Summer is near the midway point. Are the kids getting antsy? Do you hear frequent lamentations of “I’m bored!”? If the pool no longer holds much allure and no one wants to go on another bike ride, there are several events happening downtown that will bring back the summer smiles. On Fridays through August 18, head to Columbus Commons for Commons for Kids. The fun runs 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. with a different theme each week. Give the carousel a whirl, bounce away on the bounce-houses (including water slides, weather permitting), and get creative with crafts and games. On July 21, enjoy magician The Great Randini, music with Columbus Folk Music Society, Hashtag Comedy, and Franklin Park Conservatory. Make it a day-night doubleheader and come back in the evening for the Columbus Symphony Popcorn Pops performance followed by a free showing of the Lego Batman movie. The fun starts at 5:30 with pre-concert activities, followed by the performance at 7 p.m. Tickets for Popcorn Pops are $10 and can be purchased at the gate or by phone at 614.469.0039. The free movie will begin at 8:15 p.m. If you have some artists in the house, you’re sure to enjoy the Columbus Museum of Art’s Family Adventures Tours. A docent will lead your family on a true art-based adventure. You might go on a scavenger hunt or imagine yourselves inside a painting, or find a work of art that tells a family’s story. You’ll make memories and enjoy our beautiful museum and its artwork. The next tour is July 23 at 2 p.m. Do you have an aspiring writer in the house? The Thurber House hosts a Young Writers’ Studio where students in grades 9 - 12 can drop in to spend time with other teens with the same passion. Columbus College of Art & Design professor Robert Loss guides the students through exercises designed to provide inspiration. A peer review session is also available for students who wish to share their work and receive constructive feedback. Sessions are held on select Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Thurber Center and cost $15. The next two sessions will be held July 25 and August 8. Click here to register.