Colgay Pride's final Halloween Festival will bring families, LGBTQ+ community members and neighbours together in Columbus for one last colourful night of costumes, treats and music. The free event offers trick-or-treating, a drag show, a haunted walk and more, while also marking the beginning of the organisation's farewell to the city.

Essential Takeaways

  • When: Saturday, 31 October, from 5pm to 11pm.
  • Where: 4214 16th Avenue, Columbus.
  • For children: Trick-or-treating runs from 5pm to 8pm.
  • After dark: Expect a HalloQueen drag show, bonfire, s'mores and a haunted cemetery walk.
  • Looking ahead: Colgay Pride plans its final Columbus Pride festival for 5 and 6 June 2027 before moving to Pensacola.

One last Halloween celebration for Columbus

For 13 years, Colgay Pride's Halloween Festival has turned a Columbus evening into a lively community gathering, complete with costumes, sweets and plenty of theatrical flair. This year's event carries a little more weight, though, as it will be the organisation's last Halloween celebration in the city.

The free festival runs from 5pm until 11pm at 4214 16th Avenue. Younger visitors can enjoy trick-or-treating earlier in the evening, while later guests can settle in for entertainment, food and a distinctly spooky atmosphere.

Last year's event attracted more than 150 trick-or-treaters, and organisers are hoping the farewell edition will be even busier. It sounds like the sort of night where a costume, a warm drink and a willingness to follow the noise will take you a long way.

Trick-or-treating, drag and a haunted walk

Families should aim to arrive between 5pm and 8pm, when the children's trick-or-treating takes place. The event will also feature costume contests, live music, food trucks and a cash bar, giving visitors plenty to do after the sweets have been collected.

The evening's HalloQueen drag show begins at 9pm. There's also a bonfire with s'mores and a haunted walk through Beallwood Cemetery, so the programme moves neatly from family-friendly fun to more grown-up Halloween entertainment.

If you're bringing children, an earlier arrival makes sense. It gives them time to enjoy the activities before the later show and darker attractions take centre stage.

Why the farewell matters

Colgay Pride founder Jeremy Hobbs has described the festival as a long-running tradition that has connected families, neighbours and LGBTQ+ residents. In a message to supporters, he called for help in making this year's gathering especially welcoming, decorated and full of joy.

That appeal gives the event a more personal feel than a standard seasonal festival. It's not simply a final date on the calendar; it's also a chance for the community to celebrate what the organisation has built over more than a decade.

For regular attendees, that may mean familiar faces, old memories and a few emotional goodbyes among the pumpkins and costumes. For newcomers, it could be an easy, cheerful way to experience one of Columbus's established LGBTQ+ community events.

What comes next for Colgay Pride?

The Halloween festival is the first of two farewell events. Colgay Pride's final Columbus Pride festival is scheduled for 5 and 6 June 2027, after which the organisation plans to move to Pensacola.

Hobbs has pointed to rising fees, donor fatigue and cuts to federal funding as reasons for the move and the organisation's departure from Columbus. Those pressures reflect a wider challenge for community groups, which often rely on a delicate mix of volunteers, donations and public support.

Colgay Pride's departure won't leave Columbus without LGBTQ+ organisations. Chattahoochee Valley Pride operates the city's LGBTQ+ community centre on 13th Street, while Muscogee Queer is building another local LGBTQIA+ community network.

Make the most of the final festival

The practical details are simple: the event is free, children should attend during the early trick-or-treating window, and adults can stay later for the drag show, bonfire, music and food. Comfortable shoes are a sensible choice, particularly if you're planning to tackle the haunted walk.

It may also be worth bringing a little patience. A larger-than-usual crowd could mean queues at food trucks and activities, especially if the final festival draws more visitors than last year's gathering.

Most of all, expect a celebratory night with a bittersweet edge. The costumes may be loud and the decorations bright, but this final Halloween festival is also a chance for Columbus to say thank you.

It's one last spooky, joyful night to turn up, dress boldly and celebrate together.

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