Cheer on the Columbus Blue Jackets in this regular season home game at Nationwide Arena!
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.
5 INDOOR THINGS TO DO IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS 🧑🍳🎭❄️
Columbus woke up to a winter wonderland this morning 🌨️ If you’re looking for ways to beat the daylight savings time blues, here are a few activities that will be worth leaving your house for ⤵️
🚗🏁 Take the wheel at a simulated racing bar or a rage room @racinglinecbus @thewreckingcompany
➡️ Adrenaline junkies will love this one. Buckle up for beginner-friendly arcade sessions to competitive weekly races at Racing Line. At The Wrecking Company, you can smash glass bottles, electronics, and more to your heart’s desire.
👩🎨🖼️ Discover new art in the Gay Street District (bonus: with drinks to-go!)
➡️ Stroll through the seven art galleries in the Gay Street District, intersected by the hanging sculpture “Current”. Find collections of art at @614.aba @brandtgallery @chaoscontemporarycraft @hammond_harkins @lindsay.gallery @no_place_gallery @sarahgormleygallery
🍷 Tip: Pick up a drink from a nearby restaurant (like a glass of wine from @speckitalianeatery) and take it to-go in a DORA cup as you peruse the galleries.
🧑🍳🪴🩰 Try a new class — cooking, dance, or pottery!
➡️ If you’re leaning into your creative side this season, you’ll find an abundance of class options to suit your interests. Throw some pottery at @restalgic, lace up your dancing shoes for a class at @balletmet or chef it up at a cooking class at @themix_cscc
🎭 Grab dinner and drinks before seeing live theatre
➡️ Find local shows by @thecontemporaryohio at the Riffe Center (“The Roommate” is showing now until Nov 16!) or at @madlabtheatre. See national touring shows from @broadwaycolumbus @capacolumbus (“Some Like it Hot” will be here Nov 18-23!)
🍴Scroll down on our page to find “30+ restaurants near the Ohio Theatre!”
🏒🧊 Cheer on the Blue Jackets for their 25th season — with new unique food items!
➡️ Whether you’re a hockey enthusiast or just there for the blimp, odds are, you’ll have a good time at a CBJ game. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, new menu items are scattered throughout Nationwide Arena including the 2-foot croissant dog at Jet’s Pizza and CBJ Cream Puffs at Schmidt’s. Chow down in between periods!
DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 🎁🌟
Looking to shop small this season? You can find something special for everyone here in Downtown Columbus, all while supporting local businesses.😉💙
Check out these local Downtown spots for tantalizing sweets, plush pamperings, artsy home additions and more. Find the full list at the link in our bio!
WANDERLIGHTS IS BACK ON NOV 21 🌟❄️
The FREE Downtown holiday lights experience is back this year at Columbus Commons, Town Street and Scioto Mile Fountain 🌠 Everyone is invited to find joy in the glow of the lights which run daily from 5 pm - 10pm starting Friday, Nov 21 - Sunday, Feb 15.
But, it wouldn’t be the holiday season without free winter wonderland activities! This year, we’re bringing you.... 🥁.....
WANDER NIGHTS 🎄🎅
➡️ Take part in six NEW Wander Nights experiences where an ultra-festive holiday atmosphere and free activities elevate all three Wanderlights stops 🌟
➡️ Find complimentary hot chocolate and free carousel rides at Columbus Commons, along with a complete pop-up holiday shopping experience featuring @goodmarket.cbus 🛍️ 🎄 Share your wish list with Santa in the Lazarus Building galleria 🎅, and close out the night with a free holiday movie screening by the fire at the Scioto Mile Fountain 🎥 ✨ All happening on the first three Fridays and Saturdays in December.
Find more info at the link in bio or at downtowncolumbus.com/wanderlights
💡Wanderlights
📍Columbus Commons, Scioto Mile Fountain, and Lazarus Building galleria
🗓️ Nightly starting Nov 21 from 5-10pm
🎅 Wander Nights
🗓️ December 5-6*, 12-13, 19-20 from 5 - 8 pm
📍Wanderlights locations
➡️ Wander Nights will not occur at the Scioto Mile Fountain on December 5 and 6 due to WinterFest.
NOW RE-OPEN: Capitol Café at the Ohio Statehouse 🍔 ☕
The restaurant on the ground floor of the Statehouse is now RE-OPEN with a fresh menu, online ordering, and coffee service.
🌯 Capitol Café, now run by LA Catering, boasts a large breakfast menu including eggs, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, pancakes, coffee, and more. The afternoon menu also has no shortage of options for an easy-to-eat lunch including burgers, fries, salads, a soup-of-the-day, and snacks to grab and go.
🍔 The Smash Burger ($11) features a double stacked smash burger, American cheese, LTO, with special sauce on a potato bun. The Roasted Vegetable Wrap ($10) includes seasonal veggies, black bean hummus, melted provolone cheese, with sweet and spicy aioli on a spinach tortilla. Both options are served with a side of chips, or you can sub with fries for an extra charge.
➡️ Online ordering is now available to make lunchtime pick-up easy. But, if you have extra time, plop down on one of the 100+ spots in the cafe’s abundant seating area.
❤️ Each purchase supports a social enterprise supporting LifeCare Alliance @lifecarealliance , a nonprofit that helps senior adults and people facing medical challenges or disabilities.
🍔Capitol Café
📍1 Capitol Square
🕗Open Mon-Fri: 8-10:30am & 11am-3pm
Have you tried the Capitol Cafe yet? 👀
downtown columbus is blooming with fall colors 🍂🍁
WE’RE HERE at the LAST Open Streets 614 event — now until 4pm! 🚴 (yes, it’s FREE!)
Here’s what’s happening today:
🛼 High Street is open to pedestrians ONLY (from Long to Town Street) with free activities, dance performances, food trucks, pop-up fitness classes, and more 🎨🎵🤸♂️
➡️ It’s the end of the three-part UnderCurrent: Walk, Roll, and Play series in collaboration with @columbuscitycouncil @lourdesforcolumbus
🚗 Find paid parking at Columbus Commons garages (55 E Rich St) or the 4th & Elm Garage (78 N 4th St)
COME JOIN US! We’ll be here from 12-4pm 🛼
📍High Street (Town to Long Streets)
NEW BUSINESS ALERT: Caroline’s is now open 🥪🚨
North Market Downtown is home to a new sandwich spot, Caroline’s! Named for Chef Justin Wotring’s niece, Caroline’s is a pop-up serving stacked sandwiches, housemade pickles, soups, and salads — all made from scratch! 🥗🥒
This spot is no stranger to unique creations. Find mouthwatering menu items like the Kimchi Cowboy, a pastrami sando with kimchi and charred green onion cream cheese and the Mush Love, a handheld where sauteed mushrooms are the star 🍄🟫
Pictured is the Corner club, a handheld with tender marinated chicken, thick cut bacon, and a house ranch on sourdough. It paired perfectly with a side of their housemade pickles! 🥒
Caroline’s is a pop-up, so get it while you can!
🥪 Caroline’s
📍 North Market, 59 Spruce St
🕐 Hours: Thursdays – Sundays
