The Best Summer Activities in Columbus, Ohio [2023]

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Summer is a great time to be in Columbus. The weather is nice and there is so much to do around the city. Whether you are visiting for a couple of days or you are a local who is looking for some things to do this summer, this list is for you.

This list of the best summer activities in Columbus for 2023 will be updated regularly throughout the season so check back often for new events and festivals.

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Summer Activities In Columbus, Ohio

I’ll be updating this post throughout the summer, but please double-check each event or location’s website before you go for the most current information and any restrictions or requirements.

1. Visit A Columbus Metro Park

Columbus has a great metro park system with 20 area parks and more than 230 miles of trails and over 27,700 acres of land across 7 counties. In the metro parks, you can find fields, pastures, ponds, creeks, ravines, walking trails, wetlands, gardens, playgrounds, and more.

Enjoy activities such as biking, hiking, geocaching, and fishing — plus there are special activities scheduled year-round.

Summer at Glacier Ridge Metro Park
Glacier Ridge Metro Park in Plain City Ohio | Summer Activities in Columbus Ohio
Homestead Metro Park Hilliard Ohio

Columbus Metro Park Locations:

Columbus Metro Park Locations Map
Columbus Metro Parks are located across the Central Ohio area. Image Credit: metroparks.com

2. Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Going on a fun scavenger hunt is a great way to explore downtown Columbus while following social distancing guidelines.

This self-guided scavenger hunt will take you through downtown Columbus in search of landmarks and hidden gems, all while answering trivia questions and solving challenges.

Departure Point: 233 S. Civic Center Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43215

3. Visit the Worthington Farmer’s Market

The Worthington Farmer’s Market is a local, Saturday morning favorite activity. The outdoor market on High Street opened for the season on April 1, 2023.

Dates: Saturdays from 8 a.m. to Noon (the market starts at 9 a.m. until May 6)

Location: North High St. | Worthington, Ohio 43085

Read More:  The ULTIMATE guide of things to do in Columbus, Ohio!

4. Take a Tour of Public Art in Dublin

Explore Dublin, Ohio’s public art installations through a cell phone tour! Use this up-to-date interactive map to guide you through the extensive public art locations in Dublin. You can even do this on a bike!

Dublin has a great bike trail system that consists of over 100 miles of trails. You can take the trails throughout the city to explore the local public art, waterfalls, and the new Dublin Link Pedestrian Bridge. The trails also connect to Glacier Ridge Metro Park in nearby Plain City.

READ MORE: Fun Things to do in Dublin, Ohio

5. Short North Gallery Hop 

Held on the first Saturday of each month, the Short North Gallery Hop on High Street is legendary. Each event is filled with gallery exhibitions, street performers, special events, food, and drinks.

Dates: First Saturday of every month; 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Location: Short North Arts District

6. Goat Yoga

Yoga + Goats. Need I say more? But, seriously, goat yoga is a super fun summer morning activity full of zen and lots of laughs.

Dates: Classes will be announced on Facebook

Location: 5278 Berger Road, Groveport, Ohio

Read More: Goat Yoga in Columbus

Summer Activities in Columbus Ohio - goat yoga
Enjoying goat yoga on a summer morning in Columbus.

7. Franklinton Fridays

If you want to check out the Columbus art and science scene, visit Franklinton Fridays. Held on the 2nd Friday of each month, this community event invites all Franklinton neighbors to open their doors to share everything from art shows and theater to classes and science exhibits.

Dates: 2nd Friday of each month, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Location: Franklinton Area (start at 400 West Rich Street, Columbus)

8. The Dublin Market at Bridge Park 

This outdoor market runs every Saturday morning throughout the summer at Bridge Park in Dublin. It features tons of local farmers, artisans, and craftsmen offering everything from baked goods, meats, and produce to sweets, flowers, and gifts.

Dates: Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to Noon, May through September

Location: Banker Drive and Longshore Loop in Dublin

Summer activities in Columbus Ohio - Dublin Market at Bridge Park
The streets of Dublin are buzzing on Saturday mornings in the summer! Shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, sweets, and crafts then stop into one of the area’s many restaurants for brunch.

9. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the nation’s best zoos and one of the most popular attractions in Columbus. There is so much to do at the zoo, it’s hard to get it all in in one day. There are plenty of exhibits and play spaces to keep the little ones entertained too. Plus they serve beer. So, there’s that.

Location: 4850 Powell Road, Powell, Ohio

Read More:  The Columbus Zoo

Tiger at the Columbus Zoo | Summer Activities in Columbus Ohio
The Columbus Zoo is a great place to spend a summer day.

10. Zoombezi Bay 

Zoombezi Bay is located next door to the zoo and is the best place to cool off on a hot summer day. This water park features Roaring Rapids, an action river that meanders over 11,000 feet! If you are over 21 you will want to check out Croctail Creek, a lazy river that is adult beverage friendly!

Location: 4850 Powell Road, Powell, Ohio

11. Picnic With The Pops

Picnic with the Pops is one of my favorite summer activities in Columbus, and it’s perfect if you’re looking for a fun date night idea. These unique performances combine the Columbus Symphony Orchestra with guest bands and musicians to provide an evening of unique entertainment.

Past guests have included Ben Folds, Nelly, Rick Springfield, a Led Zeppelin cover band, and the ever-popular Ohio State University Marching Band (TBDBITL). It’s quite an eclectic mix, isn’t it?!

Picnic With The Pops | Summer Activities in Columbus Ohio
A perfect Columbus summer evening at Picnic with the Pops.

These outdoor performances are held on Saturday nights at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion in the Columbus Commons. Lawn seating or reserved table seating is available and you can bring in your own food and drink.

If you plan to sit on the lawn, get there early, and be sure to bring your own seat (like a portable lawn chair) or a lawn blanket to sit on.

Dates:

  • June 17, 2023: Ne-Yo Symphony with Soul
  • June 24, 2023: Super Diamond – The Music of Neil Diamond
  • July 1, 2023: Patriotic Pops and Soul
  • July 8, 2023: The Music of Whitney Houston: A Celebration
  • July 15, 2023: The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA
  • July 22, 2023: Ben Folds: What Matters Most Tour
  • July 29, 2023: The Ohio State University Marching Band

Location: Columbus Commons | 160 South High Street, Columbus

Read More: The best brunch in Columbus, Ohio

12. Olentangy Indian Caverns

Olentangy Indian Caverns offers tours of the caverns plus a petting zoo, mini-golf, gem mining, and a treasure hunt maze. The cavern tour lasts about 45 minutes and involves some stairs, so strollers are not allowed on the tour.

If you are local to Columbus, check out the summer camps at Olentangy Indian Caverns for kids ages 5 to 14. They offer themes like animals, fossils, geology, and art.

Dates: Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: 1779 Home Road, Delaware, Ohio

13. Columbus Crew Game 

Columbus is nuts about sports even though there aren’t many major league teams based in the city. The Columbus Crew is the area’s major league soccer team and you can find them at Lower.com Field throughout the summer.

Dates: February to October 2023

Location: Lower.com Field | Downtown Columbus

Columbus Crew Game at MAPFRE Stadium | Columbus Ohio Summer Activities
Such a gorgeous night at the old MAPFRE Stadium watching a Columbus Crew victory!

14. Columbus Clippers Game 

Lots of people equate summer with baseball, and you can catch a Columbus Clippers game at Huntington Park throughout the season. For extra summer fun, try a Dime-A-Dog night! The Clippers, the area’s minor league baseball team, are a local favorite and a must if you love sports.

Dates: April 4, 2023, to September 25, 2023

Location: Huntington Park | 330 Huntington Park Lane, Columbus

15. Nightlight 614 Movie Series

Enjoy a movie under the stars along with local food trucks, live music, craft beer, and wine. These events are 21+ only and tickets can be purchased here.

Dates: 

  • The 2023 Schedule is coming soon.

Location: Genoa Park, next to COSI

2023 Summer Festivals and Events In Columbus, Ohio

Check out these great festivals and special events happening in Columbus this summer.

things to do in summer in Columbus Ohio - Columbus Ohio Summer Wine Festival
Columbus is a great place for summer festivals and events.

June Festivals and Events in Columbus

July Festivals and Events

August Festivals and Events

Thanks for checking out these fun summer activities in Columbus, Ohio! Columbus is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and with good reason — we’ve got a lot going on! Drop a comment below to tell me what you love about Columbus in the summer.

Visiting another time of year? Check out these activity and festival guides:

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(Occasional updates, miles/points tips, and travel inspo)

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Here are some of the best summer activities in Columbus, Ohio! Many of these events are free so they are great even if you are on a budget | Things to do in Columbus, Ohio (USA) | Columbus Activities | #columbus #ohio #familytravel #thingstodoincolumbus #cbus #centralohio

This Post Has 14 Comments

  5. Katie Diederichs May 6, 2019

    Great list! I’m adding the goat yoga to my bucket list. It sounds fun!

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel May 6, 2019

      Awesome — You won’t regret it!

  6. Kylie April 27, 2019

    Ahhh I love goat yoga so much!!! The water park and the zoo sound like the perfect combination! I’d like to check that out!

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel April 27, 2019

      Hi Kylie,
      Yes, Zoombezi Bay and the zoo is a good combo for a summer day!

  7. Elizabeth Ramsey April 24, 2019

    Great suggestions! Living only 2 hours away in CLE, we often take weekend trips to Columbus. I’ll be pinning this post to keep on hand for things we may want to do on our next visit. The wine festival and picnic with the pops sounds especially summery and up our alley!

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel April 24, 2019

      Picnic with the Pops is fantastic – I would definitely recommend it…and I will be definitely checking out the wine festival this summer too.

  8. Kourtlyn April 24, 2019

    Thanks so much for sharing! So many fun events—I definitely need to check out the red, white and boom & the food truck fest!!

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel April 24, 2019

      Hi Kourtlyn,
      I’ll definitely be checking out the food truck fest too. Summer events are always so fun!

  9. Katie Logsdon April 24, 2019

    All of these activities sound so fun! I am going to have to make my way down to Columbus for more of these this summer. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel April 24, 2019

      Hi Katie,
      Yes, there are definitely some great summer events in Cbus!

Comments are closed.