Cooler weather and turning leaves mark the arrival of autumn in central Ohio, according to a City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department bulletin. The department notes that Columbus maintains 459 parks and that the region holds more than 230 miles of connected trails, offering residents options for walks, paved paths and regional trail outings. Residents seeking peak foliage timing are directed to upcoming fall color updates from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Registration for Friday Night Frights, a slow-pitch softball tournament blending competition with Halloween costumes, runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 16. The tournament is scheduled for Oct. 23, with a $210 per-team entry fee.
The Columbus Performing Arts Center at 549 Franklin Ave. will host "The Adventures of Robin Hood," presented on the Shedd Stage, with six performances in October. Evening shows are Oct. 9-10 and Oct. 16-17 at 7:30 p.m.; matinees are Oct. 11 and Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5.
For fall and winter gatherings, the department promotes 11 indoor rental venues, including North Bank Park Pavilion, Warner Woods Pavilion and Whetstone Shelterhouse, suited to holiday parties, weddings, showers and birthdays.
Upcoming listings include downtown fitness classes at Dorrian Green, Bicentennial Park and other sites; Art in the Park at the Topiary Garden; a youth-focused community conversation at Scioto Southland Community Center; mobile produce markets at several community centers; and a free youth flag football clinic with the Cleveland Browns at Kilbourne Run Sports Park.