Columbus Curiosity – October 3, 2025

Hey Columbus crew,

This week’s chaos spans everything from a 19-year-old Crew midfielder lighting up the world stage, to Columbus leaning full spooky mode for R.L. Stine month, to hockey + rock colliding in a 25th anniversary concert.

We’re serving ghost tours, indie shows, big arenas, and more car-versus-building energy (because some things never change).

You’ll find global goals, chilling walking tours, mashups of rollerblades and riffs, and yes — a city doing everything possible to look haunted (or at least pretend it is).

The Lineup:

📰 The Headlines – Columbus kid on the U-20 World Cup, R.L. Stine gets his spooky tribute, Anduril’s manufacturing behemoth, weather going wild.

💎 Hidden Gems & Local Legends – Ghost walks, themed café drops, Italian festival kickoff, seasonal menu drops.

🎶 Live Music and Entertainment – Concerts, themed nights, indie bands, arena shows, and more.

🚗 Topic of the Week – Haunted branding or real haunts? Columbus leans spooky.👻

🚨 The Headlines

Columbus Kid on the Global Stage
Taha Habroune — born and raised around here — scored in the U.S. U-20 team’s 9–1 blowout vs New Caledonia at the World Cup. He’s now the only Columbus-born Crew player on that squad.

This is more than a footnote — it’s a signal that Columbus can deliver talent to the world.

→ Read yourself

October Belongs to R.L. Stine
The city’s gone full Goosebumps mode. From haunted walking tours threading through historic streets, to menus at Law Bird, Budd Dairy, and Stories on High that lean deliciously eerie, to a month-long reading challenge at Storyline Bookshop, and even a free screening of Goosebumps at Columbus Commons — October in Columbus is draped in chills, thrills, and literary creeps.

→ Watchout here

Anduril’s Next Big Bet Near Columbus
The state just greenlit a $310 million grant for Anduril's Industries’ advanced manufacturing campus near Rickenbacker. When it opens, it’s expected to bring over 4,000 jobs and a capital investment nearing $900 million. Columbus’s footprint in defense and tech just got heavier.

→Learn more

Weather’s Acting Up (in a Good Way)
We’re starting October with highs in the low 80s, mostly sunny, and dry — making it perfect for outdoor shows, ghost tours, or walking your dog while simultaneously scanning your shadow for ghosts. Midweek, there’s a chance of isolated showers, so keep that umbrella handy.

→Watch out for sun

💎 Hidden Gems & Local Legends

Ghost Tours, But Make It Columbus
Downtown walking tours launching Oct 3 will take you past haunted landmarks, dark stories, and over your shoulder more than once. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like your city is alive (in more ways than one), now’s the moment.

Italian Festival & Food + Community Nights
The Columbus Italian Festival kicks off Oct 6 at The Berwick, complete with live music, food, and late-night vibes. It’s part food fest, part community rally.

Cafés Dropping Spooky Menus
Folks are saying Law Bird, Budd Dairy, and some local cafés in German Village will roll out October specials — think cider, haunted lattes, seasonal pastries. Feed your inner witch.

Gallery Hop → Art + Late Nights
Oct 4 is Gallery Hop night. Galleries stay open late, host talks, and give you a reason to wander creative spaces after hours.

🎶 Live Music & Entertainment

Here’s everything lined up. Use the links below to anchor your hypertext:

🚗 Topic of the Week

Haunted branding or real hauntings? Columbus leans spooky.

I mean… look at what we pulled together. Ghost tours launching, Goosebumps everywhere, themed menus, late-night art crawls. Is this a fun seasonal mask or is Columbus slowly becoming a haunted city?

And yes — if another car tries to redecorate a building this week, don’t be surprised if it’s the spookiest crash yet.

😀See You Next Week

So that’s it. From global goals to haunted strolls, from rock to rap to screams at night — this week’s got something for everyone who loves Columbus with all its quirks.

Hit reply and tell me — what are you most excited for this week?
Seen something I missed? I want to hear it.
And if a car does try to renovate your building, take a pic for me.

Until next week,
Stay curious, stay caffeinated, and maybe bring salt (for ghosts).

— Nate
Columbus Curiosity