Looking for things to do in Columbus, Ohio this weekend? Here are over 55 family-friendly events happening in Columbus, and Central Ohio this weekend!
Family Friendly Events in Columbus, Ohio This Weekend:
FRIDAY:
6:30 AM – Dino-Mite Kids Week at Sunny Street Café – All Central-Ohio locations of Sunny Street Café will be celebrating dinosaurs with a variety of games and activities with a dinosaur theme as well as a free kids’ pancake shaped like a dinosaur with each purchase of an adult entree! (Additional Dino Pancakes are $1.)
9:00 AM – Cheryl’s Summer 2019 Bake Sale at Cheryl’s Cookies and Brownies – visit the Westerville store for up to 75% off cookies, gift boxes and more! Donatos will be selling pizza and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
9:00 AM – Lancaster Festival – the Lancaster Festival runs from July 17-27, 2019 with various performances, activities and shows throughout the week! There will be kid-friendly performances from The Shazzbots, magic shows, art projects and more! Click the link for the entire schedule.
9:30 AM – Preschoolers at Highbanks Metro Park – preschoolers can wade into the river and look for creatures in the Big Meadows Picnic Area.
10:00 AM – Forest Fridays at Sunbury Urban Farm – enjoy a nature activity plus free play in the woods. All ages welcome. $5 suggested donation.
10:00 AM – Commons for Kids at Columbus Commons – Commons for Kids offers activities for all ages including carousel rides, inflatables, activities and more! This week’s theme is Beach/Luau Day!
10:00 AM – Westerville’s Touch-A-Truck at the Westerville Sports Complex – kids can get up close to construction vehicles and service vehicles!
10:00 AM – Hilltop Preschool’s Neighborhood Safety Fest! at Hilltop Preschool Columbus – this free community event includes a raffle for bicycles and helmets!
10:30 AM – KidX: Chef Junior at Polaris Fashion Place – kids can be a chef for the day, competing in mini competitions, taste testing and meeting professional chefs! There will also be crafts, activities and more!
11:00 AM – Jazz & Ribs Fest 2019 – this free festival includes rib vendors, live jazz music on two stages, all along the Scioto Mile. Hours are Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM and Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM.
11:00 AM – Preschoolers at Highbanks Metro Park – preschoolers can wade into the river and look for creatures in the Big Meadows Picnic Area.
11:00 AM – Camp Creativity at Michaels Stores – Camp Creativity happens Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and is $3 per session. There is a different theme every week and different crafts every day. Sign up online.
12:00 PM – Summer Jam Session at Pein Park at State Auto – participate in or enjoy a jazz jam session in the park at the corner of Broad St. and N. 11th St.!
12:00 PM – Columbus Zoo Animals at Experience Columbus – get up close to animals from the Columbus Zoo at the Visitor Center on Nationwide Blvd!
3:30 PM – Open Gaming for Kids and Teens at Bexley Public Library – youth ages 8-18 can play video games on a big screen, minecraft, board games, card games and more!
6:00 PM – Night Market – July – Dog Days of Summer! at North Market! – this nighttime market offers a carnival-like atmosphere with independent vendors, family-friendly games and activities, music, and more!
6:00 PM – ArtWalk at Destination Downtown Lancaster – this annual event features art, live entertainment, food and more!
6:30 PM – Campfire with the Ranger at Blendon Woods Metro Park, Columbus, Ohio – explore the ranger station and truck and roast marshmallows over the fire!
7:00 PM – Friday Night Bandstand in Lancaster – enjoy a live concert in downtown Lancaster!
7:00 PM – Popcorn Pops – Movies & Maracas at Columbus Commons – the Columbus Symphony will be playing songs from your favorite films like Star Wars, Frozen, Harry Potter and more. The first 500 kids will receive a maraca so they can play along! Tickets available online.
7:00 PM – Robin Lacy & DeZydeco | Summer Sizzle Concert Series at George Edge Music Park – enjoy a free concert in the park!
7:00 PM – Outdoor Community Movie Night! at Scarlet City Church – this free outdoor movie night includes the movie Monster’s Inc and Dos Hermanos Food Truck! There will be free popcorn and yard games. Bring a blanket or chair. Movie begins at 8:00.
8:00 PM – Free Movie Night: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World at Columbus Commons – the free showing of this movie will begin at 8:15 PM after Popcorn Pops. The park will open around 8:00 for those watching the movie.
8:30 PM – Uptown Movie Series in Westerville, Ohio – watch a movie on City Hall lawn! This week’s movie is Inside Out.
A BIG thanks to Marcus Theatres for sponsoring this post!
Get ready to ROAR because the Marcus Crosswoods Cinema on Hutchinson Ave. is hosting FREE “Lion King” family parties this Saturday and Sunday! Bring out your lion cubs between 10 a.m. and noon to create their own lion manes, try out origami and animal scratch art and get their picture taken with a fun photo backdrop. There will also be free snacks! (Stay for the movie! Film admission sold separately.) Learn more: http://bit.ly/2NskDqx.
Can’t make the party? Head to the Marcus Crosswoods or Pickerington Cinemas for the ultimate moviegoing experience any day of the week, plus plenty of affordable family offerings including $5 Movie Tuesdays, $3 kids movies and more. (Check out this recent blog post for all the details!)
SATURDAY
9:00 AM – Festival Fair Day at the Lancaster Festival – Saturday is the Festival Fair Day at the Lancaster Festival! This day will include lots of kid-friendly activities, games, performances, and more! There will be construction and rescue vehicles, llamas, a climbing wall, train rides, face painting, music and lots more!
9:00 AM – National Moth Week at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park – visit the Nature Center to see a display of moths in celebration of National Moth Week!
9:00 AM – 13th Gardening and Arts Festival at Scioto Gardens – this free festival features artists and live music and an array of free gardening workshops! There will be plants for sale and food will be available.
9:00 AM – Market Day at Westgate Farmers Market – this weekend’s market will feature live music from the Fort Hayes String Ensemble, Short North Bagel Deli and Franklinton Cycleworks will be collecting bike donations, doing fix-a-flat and offering chain cleaning demonstrations beginning at 10:15 AM.
10:00 AM – Birdwatching for Beginners at Grange Insurance Audubon Center – beginning bird watchers can learn tricks to improve their bird watching skills and go on a short hike to bird watch!
10:00 AM – Engine Extravaganza at Tanger Outlets, Columbus – kids can get up close to emergency and rescue vehicles! Meet their operators and learn about all of the equipment! Back to School coupons will be available!
10:00 AM – Victorian Sci Fi and Invention at Ohio Village – this event features the scientific experiments and technological advancements of the 1890’s! Learn about how the Victorians viewed space travel, watch a magic lantern show and much more! Included in admission and membership.
10:00 AM – Doll Beach Party at Cute As A Button – kids can bring their doll to party at the beach! Create a beach chair and recipe a beach bag, towel, sunglasses and sandals for your doll! There will be in-store specials, refreshments and prizes. Tickets available online.
10:00 AM – Playdate on the Playground at Kiddie Academy of Hilliard – this free event features a water slide, sprinkles, snow cones, outdoor games and more.
10:30 AM – My Dad’s a Super-Hero Party at Paulettes Palace & Productions – meet your favorite super heroes, watch superhero performances, take a superhero training class and much more! Cost is $25 for Dad and his children! Tickets available online.
11:00 AM – Jazz & Ribs Fest 2019 – this free festival includes rib vendors, live jazz music on two stages, all along the Scioto Mile. Hours are Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM and Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM.
11:00 AM – Butterfly Pursuit at Highbanks Metro Park – take a 2.5 mile hike to learn how to identify butterflies!
12:00 PM – Kite Festival- Patang BAZI at Darree Soccer Fields – this event includes carnival games, live DJ, vendors, kite and game packages, a free kite while supplies last and more! Tickets can be purchased online or at the event.
12:30 PM – Delaware Farm Tour – this free farm tour features four different farms in Delaware County and showcases conservation practices and activities. There will be farm animals, crafts, music and educational opportunities along the way!
- Related: Exploring Delaware with Your Kids
1:00 PM – Crafternoon: Moon Sand Art at Sticky Fingers Ice Cream Parlor – make a layered Moon Sand Art Piece and enjoy a scoop of ice cream! Ticket is valid between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The activity takes 30 minutes. Drop in at your leisure. Tickets available online.
1:00 PM – Open Barn Days 2019 at Sunrise Sanctuary – visit the animals at the sanctuary at their monthly open house. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and children 3 and under are free. Tickets are available in advance.
2:00 PM – Melissa Lennig – Author Visit and Craft Activity at Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers – Melissa Lennig, author of Sticks and Stones: A Kid’s Guide to Building and Exploring in the Great Outdoors (ref link), will lead kids in making a rock necklace to take home and will also offer a demonstration of how to build a DIY Bug Hotel.
3:00 PM – Family Tram Rides at Sharon Woods Metro Park – take a guided tour of the park on the tram! Hop on at one of the “tram stop” signs throughout the park.
4:00 PM – Delaware Food Truck Festival at Delaware County Fair, Delaware Ohio – this festival supports the Delaware Pacer Bands and offers food trucks, a live band, vendors, crafts for kids, raffle prizes and more!
5:00 PM – Parents Night Out at Engineered Beginnings, LLC – drop off kids ages 5-14 for a night of hands on STEAM activities. First child $30, $15 for siblings. Register online.
5:00 PM – Easton’s 20th Anniversary Concert at Easton Town Center – celebrate 20 years of Easton with a concert from Popgun, Larger Than Life and The Prince Experience! This is a free concert!
6:00 PM – Family Fun Night at Highbanks Metro Park – enjoy a campfire and various outdoor activities to help you explore nature at night!
7:00 PM – 2019 Ice Cream Social / Touch-a-Truck at Jefferson Community Park – this event in Blacklick includes ice cream, a touch-a-truck experience, old fashioned games and more!
9:00 PM – Movie In The Park: Coco at Glacier Ridge Metro Park – watch Coco on the big screen! Bring a blanket or chair.
SUNDAY
9:00 AM – National Moth Week at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park – visit the Nature Center to see a display of moths in celebration of National Moth Week!
11:00 AM – Sunlight Market in Gay Street District – this street festival features vendors, live music and brick and mortar businesses.
11:00 AM – National Ice Cream Day at Dulce Vida – all ice cream scoops are half off in celebration of National Ice Cream Day!
11:00 AM – Jazz & Ribs Fest 2019 – this free festival includes rib vendors, live jazz music on two stages, all along the Scioto Mile. Hours are Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM and Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM.
12:00 PM – Lancaster Festival – the Lancaster Festival runs from July 17-27, 2019 with various performances, activities and shows throughout the week! There will be kid-friendly performances from The Shazzbots, magic shows, art projects and more! Click the link for the entire schedule.
12:00 PM – National Ice Cream Day at Kilwins – buy one ice cream scoop, get one ice cream scoop free at both Kilwins locations, Sunday only! (Check out my Facebook page for a giveaway!)
1:00 PM – Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens Open House – this free event includes canoeing, fishing, educational demonstrations, refreshments and more!
2:00 PM – Creature Feature: Amphibians at Highbanks Metro Park – meet the amphibians at the Nature Center and learn how they are cared for.
2:00 PM – JuniorChefs Weekend Workshop at Young Chefs Academy of Gahanna – this workshop is for kids ages 6 and up and will feature cooking skills, kitchen safety, flavor profiles and more. $50/class.
3:00 PM – Ranger Bike Ride at Blacklick Woods Metro Park – take a 6 mile bike ride with a park ranger along the Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail.
*Please be aware, information is gathered from multiple community sources. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. There may be a fee to participate in a featured activity. Please call ahead or check links to confirm activities. Enjoy what you do today!*