Free Short North street takeover merging HighBall Halloween's Costume Couture runway with Hops on High vendors, live music, and a trick-or-treat trail along pedestrian High Street.
On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Short North Arts District merges HighBall Halloween and Hops on High into one free all-day street festival. High Street becomes pedestrian-only from roughly West 2nd Avenue to East Russell Street so vendors, stages, and runway programming can share the same corridor.
Expect more than 80 local vendors, live music, pop-up performances, a business trick-or-treat trail, and the HighBall Costume Couture Fashion Show featuring designers such as Aaron James, Andrew Shields, Edina Ndebele, Mackenzie Daugherty, and Shelly Teed. A costume call-out invites standout looks onto the runway before the main show, which is the clearest change from older ticketed HighBall nights.
Admission is free. Bring a costume if you want to play, plan for crowd density around the fashion show, and use rideshare or nearby garages because High Street will be closed to cars. Confirm the final map and showtime on Short North Alliance or HighBall channels the week of the event.
FAQ
Are HighBall and Hops on High separate in 2026?
No. Organizers combined them into one free October 3 street festival in the Short North.
Is there a ticket?
General admission is free. Watch official channels for any optional reserved or VIP experiences if they are announced later.
Is it family friendly?
Yes. There is a trick-or-treat trail and daytime programming, though evening runway crowds can feel denser and more adult.
See what else is up that week on our events page.
