Over 35 family-friendly events happening this weekend in Columbus, Ohio!
Don’t forget to check out: 35 Free Things to Do with Your Kids in Columbus This Summer and Summer Nights in Columbus: Concerts, Movies and More for Every Night of the Week for more ideas of things to do!
FRIDAY:
9:30 AM – Stay & Play Open Gym at Gym Skills – enjoy playtime and gymnastics during this open play time at Gym Skills! Kids walking up to age 10 are welcome. Kids 6 and up can be dropped off.
10:00 AM –The Science of Big Machines at COSI – Big Machines will be at COSI from June 16-24, 2018, every day from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Kids can climb up and get behind the wheel of bulldozers, dump trucks and more! Try out various construction activities and meet real life engineers! Included in admission or membership.
10:00 AM – Commons for Kids at Columbus Commons – enjoy inflatables, free carousel rides, music with Columbus Folk Music Society, a free puppet show, balloon animals, planting vegetables with Lowe’s and more!
10:00 AM – Dublin Wet Suits and Way-Cool Trucks – at Dublin Community Recreation Parking Lot – tour Sparky’s fire safety house, watch a dive team in action, get your bicycle helmet checked and climb inside fire and medic trucks!
10:30 AM – Kid X Club at Polaris Fashion Place – kick off the summer KidX Club at Polaris Fashion place with Pirates & Princesses! This free event takes places outside by the fountain unless it is raining and in that case, it’s moved inside.
11:00 AM – From Book to Film at Gateway Film Center – watch the movie Shrek for free when you present your library card! Showings are at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM every day.
12:00 PM – Columbus Zoo at the Experience Columbus Arena District Visitor Center – this free event offers the opportunity to meet some animal friends from the Zoo up close and personal!
5:00 PM – 20th Anniversary Creekside Blues & Jazz Fest at Creekside Gahanna – June 15th – 17th is the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival! The Festival will feature over 50 live performances, amusement rides and a free Kids Zone! Kids under 12 are free to enter the festival!
5:00 PM – 2018 St. Mary Festival at St. Mary Parish Church – enjoy carnival rides, inflatables, midway games, a casino, baked goods, and a kiddie land! Festival happens Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM until midnight.
6:30 PM – The Main Event on Capital’s Main Lawn – enjoy activities and food trucks, live music from the Shazzbots,inflatables, yard games, crafts and more before watching The Princess Bride at dusk.
7:00 PM – Swim Under The Stars at Tremont Swimming Pool – free admission is available to the pool after 7:00 PM so you can swim under the stars!
8:30 PM – Friday Night Flicks: The Lego Ninjago Movie at Sycamore Park Amphitheater – bring a blanket and chairs to watch The Lego Ninjago Movie at dusk!
8:30 PM – Movie at Mingo – Wonder at Mingo Park – watch the movie Wonder at 8:30 PM. Family friendly activities begin at 8:00 PM.
SATURDAY:
8:00 AM – Strawberry Festival at Bauman Orchards, Inc. – take a short road trip to Rittman, Ohio for all things strawberry including pies, ice cream, slashes an more! There will be other food available plus pony rides!
8:00 AM – Youth Fishing Derby at Delaware State Park – kids under 16 can fish at Delaware State Park! Poles and bait are provided!
9:00 AM – The Great Inflatable Race Columbus at Franklin County Fair-Hilliard, Ohio – run through an inflatable obstacle course or enjoy The Inflatable Village!
9:00 AM – Natural Play Area Adventure at Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park – kids 13 and under can enjoy the creek, build a fort, climb trees and more in the Natural Play Area! Read about all there is to do at the Battelle Darby Metro Park here.
9:15 AM – Father’s Day Donuts with Dad – Family Stroller Strides Class at Hannah Park – bring dad for a family workout with Fit4Mom Columbus East and enjoy donuts and play time afterwards!
9:30 AM – Family Farm Day at Home of Joy Farm – head out to Lancaster for family fun including a petting zoo, a barnyard parade, peacocks, an indoor obstacle course and more! $10 per car.
9:30 AM – Daddies and Donuts at Ballantrae Park – workout with dad and Baby Boot Camp Columbus and enjoy donuts after class!
10:00 AM – Father’s Day Expo at Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA – enjoy fun and a barbeque honoring the fathers in the community. There will be games raffles, prizes, workshops, vendors and more!
10:00 AM – Passport to Metro Parks Kickoff at Sharon Woods Metro Park – kick off new Passport to Metro Parks program at this festival! Get your passport and start exploring the Metro Parks this summer! There will be snacks, local organizations and lots of fun!
10:00 AM – Kidslinked Columbus Childrens Festival at Westerville North High School – this festival includes a food truck fest, contests and competitions, a Bounce Park and Fun Zone, balloon artist, face painting, scavenger hunt, pony rides and lots more! Admission and parking are free.
10:00 AM – Descendant Pancake Breakfast at the Columbus Children’s Festival – kick off new Passport to Metro Parks program at this festival! Get your passport and start exploring the Metro Parks this summer! There will be snacks, local organizations and lots of fun! Purchase tickets online.
10:00 AM – Donuts with Dad at PARTY Like It’s Your Birthday – bring dad to play at the play space at PARTY Like it’s Your Birthday and enjoy donuts, milk and coffee between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
10:30 AM – Visits with Max, the K9 Dog at Grove City Library – visit with Max, Grove City Police Department’s K9 dog and Officer Kitko. Read more about the Grove City Library kids’ space here.
12:00 PM – Northern Olentangy Watershed Festival at Mingo Park – this festival includes food trucks, children’s activities, raffle giveaways and more!
12:00 PM – COSI Presents Energy! at the Main Library – COSI will be at the Main Library to talk about electricity, magnetism and motion! Kids 6-11 yrs old can build circuits, create chain reactions and more!
1:00 PM – Shark Cart at Westerville Library – the WAVE Foundation from Newport Aquarium will be bringing live sharks to this event where you can learn about sharks and get up close to other animal artifacts! Must register in advance. Read more about the Westerville Library here!
6:00 PM – Flicks After Dark in Muni Park & Fishing Derby at Hilliard Municipal Park – this event includes a fishing derby at 6:00 PM, slingo and a food truck! The movie Daddy Daycare begins at dusk.
SUNDAY:
12:00 PM – Family Day at Pizzuti Collection – the three floors of the Pizzuti Collection will be free on Sunday and there will be activity books, a story time at 1:30 PM and crafts! Read about our visit to Pizzuti Collection here.
11:00 AM – Dad’s, Draft & Donuts at The Draft Room – enjoy brunch from the Buckeye Donuts Food truck and special Dad’s Day Drink specials!
1:00 PM – Judy Carey Nevin – What Daddies Like at The Book Loft of German Village – enjoy a story time and book signing with a Father’s Day theme!
2:00 PM – Father’s Day Fishing at Highbanks Metro Park – go fishing with dad! Bait and light snacks will be provided! Poles are also available. Read about the Highbanks Metro Park Nature Center here!
2:00 PM – Father’s Day Special: Canoe the Lake at Sharon Woods Metro Park – take a canoe out on Schrock Lake! Kids must be able to fit into a life jacket to ride.
2:00 PM – Family Creek Adventure at Prairie Oaks Metro Park – take a half mile walk to the creek and catch fish, bugs and crawdads!
3:00 PM – Father’s Day Carriage Rides at Easton Town Center – take a horse drawn carriage ride throughout Easton. cost is $10/person, kids under 15 ride for free with a paying adult.
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*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!*
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