10 things to do this weekend in Columbus include The Who, Day of the Dead, Ailey II, 'Rent'

It's time to rock 'n' roll this weekend with the Who. Join original members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey Sunday night at Value City Arena as they, undoubtedly, will take the audience down memory lane.

And that's just one event to put you in the mood for a fun weekend. Given that it's October and Halloween is just around the corner, we've been offering loads of fun events for all ages.

Looking for a pumpkin to carve for trick or treat? Check out our list of pumpkin patches, corn mazes and more that will give families plenty of cool things to do.

Or if frights are more you thing, there are plenty of haunted houses and forests to get your adrenaline pumping.

So, enjoy all that the season has to offer.

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Who's at Value City Arena? The Who, that's who!

The latest incarnation of veteran '60s British rock band The Who will appear at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Value City Arena, West Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road. Original members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will be supported by a full band, a couple of keyboardists and orchestral accompaniment for a set that ranges from their early work up through their most recent release, 2019's “Who.” Joining the band as guest artist will be singer-songwriter Steven Page, founder of Barenaked Ladies. Tickets start at $41. (614-688-3939, www.schottensteincenter.com)

Ailey II dancers to take the stage

Be among the first audiences to see who could be tomorrow’s dance stars. At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Ailey II — an ensemble of up-and-coming young dancers who perform as part of the legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York — will offer works by choreographers Robert Battle, Francesca Harper and founder Alvin Ailey at the Riffe Center’s Davidson Theatre, 77 S. High St. Tickets start at $27. (www.capa.com) 

More: Haunted Houses13 haunted attractions in Greater Columbus and beyond will send shivers down your spine

Cartoons and cartoonists celebrated

From Thursday through Sunday, Greater Columbus will once again become the epicenter of the world of cartooning with the latest installment of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus. CXC, as it’s known, will include panels, talks, screenings of animated movies, a tribute to Charles Schulz, and more, at venues including the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, the Columbus College of Art & Design and the Columbus Museum of Art, among others. Admission is free. For a full schedule and more details, visit www.cartooncrossroadscolumbus.org.

Short North pays 'Rent' tribute

Short North Stage will present the musical “Rent,” Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer-winning rock opera updating Puccini’s “La Boheme” to young artists coping with AIDS, poverty, career ambitions and relationships in 1990s Manhattan. Performances are 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays from Thursday through Nov. 6 at the Garden Theater, 1187 N. High St. Tickets start at $37.14 for adults. (614-469-0939, www.cbusarts.com)

More: Pumpkin patchesWhere can you find pumpkin patches, mazes and hayrides near Columbus? Check out our list

Iliza Schlesinger does standup at the Palace

Comedian-actress Iliza Schlesinger, who produced and starred in “The Iliza Schlesinger Sketch Show” on Netflix, was the first female winner of NBC's “Last Comic Standing.” She has performed five Netflix comedy specials and hosted the syndicated dating show “Excused,” the TBS game show “Separation Anxiety” and her own late-night talk show “Truth & Iliza” on Freeform. Schlesinger will perform her standup act at 7 p.m. Friday at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St. Tickets start at $40. (cbusarts.com)

African American living-history play takes flight

The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, as part of its Social Justice Series, will present “On Golden Wings,” a Greatest Stories Never Told interactive living-history play about the first African Americans to fly across the country in 1932 and how Columbus’ oldest Black Baptist Church helped the pair with money, food and shelter. Broadway actor Kevin Mambo (“Fela!,” “The Color Purple”), the play’s co-creator with Louisa Jaggar, will lead a three-person cast in the free performance at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St. A pre-show paper-airplane-flying contest with prizes will start at 1:30 p.m. (cbusarts.com)

Take a trip back to the Middle Ages

Travel in time to the Middle Ages at Days of Knights, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Alley Park, 2805 Old Logan Road SE, Lancaster. You will walk along a timeline starting at the end of the Roman Empire and moving up until the beginning of the Renaissance, meeting reenactors who will take visitors back to the Norman Invasion, the Crusades, the 100 Years War and more. And it's not all battles: other interpreters will be happy to talk about religion, cooking and daily life. Organizers ask that guests refrain from wearing costumes to avoid confusion. Admission: is free. (www.thedaysofknights.com)

More: 'Hamilton' is back'Hamilton' is back in Columbus. Haven't seen the musical? Here are 6 reasons why you should

Day of the Dead to be family-friendly

Celebrate the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) with the whole family from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Green Lawn Cemetery, 1000 Greenlawn Ave. Join a parade with giant puppets, listen to music by multiple artists, create wreaths and clay skulls, go through an art exhibit in the mausoleum, learn about the many traditions of honoring the dead in Latin America, sample traditional food, get kids' faces painted and much more. Admission is free. (latinoartsforhumanity.blogspot.com)

David Koechner to tickle the Funny Bone

Actor-comedian David Koechner, who got his first big break as a “Saturday Night Live” cast member, has appeared in more than 200 films and TV shows. Best-known for his roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and Champ Kind from “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” Koechner plays Bill Lewis on ABC’s “The Goldbergs” and co-hosts A&E’s “America’s Top Dog.” Koechner will perform his standup act at 7:45 and 10:15 p.m. Friday and 7 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday at the Columbus Funny Bone, 145 Easton Town Center. Tickets cost $30. (614-471-5653, columbus.funnybone.com)

Giveon in Columbus for 'Give or Take' tour

The R&B singer Giveon will take the stage at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kemba Live, 405 Neil Ave. The California native rose to prominence after he collaborated with star hip-hop artist Drake in 2020, but has built a career for himself since. His debut album "Give or Take" was released on June 24. Tickets start at $49.50.  (www.promowestlive.com)

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus: 'Rent,' The Who, Ailey II, cartoon expo