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.
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
7 MUSEUMS IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS ⬇️
With fall finally sweeping in, it’s a great time to take on an indoor adventure at a Downtown museum — all of them family-friendly! 🧪📚
📍Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center @centralohiofiremuseum
📍Kelton House Museum and Garden @keltonhousemuseum
📍COSI @cosiscience
📍Thurber House @thurberhouse
📍Columbus Museum of Art @columbusmuseum
📍National Veterans Memorial & Museum @nationalvmm
📍Ohio Statehouse Museum @ohiostatehouse
Which one are you exploring this autumn?🍂👀
Have you ever been to this walk-up window serving brunch?! 🥪
@eatgooodfriends at Jackie O’s is serving up mouthwatering, Midwestern grub, all from a window! Dig into sandwiches packed with flavor, sidewinder fries, snackwraps, desserts, and more 🌯
For brunch, we tried their house breakfast sausage sandwich, packed with hash browns, a mcmuffin egg and chili crunch 🍳 and their Ol Faithful chicken sandwich, a spicy sando with hot honey and pickle 🌶️
The best part? Grab a seat with your meal on the huge patio, or head inside to Jackie O’s to brunch away from the weather.
If you’ve tried Jackie O’s, what’s your favorite thing to get? Let us know ⤵️
🍳 GOOOD FRIENDS at @jackieoscolumbus
📍171 N 4th St
🕐 Open Weds - Sun
The FINAL Open Streets event of the year is on Sunday, October 26 🚲🛼
It’ll be your LAST chance to experience High Street on an afternoon for pedestrians only! This time, it’ll be even BIGGER with a giant inflatable slide, inflatable pickleball, roller rink, and yoga + pilates classes in the middle of the street! This is all in addition to the Roll Lane, live music, art demonstrations, workout classes, food trucks, games, and more 🛝🏓🚌🎨🎶
📍 The event runs along High Street from @columbuscommons (160 S High St) to @quality_wellness_columbus (117 N High St)
So lace up your roller skates, bring your friends, and get ready to experience High Street in a new way! Everyone is welcome, and all activities are FREE 💙
🛹 UnderCurrent: Walk, Roll, and Play, an OpenStreets614 event
🗓️ Sunday, October 26
🕔 12-4 pm
📍 117 N High St to 160 S High St
We’re shutting down Gay & High Streets for a celebration of wine this Sunday, 10/12🍷🍕
The Columbus Natural Wine Festival is BACK for another year under “Current” but this time, with a new name! Rebranded as Saucebox: A Midwestern Affair with Wine and Food, the event celebrates thoughtfully curated artisanal wines, beloved local eats, and a lively street party atmosphere.
Enjoy countless global wines paired with delectables bites from local restaurants 🍴
Here’s what’s on the agenda 🗓️
🌎 12 - 5pm taste 150+ wines from around the world
🍝 1 - 2:30pm tune into the chef discussion panel, discussing what a vibrant food and wine scene looks like
🍷 3 - 4:30pm watch as Columbus’ top sommeliers take on a blind tasting competition
🎟️ Tickets are still available for $75 which are all-inclusive of food and wine tastings. Link in bio!
🍷 Saucebox: A Midwestern Affair with Wine and Food
🗓️ Sunday, October 12
🕐 12-5 pm
➡️ 21+ only
100+ AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS COMING TO DOWNTOWN 👷🏠
Did you know the former YMCA building at 40 W Long St is being rebuilt into affordable housing apartments? Here’s what’s happening:
➡️ Woda Cooper is transforming the former YMCA into Lofts at 40 Long, 121 affordable housing units.
➡️ Lofts at 40 Long will be for people making 30-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
🏀 The building will maintain the historic nature of the building, by keeping amenities like the basketball court, upstairs track, and community room.
🏘️ Everyone deserves the opportunity to live near their workplace, and this project will provide housing options for people at more income levels. Lofts at 40 Long will join workforce housing options like Topiary Park Crossing and the future Aspire Columbus in Downtown.
🗓️ The apartments are expected to be complete by end of 2027.
📝 Want to live here? Applications will open closer to the end of construction at loftsatlong.com
NEW HALLOWEEN POP-UP BAR: The Black Lagoon 🧜♀️💀🍸
The pop-up bar from your nightmares has risen from the depths of Gay Street inside @thecitizenstrust ☠️ Dive into the underworld at The Black Lagoon 🕷️🕸️ Featuring drop-dead gorgeous decor, the limited-time Halloween experience boasts a full menu of potions, unique cocktails, mocktails, and shots. ☠️🍹
Some featured cocktails include a Nocturna Colada, a piña colada of your darkest dreams and the Black Tide, a tropical concoction sure to raise the dead🍹🪦
Enter if you dare, but beware as this haunted hideaway vanishes after November 1 👻
🧜The Black Lagoon @blacklagoonpopup
📍@thecitizenstrust, 11 W Gay St
🗓️ Now - November 1
🍸 Happy Hour: Wed & Thurs, 4 - 7 pm
💀 Halloween Party on October 31
