Paddle down the Scioto River with a 50% off discount on a one-hour watercraft rental. Spots are limited, so book ahead to secure your kayak! Walk-ins accepted but not guaranteed. Check https://windroseoutdoor.com/ for operating hours.
Your guide to Downtown Columbus, from happenings to happy hours.
Embark on the next stage of Downtown Columbus’ urban revival and transformation into a world class city by enhancing equity, expanding accessibility, creating connectivity, supporting local, and improving inclusion so that Downtown Columbus is a safe and welcoming destination where the prosperity of our city can be enjoyed by all.
Downtown Columbus has parking options abound. Garages, surface lots and on-street sites offer a wide variety of access, no matter your kind of ride, wherever your destination may be.
Take a stroll along Gay Street and you’ll discover a dense mélange of lively, street-level bars, galleries, restaurants, retail shops, and cafes.
From Columbus Commons to the Scioto Mile, for an experience that’s equal parts urban flair and natural splendor, head to the RiverSouth District.
For fashion, food, fun, fabulous tunes, and fantastic retail, the eclectic Fourth and Main District is hard to beat.
Pro sports, world-renowned live entertainment, and vibrant restaurants and bars— the Arena District scores big every time.
The convergence of Downtown’s central business district and the historic Franklinton neighborhood, The Peninsula brings together the best of all worlds – just around the bend of the Scioto River.
Historic buildings have been transformed into must-experience bars, venues and experiences in this up-and-coming District just east of the Scioto.
Home to a vibrant array of landmark institutions, historic sites, progressive galleries, and contemporary culinary establishments, make your next Discovery in this signature Downtown district.
of Downtown Columbus through dozens of local events happening every week.
4 PLACES TO BEAT THE HEAT 🌡️❄️
It’s hot out there! Stay cool with these spots around town ⬇️
⛲Scioto Mile Fountain (FREE)
📍233 S Civic Center Dr
➡️Open 11 am - 7 pm daily
💦 Spraygrounds (FREE)
📍 Dorrian Green, 50 S Belle St
📍 North Bank Park, 311 W Long St
➡️ Open 11 am - 6 pm daily
🏊 Columbus Downtown Renaissance Hotel Pool
📍 50 N 3rd St
➡️ Book on resortpass.com
📚 Columbus Metropolitan Libraries (FREE)
📍96 S Grant Ave
BONUS: COTA rides are FREE during the heat advisory🚌Head to the link in our bio to check out the full list of cooling centers around town thanks to @colsrecparks.
Stay cool and hydrated, Columbus!
DOWNTOWN SILENT DISCO IS BACK (Fri, June 27) 🕺🪩
Last year, we shut the streets DOWN and you showed UP for the first ever silent disco at Gay & High. So we’re running it back and doing it all over again — this time in partnership with @daybydayproject_ 🎵 (and hopefully NO RAIN this time🤞)
The silent disco is free, and all are invited! DORA bevs are welcome, with lots of options available from nearby bars + restaurants.
How it works: You’ll grab a headset (provided!) and pick between three stations (pop hits, decades, and hip-hop, R&B and Punjabi) while you dance to the beat in the street 🎧 Plus - there will be free frozen treats while supplies last!
Tag a friend you wanna dance in the street with🥳
🎧UnderCurrent: Downtown Silent Disco
🗓️Friday, June 27
🕐 5-8pm
📍1 E Gay Street
HIDDEN GEM: dance classes with @balletmet 🩰💎
Did you know BalletMet offers adult dance classes to the public? And yes - there are classes designed for all skill levels! Choose from tap, jazz, or ballet and get moving! It’s the perfect way to get in your evening workout🕺🏻
We had SO much fun getting a sneak peak into a few classes. Take a look inside the studio at classes including Musical Theatre Tap that we took a couple of times & had a blast! Head to balletmet.org to explore the class offerings!
🩰 BalletMet @balletmet
📍322 Mt Vernon Ave
➡️ Check online for class offerings
NEW events and experiences have arrived on The Peninsula 👀 ⤵️
Check them all out at 📍88 High Water Alley
🎊Take a spin on Los Trompos, an interactive art installation by @gocreos @esrawestudio @cadenaconcepts
⛳ Play mini golf on a colorful putt putt course by @dillonbeckpaintings
🍻 Grab some great food and drink from @thejuntohotel
From live music to outdoor movie nights, there are more events coming up 🗓️⤵️
🎼FREE Music Mondays
🗓️ Mondays thru Sept 29
🕐 6-8pm
➡️ “Stump the Band” with unlimited music requests to the Chuck Starr Band starting on June 16 or channel your inner rockstar with Live Band Karaoke featuring Dirty Money; events alternate every week
📽️FREE Film Columbus Movie Club @filmitincbus
🗓️ Fourth Wednesday thru September
🕐 movies start at 6:30pm
➡️ 6/25: Casablanca, 7/23: Angry Birds, 8/27: The Great Outdoors, 9/24: Cocoon
🎸FREE Summer Soundstage: Music Columbus Live @music_columbus
🗓️ Select Wednesdays
🕐 6:30-8:30 pm
➡️ 7/16, 8/20, 9/10
🎤FREE Summer Concert Series @thejuntohotel
🗓️ Fridays, June 13 - September 26
🕐 7-9pm
Find all the info at downtowncolumbus.com/events
If you’re only here for the zipline...we won’t judge. BUT there are plenty of other free things to do around town tonight (Friday, June 13) ⬇️
➡️ Party on the Peninsula (where the zipline is) 😉 / 5-9 pm
➡️ DORA at Dusk (free trolley pub rides with @trolleypub) / 6 - 10 pm
➡️ Gay Street Galleries Current Season Collaboration / 5 - 8 pm
Just down the street from The Peninsula you can also catch lots of local vendors with our friends at @goodmarket at Franklinton Friday!
Happy weekend!
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND🤩🎸🍿
Looking for your weekend plans? We’ve got you covered (and yes, Thursday is basically Friday junior so we count it as the weekend ;)) Find ALL the info for each event at the link in our bio 😎
🗓️ THURSDAY, JUNE 12 ⬇️
🧘Fountain Fitness Classes
📍 Scioto Mile Fountain, 233 S Civic Center Dr
⏰6:30 & 7:30 pm
🥂Bar, Art, Music (BAM) @columbusmuseum
📍 Columbus Museum of Art
⏰5-10 pm
🧪COSI After Dark: Pride Prom
📍 333 W Broad St
⏰7-10 pm
🩰BalletMet: Black Voices
📍 Davidson Theatre
⏰7:30 pm
🗓️ FRIDAY, JUNE 13⬇️
🧇Breakfast at Bicentennial Park
📍 Bicentennial Park, 233 S Civic Center Dr
⏰7-10 am
🐐Commons for Kids
📍 Columbus Commons, 160 S High St
⏰10 am - 1pm
🥳Party on The Peninsula
📍88 High Water Alley
⏰5-9 pm
🍻DORA at Dusk
📍 High Water Alley, The Patio & Land-Grant Brewing
⏰6-10 pm
🎥CAPA Summer Movie Series: In and Out
📍 Ohio Theatre
⏰7:30 pm
🩰BalletMet: Black Voices
📍Davison Theatre
⏰7:30 pm
🗓️ SATURDAY, JUNE 14 ⬇️
🏳️🌈Stonewall Columbus Pride March 2025
📍 Broad & High Streets
⏰Step-off at 10:30 am
🦌Scioto Arts Market
📍 National Veterans Memorial & Museum
⏰10 am - 2 pm
⚽Columbus Crew match
📍 Lower.com Field
⏰7:30 pm
🎼Nationwide Picnic with the Pops: A Boy Band Symphony
📍 Columbus Commons, 160 S High St
⏰8pm
🎸All Out Music Festival
📍 KEMBA Live!
⏰3 pm
🍿CAPA Summer Movie Series: The Sound of Music
📍 The Ohio Theatre
⏰7:30 pm
🩰BalletMet: Black Voices
📍 Davidson Theatre
⏰7:30 pm
🗓️ SUNDAY, JUNE 15
🧘Free Fountain Fitness Classes
📍 Scioto Mile Fountain, 233 S Civic Center Dr
⏰9:30 & 10:30 am
🌈Pride Drag Brunch
📍 Jackie O’s on Fourth
⏰11 am
🍿CAPA Summer Movie Series: The Sound of Music
📍 The Ohio Theatre
⏰2pm
8 THINGS TO DO AFTER WORK (that aren’t drinking or doom scrolling) 🎥🧘🛶🏓
If you’re looking to mix up your week nights with something other than happy hour, we’ve got you with 8 unique ideas ⤵️
CATCH A FREE (or cheap!) MOVIE 🎥🍿
➡️ Tues: free movies at @jackieoscolumbus
➡️ Free family movies at @columbuscommons (Inside Out on June 20)
➡️ NEW: movies with @filmitincbus on June 25 at High Water Alley on @thepeninsulacbus
➡️ @capacolumbus Summer Movie Series (tickets are $6!)
TRY A FREE WORKOUT CLASS 🧘🤸
➡️ Tues: 5:30pm and 6:30pm HIIT w @qualitywellnesscoaching at @columbuscommons
➡️ Weds: 5:30pm and 6:30pm w @rawyoga614 at @columbuscommons
➡️ Thurs: 6:30pm full body + 7:30pm yoga w @614_Fit_Club
➡️ Select Sun: 9:30am + 10:30am dance w @artisandancestudio @fluxflowdancecenter
JOIN A KICKBALL OR CORNHOLE LEAGUE 🔴🦵
➡️ Mon + Tues: sign up and play kickball at @columbuscommons
➡️ Thursdays: cornhole leagues w @gocornhole at @thepeninsulacbus
TRY TRIVIA OR KARAOKE 🎤
➡️Trivia: Pierogi Mountain, The Walrus, Jackie Os
➡️Karaoke: Pierogi Mountain, Slammer’s, Park Street Tavern, Whistle & Keg
KAYAK OR PADDLEBOARD 🛶💦
➡️ Rent gear from @windroseoutdoor — reserve online + meet them under the Main St bridge boat launch. (pstt — it’s discounted every Weds this summer, so you can kayak for $15 or paddleboard for $12.50!)
PLAY PUTT PUTT & PING PONG (coming June 13)🏓
➡️This week, High Water Alley will be transformed to a lil adult playground with putt putt & ping pong out weekly for anyone to play! Plus, experience Los Trompos (new art installation) as well as a bite to eat at the Junto.
SHOP + GALLERY HOP 🛍️🖼️
➡️ There are several new galleries on Gay Street including Brandt Gallery, Chaos Contemporary Craft, Lindsay Gallery, and more! Check out some nearby shops for goods at @evolverieclothing @artisans_and @zerozwallet
PICNIC AT A PARK 🧀🌳⛲
➡️ There is so much green space Downtown! Pick up dinner from a nearby restaurant or grab some groceries from @charmysmarket + take it to Columbus Commons, Bicentennial Park, or Topiary Park. You can also grab an NA drink from the new bar, The Patio at Scioto Mile Fountain!
YOU’RE INVITED: FREE PARTY ON THE PENINSULA 🎵🍻
If you’re looking for free family-friendly fun this weekend, come hang out at High Water Alley! A full summer season of fun, laidback programming kicks off THIS FRIDAY, 6/13 with a Party on The Peninsula 🎉
Everyone is welcome and all activities are FREE including a zipline, ping pong, putt putt, and more yard games! ⛳🏓
While you’re here, check out LOS TROMPOS, a new interactive art installation by @esrawestudio @cadenaconcepts @gocreos 🎊
There will be live music, food trucks, and alcoholic beverages served in DORA cups (to take to-go) from @thejuntohotel 🥂🎵
Stay tuned for more events on the Peninsula this summer👀
Will we see you there?
🥳Party on The Peninsula
🗓️Friday, June 13 (5-9pm)
📍Map it to 77 Belle Street (The Junto) or 88 High Water Alley
🚗 Paid parking is available in nearby garages ($12 for 2 hours)
Downtown Columbus Inc. is a private, non-profit development corporation with a mission to lead city-changing projects in the heart of Ohio’s capital city. Downtown Columbus Inc. was created in 2002 to implement the Downtown Strategic Plan.
© 2024 Downtown Columbus Inc. Check out our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Powered by Buckeye Innovation
