weekend should make it this one. Families attempting all three have the park’s full admiration and its sincere concern.
The Halloween Fun Pass, or how to retire the phrase “we’ll see”
The sequence is familiar.
Arrival happens. Within twenty minutes someone wants gem mining, someone has spotted the slushies, and the phrase “we’ll see” has been deployed so many times it has lost all structural integrity. By Saturday afternoon there is arithmetic being done in a gift shop under the steady gaze of a small person.
The Halloween Fun Pass costs $61.99 and ends that negotiation on arrival.
Included:
- Gem mining bag
- Choice of character Teeny Beanie
- Tie dye t-shirt
- Medium ceramic
- Slushie with a souvenir cup
- Bag of mini donuts
- VIP meet and greet with a bear
- Magic Pumpkin Patch
One handoff, and the adult in question becomes the most popular person on the property for the remainder of the weekend. It can be added at booking under Upgrade Your Getaway or purchased at the park office during check in.
For families traveling with a dog, the Pup Pass is $30.99 and includes a VIP bear meet and greet, a dog toy, a pop-up bowl, a frisbee and a treat. The dog does not understand Halloween. The dog still has the best weekend of its life.
Where to stay, and what to know first
Three options, each suited to a genuinely different kind of family.
Cabins are furnished, with real beds and a door that closes, which matters more than expected once the haunted trail has done its work. One vehicle per cabin. Pet friendly cabins can be requested at booking, and linens are available to rent.
Full hookup RV sites offer the most room and tend to be the easiest to secure as October weekends fill in. Up to two vehicles, parked steps from everything happening.
Tent sites are the purist option and the most affordable way in. One thing worth flagging: pets are not permitted at tent sites, so families bringing a dog should book a cabin or RV site.
The practical details: check in is 4 PM, checkout is 11 AM, quiet hours run 11 PM to 8 AM, and outside firewood is not permitted, though firewood is sold on site. Golf cart rentals are available, and during a decorating contest weekend they qualify as tactically advantageous.
How far is it?
From Columbus, Delaware, Westerville, Powell, Sunbury, Galena, Marion or Mansfield, this is a drive rather than a trip. Roughly 45 minutes north of Columbus, straight up I-71 into Morrow County.
That distance is the sweet spot for a Halloween weekend. Close enough that a forgotten piece of a costume remains a solvable problem. Far enough out that dark actually gets dark, which does most of the heavy lifting on a haunted trail.
For a calmer morning before the chaos starts, Mt. Gilead State Park is minutes away, and the fall color in Morrow County genuinely delivers.
Worth knowing as well: Jellystone Park™ Columbus North was named Park of the Year for medium sized parks by the Outdoor Hospitality Industry in 2024. It matters because committing a full weekend with kids in costume goes considerably better at a property that is run properly.
Not quite ready for October? September is still going
Two themed weekends remain before spooky season takes over.
Wild West / Gold Rush, September 18 to 20. Cowboy games, western crafts, a petting zoo, and real gold panning. Most kids leave with something shiny and a month of material.
Harvest Hoedown: Fall Festival, September 25 to 27. Hayrides, line dancing, a scavenger hunt, and the Kid’s Artisan Festival, where young makers set up shop and sell their own crafts. Caramel apples, warm cider, fresh donuts, and a visit from the Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Peak cozy fall, and a strong warm up act for October.
Booking the weekend
Three of them: October 2 to 4, October 9 to 11, and October 16 to 18.
Cabins fill first, RV sites follow as the dates approach, and a full weekend stays full. Families can reserve online or call the park directly at (419) 946-5230.
Pick the dates, add a Fun Pass, and finally get that costume the mileage it earned.
Frequently asked questions
Is the park open on Halloween? No. Jellystone Park™ Columbus North’s 2026 season ends after October 18, so the park is closed on Halloween itself, October 31. All Halloween programming takes place across three weekends earlier in the month: October 2 to 4, October 9 to 11, and October 16 to 18.
When are the Halloween weekends at Jellystone Park™ Columbus North in 2026? There are three: Halloween Hijinks on October 2 to 4, Halloween Haunts on October 9 to 11, and Witching Hour Wonders on October 16 to 18.
What happens during each Halloween weekend? Every weekend includes a costume contest that pets can enter, a haunted trail, a haunted house, the Magic Pumpkin Patch, park wide trick or treating, and a campsite and golf cart decorating contest where the winner earns a free night of camping. The October 2 to 4 weekend also features the Halloween Science Show with Dr. Whiz Bang.
What is the Halloween Fun Pass and what does it include? The Halloween Fun Pass is $61.99 and includes a gem mining bag, a choice of character Teeny Beanie, a tie dye t-shirt, a medium ceramic, a slushie with a souvenir cup, a bag of mini donuts, a VIP meet and greet with a bear, and the Magic Pumpkin Patch. It can be added when booking under Upgrade Your Getaway or purchased at the park office.
Are pets allowed during Halloween weekends? Yes. Pets are welcome at RV sites and at pet friendly cabins, which should be requested when booking, and pets can enter the costume contest. Pets are not permitted at tent sites, playgrounds, restrooms or inside buildings. A Pup Pass is available for $30.99.
Is the haunted trail too scary for young kids? The haunted trail and haunted house are built for a family audience, though comfort levels vary by child. Families with younger children often pair them with the Magic Pumpkin Patch and park wide trick or treating, which are gentler, and go through the trail earlier in the evening.
How far is Jellystone Park™ Columbus North from Columbus, Ohio? About 45 minutes north of Columbus off I-71, at 4185 Township Road 99, Mount Gilead, Ohio 43338, in Morrow County. The park phone number is (419) 946-5230.
What are check in and checkout times? Check in is 4 PM and checkout is 11 AM. Quiet hours run from 11 PM to 8 AM. Outside firewood is not permitted, but firewood is sold at the park.
What is happening at the park in September 2026? Two themed weekends remain: Wild West / Gold Rush on September 18 to 20, featuring cowboy games, western crafts, a petting zoo and gold panning, and the Harvest Hoedown Fall Festival on September 25 to 27, featuring hayrides, line dancing, a scavenger hunt, the Kid’s Artisan Festival and a visit from the Ohio Bird Sanctuary.