Halloween Fall Festival 2025
- October 31, 2025
- Columbus, GA
The Colgay Pride Halloween Festival is a cherished tradition in Columbus, Georgia. For 2025 the festival celebrates its 12th edition on Friday, October 31st from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 4214 16th Avenue. What began as a modest gathering has grown into a full‑scale community celebration that mixes family‑friendly fun with a vibrant night‑time party. Early in the evening families stream through a safe trick‑or‑treat area decorated with jack‑o‑lanterns, cobwebs and cauldrons. Kids show off costumes in a light‑hearted competition while parents mingle with local vendors and food trucks. Organisers emphasise that the afternoon is designed to be welcoming to everyone, with face painting, carnival games and plenty of candy for younger visitors.
As the sun sets the atmosphere shifts dramatically. From 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. the festival grounds transform into an adult‑oriented street party with the Hallo‑Queen drag show, a costume contest, a cemetery tour, a bonfire and a dance floor. Local drag artists and DJs bring campy horror themes to life, encouraging attendees to express themselves through elaborate outfits and fearless dance moves. The organisers remind visitors that funds raised during the adult portion of the festival support Colgay Pride’s community programs, which include advocacy work and youth outreach. Amid the revelry you’ll find craft vendors selling handmade jewellery, haunted house decorations and Pride‑themed souvenirs alongside food stands serving barbecue, vegan snacks and warm drinks to ward off the autumn chill.
Beyond the entertainment, the festival offers a space for activism and resource sharing. Community groups set up informational booths on topics like HIV testing, mental health services and voter registration. Volunteers distribute literature on lgbtq+Q+ rights in Georgia and encourage attendees to stay politically engaged after the party ends. The combination of advocacy and celebration reflects Colgay Pride’s mission to build solidarity while pushing for social change. Throughout the evening organisers encourage visitors to donate candy or prizes for the children’s activities and to consider becoming sponsors or vendors for future events. Texting “HALLOWEEN25” to the festival hotline connects potential volunteers and sponsors with the organising team.
Columbus itself adds to the festival’s appeal. Sitting on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, the city has a growing lgbtq+Q+ community that has rallied around Colgay Pride since its first Halloween celebration over a decade ago. The festival site at 16th Avenue is easily accessible from downtown and offers ample parking. Partnerships with nearby businesses mean that local restaurants offer discounts to festivalgoers and nearby hotels provide safe lodging for visitors travelling from outside the region. Locals often say that the Halloween Festival fosters a sense of belonging that extends beyond a single night by creating friendships and networks that last all year.
As the 2025 festival approaches, Colgay Pride urges everyone to prepare costumes, invite friends and embrace a night that promises both frights and community warmth. Whether you’re bringing children to enjoy the early activities or dancing under the stars during the Hallo‑Queen show, the organisers want participants to feel part of a larger movement. For many in Columbus, Halloween isn’t just about ghosts and goblins—it’s a reminder that joy and activism can coexist. By showing up, donating and celebrating, attendees help ensure that this inclusive tradition continues for years to come.
Official Website: https://colgaypride.org/halloween25
As the sun sets the atmosphere shifts dramatically. From 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. the festival grounds transform into an adult‑oriented street party with the Hallo‑Queen drag show, a costume contest, a cemetery tour, a bonfire and a dance floor. Local drag artists and DJs bring campy horror themes to life, encouraging attendees to express themselves through elaborate outfits and fearless dance moves. The organisers remind visitors that funds raised during the adult portion of the festival support Colgay Pride’s community programs, which include advocacy work and youth outreach. Amid the revelry you’ll find craft vendors selling handmade jewellery, haunted house decorations and Pride‑themed souvenirs alongside food stands serving barbecue, vegan snacks and warm drinks to ward off the autumn chill.
Beyond the entertainment, the festival offers a space for activism and resource sharing. Community groups set up informational booths on topics like HIV testing, mental health services and voter registration. Volunteers distribute literature on lgbtq+Q+ rights in Georgia and encourage attendees to stay politically engaged after the party ends. The combination of advocacy and celebration reflects Colgay Pride’s mission to build solidarity while pushing for social change. Throughout the evening organisers encourage visitors to donate candy or prizes for the children’s activities and to consider becoming sponsors or vendors for future events. Texting “HALLOWEEN25” to the festival hotline connects potential volunteers and sponsors with the organising team.
Columbus itself adds to the festival’s appeal. Sitting on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, the city has a growing lgbtq+Q+ community that has rallied around Colgay Pride since its first Halloween celebration over a decade ago. The festival site at 16th Avenue is easily accessible from downtown and offers ample parking. Partnerships with nearby businesses mean that local restaurants offer discounts to festivalgoers and nearby hotels provide safe lodging for visitors travelling from outside the region. Locals often say that the Halloween Festival fosters a sense of belonging that extends beyond a single night by creating friendships and networks that last all year.
As the 2025 festival approaches, Colgay Pride urges everyone to prepare costumes, invite friends and embrace a night that promises both frights and community warmth. Whether you’re bringing children to enjoy the early activities or dancing under the stars during the Hallo‑Queen show, the organisers want participants to feel part of a larger movement. For many in Columbus, Halloween isn’t just about ghosts and goblins—it’s a reminder that joy and activism can coexist. By showing up, donating and celebrating, attendees help ensure that this inclusive tradition continues for years to come.
Official Website: https://colgaypride.org/halloween25