Fall Festivals and pumpkin patches are opening up! When I was younger, I was all about Summer, but as I get older I don’t think any season can beat Fall. I know we’re still a couple weeks away but seeing the pumpkins start to hit stores, patches start to come together and festivals rolling out just puts a little magic in the air. Anybody else feel that way, or am I alone on this?

I’m going to try something a little different with formatting this week. A decent number of people still seem to have this newsletter get caught up in their spam or labeled folders. I’m going to reduce the number of images and links for this edition to see if that helps. Let me know how you like the updated layout.

Enough about that, let’s get to the good stuff!

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For you readers, I’m here to help! Consider me your local Columbus concierge. If you’re looking for recommendations for anything, whether that’s a date-night restaurant, a real estate agent, a social club to join or new dentist, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ve lived here my whole life and can definitely point you in the right direction.

Events

1. 🚲 Bikes Off Broadway

This will be a fun and welcoming two-day event down at Woodruff Park. Expect food trucks, beverages, raffle prizes, live bands, and more motorcycles than you can count. Whether you’re a rider or not, this event is for everybody.

• Location: Woodruff Park

• Date: Friday, September 12 - Saturday, September 13

• Time: 4:00 PM on Friday - 11:00 PM on Saturday

• More Info: Bikes Off Broadway

2. 🎃 Uptown Scarecrow Trail

This isn’t an event so much as its a fundraiser and a temporary redecorating of Broadway. If you have seen what they do with Christmas Trees in the green space between the two sides of Broadway, this will be similar but with Scarecrows. Local businesses, clubs, teams etc. will sponsor and display their own scarecrows, while fundraising for Uptown Columbus

• Location: Broadway, Uptown Columbus, towards the Fountain City Coffee end

• Dates: September 15 - November 21

3. ✨ Swift & Shop

Calling all Swifties! This year, they’ve put a spin on the annual Sip and Shop by making it Taylor Swift themed. I KNOW some of y’all still have costumes you made for the Eras Tour and you’re itching to put those on again, and this is your chance! Scan the QR code for tickets and a sneak peek at vendors

• Location: Columbus Convention and Trade Center

• Date: Saturday, September 13

• Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

• More Info: Swift & Shop

4. 🎨 Midtown Art Ride

If Pumpkins or Taylor aren’t your style, here’s another option to get you outdoors. Hop on your bike and join this police-escorted, casual-paced tour of local art installations across Midtown. Stops include murals, galleries, and creative spaces, with opportunities to meet the artists behind the work.

• Location: Columbus Museum

• Date: Thursday, September 11

• Time: 6:00 PM

• More Info: Midtown Art Ride

5. 🏷️ City of Columbus Surplus Equipment Auction

This one won’t appeal to everybody, but for those it does appeal to, it can be huge! Come score deals on everything from construction equipment and tractors to cars, mowers and tools. You may even be able to take home a city bus if you for some reason want that. For those that are interested, you can preview items in person starting Friday at 8:00 AM.

• Location: Civic Center parking Lot

• Date: Saturday, September 13

• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• More Info: Surplus Auction

6. 🎃 Pumpkins at Callaway

The first major pumpkin patch of the season to open is Pumpkins at Callaway! This is really a full resort that’s Halloween themed, not just a patch. During the day, explore pumpkin patches, corn mazes and fall-inspired refreshments. When night falls, you’ll be greeted with glowing and illuminated pumpkins plus the Foggy Hollow walk-through experience. If you’ve never seen this at Callaway, I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you have young children.

• Location: Callaway Gardens

• Date: Weekends and select dates from September 13 - November 1

• More Info: Pumpkin’s at Callaway

Music

• Concerts on the Green - Every Saturday in September, Oldtown, 5:00 - 8:00 PM

• The Active Ingredients - Friday, September 12, 8:00 PM, The Bottom

• Relative Sound - Friday, September 12, 9:30 PM, The Loft

• GP38 - Friday, September 12, 9:15 PM, part of Bikes Off Broadway

• Dixie Red - Saturday, September 13, 9:30 PM, Bikes Off Broadway

• The Sons of Thunder - Monday, September 15, 7:00 PM, Friendship Baptist Church

• 3X3XYou - Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 PM, The Loft

Sports

The Clingstones are officially done for the year, so the sports calendar is almost exclusively high school football, but there is one sports-related event I want to highlight

 🛼Meet and Greet the Muscogee County Roller Girls

Did you know we have roller derby here? If not, you do now. Come meet the squad and learn everything you need to know at Scofflaw from 1-4 on September 13!

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