Merging two popular Columbus events, Hops on High featuring HighBall Halloween will be part street festival, part fashion show and wholly a pedestrian’s paradise.
Attendees will be able to stroll and shop in the Short North Arts District, free of traffic, while enjoying music, theater, a couture competition and a slew of other offerings.
The open-street event will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 3. During this time, High Street will be closed to traffic from West 2nd Avenue to East Russell Street.
Entertainment on the Main Stage will run a gamut of musical genres, beginning with Short North Stage’s presentation of numbers from “Sweeney Todd,” “Rocky
Horror” and “Hairspray.”
With all 25 members in costume, NACHO Street Band will highlight a lineup of Columbus musicians with a Halloween medley, songs by the late Dolly Parton and a tribute to the late Tim Curry.
The fun will continue offstage with attractions including a skating area, 80-plus crafters, artists and artisans, and the COTA Emerging Artist Gallery, a one-day exhibit held in a parked bus.
Check in at participating businesses on the Trick-or-Treat Trail and receive candy at each stop. Five or more check-ins will earn a free reward from a local business.
Street performances and artist demonstrations also will pop up around the Short North, so don’t be surprised if you’re offered a stilt-walking lesson!
You could become a model at HighBall Halloween, which kicks off at 6 p.m. with NBC4's Costume Callout. Randomly selected guests whose getup stands out in the crowd will be invited to the Main Stage.
Five local designers will debut new creations in the Costume Couture Fashion Show at 6:30 p.m. Each designer will present three original looks to the judges, who will choose three winners for a $1,000 grand prize and additional cash prizes for second and third places.
Hops on High featuring HighBall Halloween is free. Visit shortnorth.org/hops-on-high for an events schedule and other details.
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hops on High and HighBall Halloween merge for a free Short North fest
