What we're watching in Columbus this October
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
October is upon us — here's what we're watching in Columbus this month:
🍂Fall in full swing: October is your favorite month, and it's starting to feel like it.
- Temperatures are dropping, fall foliage is coming and pumpkin patches are popping up.
🗳️Election season: Ohio is set to be a battleground state once again, drawing tens of millions of dollars and the eyeballs of the nation — and things will heat up in October.
- Reminders: Oct. 5 is the voter registration deadline, absentee and early in-person voting begins Oct. 6 and Nov. 3 is Election Day.
⏸️ The future of Flock: Columbus' controversial Flock usage is currently paused.
- But the cameras are still up, and a long-term decision hasn't been made.
- Will the city make a decision before its contract with Flock expires in December?
🪧 New protest rules: A controversial Ohio law goes into effect Oct. 6 that requires protesters to give a 15-foot buffer to law enforcement.
🎉 Fall festival season: October is nearly as busy as the summer for big events in Central Ohio.
- 👻 Highball Halloween is this weekend, and Boo at the Zoo starts this Saturday.
- 🇮🇹 The Italian Festival starts Oct. 9.
- 👟 The Columbus Marathon is Oct. 17–18.
- 🎃 The Circleville Pumpkin Show is Oct. 21–24.
🏈 Big Ten matchups: The Buckeye football season gets into full swing with matchups against Iowa, Maryland, Indiana and USC.
- The big rematch against defending champs Indiana pits No. 5 vs. No. 6 on Oct. 17.
🏒 Jackets are back: The puck drops on the new Blue Jackets season tonight.
- After a big preseason trade, can they push for the playoffs for the first time since 2020?
⚽️ Crew clawing back: The Crew will make a last-ditch effort to reach the playoffs with six MLS games this month.
- Plus: they host the U.S. Open Cup Final Oct. 21.