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Upcoming Events in Downtown Columbus

Dinner for Two Special at FYR Short North

The perfect date night awaits at FYR Short North! Join us for our Dinner for Two special, available Monday through Wednesday beginning April 6. Three courses are available for $75.

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show

America’s LARGEST interactive true crime mystery dinner show is now playing in Columbus, OH!

At The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show, you’ll tackle a challenging crime while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The criminal is lurking somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it!

Each admission includes our fantastic dinner, mystery entertainment, wait staff gratuity, prize package for Top Sleuth, and much more!

Dinner Detective Columbus

America’s premiere interactive comedy true-crime mystery experience is now playing! Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it! Each ticket includes our signature award-winning true-crime mystery dinner theatre show (based on actual cold cases), along with a full plated dinner, waitstaff gratuity, and plenty of surprises during the show!

BalletMet: Marilyn

Step into the dazzling world of Hollywood’s golden age. Weaving together the glitz and glamour of Marilyn Monroe’s stardom with the vulnerability and strength of the woman behind the icon. This must-see performance pays tribute to one of the most enduring legends of the 20th century.

 

Mysteries, Anthems & Victories

The Columbus Symphony celebrates its 75th Anniversary season with the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by acclaimed American composer Gregory Spears. Tchaikovsky’s powerful Fifth Symphony with its famous “fate” motif begins in the depths of despair, then twists and turns towards an exciting, triumphal march.

Get tickets here!

Creepy Columbus Downtown Walking Tour

Take a spirited hour and a half stroll through the city’s center and learn what unearthly things are said to lurk within downtown Columbus’ most iconic and haunted buildings. Ages 12+

This 90 minute, outdoor walking tour follows a circular route through the heart of downtown Columbus, starting at the western steps (facing High St.) of the Ohio State House and covers roughly 1.5 miles. Ticket required.

Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) will host Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, a collection of original paintings by former President George W. Bush. The exhibition opens to the public on August 8, 2026.

The exhibition features more than 60 portraits of post-9/11 service members and Veterans, each one hand painted by President Bush and paired with a personal story of service, sacrifice, and resilience written by the former president.

The NVMM is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Art in the Park: Gallery Edition

Learn a new craft every month at this cozy continuation of your favorite seasonal series! We’re taking Art in the Park indoors to the Galleries at High and Gay St to keep the creativity going during the colder months. Warm up, settle in, and take time to learn a new creative skill.

Tickets are $15, with each participant receiving a $10 gift card to a Downtown local business upon arrival. A local coffee cart will also be on site offering specialty drinks and sweet treats for purchase. Registration is required, space is limited!

October 25 – Mini Narrative Coil Pots: Participants will learn from ceramic artist, Elizabeth Wells, on how to construct mini coil pots and carve narrative imagery into the surface with a sewing needle. Wells will demonstrate basic handbuilding and surface carving techniques on air dry clay. The clay will not become a functional piece but rather a decorative object to fill your home. Participants will be provided a clay tile to practice carving on. Wells will provide care and strengthening techniques to help preserve your clay object post workshop. Materials provided, all skill levels welcomed.

Register here!

Halloween Spooktacular

Get into the Halloween spirit with a spooktacular concert packed with thrills, chills, and movie magic! Hear John Williams favorites, music from Star Wars and Harry Potter, and spooky orchestral classics like Mussorgsky’s A Night on Bald Mountain come to life.

Arrive early for Halloween fun for the whole family starting at 2 p.m., including:

  • Make Paper Bag Monsters & Spooky Spiders
  • String Instrument “Petting Zoo”
  • Selfies with Bee-thoven
  • Choose Your Own Musical Tattoo
  • Ghost Bowling & Limbo
  • Trick-or-Treating
  • Halloween Costume Contest

Come in costume, explore, play, and then enjoy an unforgettable concert filled with spooky favorites and larger-than-life orchestral sound. It’s a Halloween celebration the whole family will love!

Creepy Columbus Downtown Walking Tour

Take a spirited hour and a half stroll through the city’s center and learn what unearthly things are said to lurk within downtown Columbus’ most iconic and haunted buildings. Ages 12+

This 90 minute, outdoor walking tour follows a circular route through the heart of downtown Columbus, starting at the western steps (facing High St.) of the Ohio State House and covers roughly 1.5 miles. Ticket required.

Blog Posts to Get You in the Know.

Your guide to Downtown Columbus, from happenings to happy hours.

Downtown

12 Fall Drinks to Try

Fall is here and local coffee shops are getting into the spirit of spooky season…

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October in Downtown Columbus

Spooky season has officially arrived in Downtown Columbus. With sunset movies, haunted tours, and Halloween…

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Where to Eat in the Gay Street District

There is no shortage of amazing food in the Gay Street District. Use this list…

Downtown

How to Spend a Day on Gay

The Gay Street District is packed full of fun for all to enjoy. From fine…

Downtown

9 Unique Date Night Ideas

If dinner and drinks just aren’t cutting it anymore, try one of these novel experiences…

Downtown

20+ Things to do in 2026 in Downtown Columbus

Whether it’s a new fitness goal or spending more quality time with family, we’ve got…

Downtown Strategic Plan

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.

Parking Information

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.

Downtown columbus' districts

Discover Downtown through the rich tapestry of its urban districts.

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. 

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