Things to do
Things to do in Columbus
Ohio's capital is the Midwest's quiet overachiever: the Short North arts district, the Scioto Mile riverfront, and Ohio State football Saturdays that turn the city scarlet.
Photos for Columbus are still on their way. Every listing below is real.
Top things to do in Columbus
The Arch City: Ohio State, the Short North, and the Scioto Mile.
- Short North Arts District — The galleries and boutiques along High Street: Gallery Hop (first Saturdays), the arches.
- Scioto Mile — The riverfront park system: the fountains, the trails, the downtown skyline views.
- Ohio Statehouse — The 1861 Greek Revival capitol: the free guided tours.
- North Market — The 1876 public market: the food hall, the farmers' market (Saturdays).
- Columbus Museum of Art — The American collection: the photo league, the sculpture garden.
- Franklin Park Conservatory — The glasshouse: the bonsai, the butterflies, the Dale Chihuly glass.
- German Village — The restored 19th-century brick district: Schiller Park, the Book Loft's 32 rooms.
Free things to do in Columbus
Columbus is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:
- Scioto Mile — The riverfront: free.
- Ohio Statehouse (tours) — Free guided tours.
- German Village wandering — The brick streets: free.
- Topiary Park — The living Seurat painting: free.
- Whetstone Park of Roses — The rose garden: free.
Festivals & the religious calendar
The town's own festivals:
- ComFest (June) — The community festival in Goodale Park: music, the hot timing — the city's counterculture signature.
- Ohio State Fair (late July–early August) — The state fair: butter cow, the concerts.
- Columbus Arts Festival (June) — The riverfront arts festival.
- Thanksgiving / Independence Day (November / July) — The American holiday staples: the parades, the fireworks.
And the national calendar:
- Independence Day (4 July) — Fireworks, barbecues, parades — the summer national holiday.
- Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November) — Turkey, travel, the Macy's parade on TV; the year's biggest domestic travel day.
- Halloween (31 October) — The full American Halloween: trick-or-treating, haunted houses, costume parties.
- Memorial Day / Labor Day (last Monday of May / first Monday of September) — The bookends of summer: the two big summer-weekend holidays.
Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.
Sports: College football + NHL
Ohio State football is the religion: 100,000+ at the Horseshoe on Saturdays, the Script Ohio, the Michigan game as the holy war. The Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) play at Nationwide Arena — the city's pro team. Columbus Crew (MLS) won MLS Cups at the new downtown stadium.
Minor-league baseball: the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A) at Huntington Park. The Memorial Tournament (golf, June) at Muirfield Village.
Tickets: official site
What's new in Columbus
The downtown riverfront keeps adding. Ohio State's season shapes the city's calendar — book football weekends far ahead. The Crew's downtown stadium is the new anchor.
Submit your event
Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.
Common questions
How many days do I need in Columbus?
Two full days covers the highlights above. Add a third for the day trips — see our day-trips guide.
What can I do in Columbus for free?
Plenty — see the free list above. The town's festivals and markets are the other great free shows.
When is the best time to visit Columbus?
Time it for a festival if you can — the calendar above is the cheat sheet. Otherwise, the shoulder seasons dodge the crowds.
More to explore in Columbus
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