Summer is the best time of year in Columbus. From mid-May through early September, Columbus is filled with fun things to do with your kiddos – a lot of those events being free! I have compiled a list of my favorite events that are either free or under $5.
Splashpad Spots – Splash pads are the best invention ever! We are so fortunate to have quite a few here in Columbus.
Metro Parks – Free events where kiddos can earn a badge after attending five. Natural play areas. Trails. Picnics. Playgrounds.
Geocache at one of the Preservtaion Parks in Delaware County.
Junior Jet’s Badge – Columbus Clippers – If you visit any participating Cheryl’s Cookies or Graeter’s Ice Cream locations, you can pick up a junior jets badge for your kiddo(s) 12 and under. This gets them *FREE* admission to all Clippers games on Wednesdays throughout the summer.
Kids Bowl Free – Sign your kiddos up and get two free games of bowling each day all summer long. Gahanna Lanes, Games of Western Columbus and Holiday Lanes all participate in this program.
Summer Reading Program – Worthington – This is one of my favorite summer events! Kiddos can join the reading program and read to earn prizes, find out about cool programs and hear about soon-to-be-released books! The coupon sheet they earn is usually pretty good, too! It starts on May 31st.
Columbus Reading Club – This is similar to the Worthington Reading Program, except it is with the Columbus Metropolitan Libraries. Kiddos will read throughout the summer to earn prizes. If you click on the link, you can see the prizes for the different age groups. Adults can participate, too. It starts on June 4th.
Camp Creativity at Michael’s – Michael’s Camp Creativity is a great activity for your kiddos ages 3 and up. Each week they have a different theme, doing a new craft each day. Click on the link to register and view the weekly activities. It takes place June 13 – July 29, from 10 a.m. – noon.
Touch-a-Truck – Worthington – May 20th – Kiddos will have the opportunity to climb aboard and get behind the wheel of their favorite vehicles, ask their operators questions and meet some of their hometown heroes. Ambulances, fire trucks, military vehicles, race cars, and many more exciting vehicles of every shape and size will be on display at Worthington Community Center for our Touch a Truck and Safety Event! Additional activities include arts & crafts, Pit Stop Challenge, bounce house, mascots and more.
Touch – A -Truck Westerville (pg.27) – On Friday, July 22nd from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m, kiddos can have a fun experience where they get hands-on with fire trucks, police cruisers, construction equipment and more! This is a fun way to get up close to a variety of different service vehicles and construction equipment.
Big Machines at COSI – Out front of COSI, your kiddos will be amazed by all of the bulldozers, dump trucks, and forklifts at the annual Science of Big Machines. It is really cool because they can get behind the wheel and “operate” equipment that builds roads and buildings! From small tools to big equipment, they’ll discover how big jobs get done. More than a dozen enormous pieces of construction equipment will be on hand to explore! This takes place from June 18 – June 26.
Columbus Arts Festival – Hands on art activities, where the they can make clay pots,glass beads or a create a journal. There will also be a children’s gallery of art work and theater. June 12, 13 & 14
Lolli-Pops Summer Kids Concert Series – Bring your blanket and your dancing shoes for a fun morning with local artists. The concert will start at 10:30 a.m. Make sure to get there a little early to get parking!
June 6 – Jammin in your Jammies with Chip Richter
July 11 – Matt Jurgens
August 1 – The Shazzbots
Stratford Ecological Center – The 2nd Tuesday each month (March – Nov.) they have a fun storytime, with unique hands on experiences focused on what is going on at the farm. The cost $5/family and you do not need registration needed. Pack a picnic for lunch after!
Commons for Kids – Commons for Kids on Friday morning is so much fun! There are a few different activities and games, including *FREE* carousel rides and bounce houses. They also have an Imagination Playground set-up, the Art Box, a life-size Chess game, and more! If Mother Nature cooperates (when the temperature is 80 degrees or above), they have an inflatable water slide for the kiddos! New this year and what I am most excited about is the Yoga for Kids class during Commons for Kids from 10:30 am – 11 am.
FountainSide – FountainSide takes place at Bicentennial Park on select Wednesdays throughout the summer from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., offering a wide variety of FREE activities for the kiddos. Each week they have a different theme, ranging from learning how to prepare healthy foods to visiting with the animals from Columbus Zoo. Sunny 95 there is every week with FREE ice cream!
We always bring a blanket down and pack a picnic. However, Donatos is there selling pizza, by the slice or by the pizza.
Westerville Fun Fridays (pg. 24) – Most Fridays throughout the at Everal Barn (60 N. Cleveland Ave) from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Westerville has “Fun Fridays” for kiddos 6 and under. The cost is $5 per kiddo.
June 10 – Cowyboy Hoedown
June 17 – Pirate & Princess Day
June 24 – Playdough Play
June 30 – Red, White, Boom
July 8 – Back To Nature ( 245 N. Spring Rd – Highlands Park Wetlands )
July 15 – Let’s Build It
July 29 – Water Play Day
Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse – Ten fun kid films for $5 for 10 or $1 per show. All films are rated G or PG. 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Columbus, Cinemark Carriage Place Movies 12, Columbus, Polaris 18 & Xtreme and Gahanna, Cinemark Stoneridge Plaza Movies 16.
Kids Dream Series at Marcus – For just $3, you and your kiddos can see family-favorite films, back on the big screen on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. between June 12 and Aug 17. Wanna get FREE tickets to the show? Visit one of the participating agents at American Family Insurance, and you can receive two FREE tickets to your choice of this year’s films!
Movie Nights at Columbus Commons – Columbus Commons will show movies on Saturday nights (one Friday). From 4-8p.m. – they will also have kid-friendly activities. At dusk they will start to show the movie. Check the website for schedule and more details about the planned activities.
Flicks on the Bricks – Hilliard – Fridays are for family fun in Hilliard! Bring the kiddos to two special outdoor movie nights at Hilliard’s Station Park.
June 24
Endless Recess performs from 7-8:30 p.m.
The movie Minions begins at dusk
Pop Up Art Studio sponsored by the Hilliard Arts Council 7-9 p.m.
July 29
Entertainment by Annie Hawe 6-7:30 p.m.
Face painters and balloon twisters 6-7:30 p.m.
Art projects by The Expressive Monkey 6-7:30 p.m.
The movie Up begins at dusk
Movies by Monlight at Easton Town Center – Bring a blanket and head to Easton Town Center for movies under the stars, each Tuesday in June, July and August! This starts on Tuesday June 7th and goes through August 30th. Movies start at dusk in the Town Square.
P.S. – Make sure you’re following along on IG [@eatplaycbus] to see what else we are up to! 🙂
