Your Columbus Family Weekend Cheat Sheet (Apr 24–Apr 26)

Happy Friday, Columbus —

Late April is sneaky good.

Not full-summer chaos. Not winter cabin fever. Just enough sunshine, farm energy, and random animal encounters to make it feel worth putting real pants on and leaving the house.

So here’s a short list for April 24–26. A few standout options and a couple easy wins. No need to fill every hour. One good outing is plenty.

Miner 49er Blacklight Mini Golf
Grandview Heights
https://www.miner49erminigolf.com/

For those in-between spring weekends when you want to get out of the house but do not want to overcomplicate things, Miner 49er is a very easy yes. The blacklight mini golf is quirky in a fun way, with glowing artwork, creative holes, and just enough weirdness to make it memorable for kids. Add pizza, milkshakes, and a little arcade energy, and it lands in that sweet spot between outing and easy win.

Lynd Fruit Farm Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 25 | 10 AM–2 PM
Pataskala | Lynd Fruit Farm
Free
https://monarchmeadowsnatives.com/earth-day-celebration

This is the best all-around family outing on the list this week. Birds of prey, crafts, music, food trucks, and a farm setting is a pretty good formula when you want something that feels seasonal without becoming a whole logistical event. It has enough going on to make the drive feel worth it, but still feels relaxed enough for families with younger kids.

2026 Spring Family Campout
Saturday, April 25, 5 PM to Sunday, April 26, 9 AM
Reynoldsburg | Blacklick Woods Metro Park Reservable Picnic Area
Free
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DA9A62CA3FFCE9-63485032-2026#/

This is the clearest core-memory pick of the weekend. Marshmallow roasting, a night hike, stargazing, crafts, and sleeping out at the park gives it that rare combination of low cost and high payoff. It feels adventurous without requiring a full road trip or expensive tickets.

78th BUCKEYE MODEL TRAIN AND RAILROAD ARTIFACT SHOW AND SALE
Saturday, April 25 | 9 AM–4 PM
Columbus | Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds
From $10.38
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/78th-buckeye-model-train-and-railroad-artifact-show-and-sale-4252026-tickets-1984207704658

For the right kid, this is not just a train event. This is the event. It is a fun break from the usual spring festival lineup, and those niche-interest outings tend to hit harder than the generic stuff. If your child is deeply committed to trains, this could absolutely make their weekend.

Fishen With A Mission Kids Fishing Camp
Saturday, April 25 | 10 AM–2 PM
Groveport | 7370 Groveport Rd
$17.85
https://www.unation.com/event/fishen-with-a-mission-kids-fishing-camp-64091260/

A good pick for kids who need movement, fresh air, and something real to do with their hands. Fishing camp is simple, active, and different enough from the usual museum-or-play-place routine to feel like a real change of pace.

Granville’s Lab STEAM Festival
Saturday, April 25 | 1–3 PM
Near East Columbus | Rickenbacker Woods Foundation
Free
https://southsidethrive.org/calendar/

This is a nice STEM option that feels community-based rather than overly packaged. Good for curious kids, and also good for parents who want something educational without it feeling like they accidentally signed up for bonus school.

Interactive Reptile Show by Reptile Adventures
Sunday, April 26 | 11 AM–12 PM
Short North | TownHall Columbus
Free
https://www.townhallornowhere.com/event-details/interactive-reptile-show-by-reptile-adventures-at-townhall-columbus

Live reptiles do not need much help from the marketing department. If you have a kid who loves snakes, turtles, lizards, or anything even slightly weird and scaly, this is an easy yes. Short, free, and very likely to lead to at least one dramatic retelling later.

Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl
Sunday, April 26 | 9 AM–8 PM
Westerville and beyond | Starts at Birdie Books
Free to browse
https://readbirdiebooks.com/events/independent-book-store-day-fjnxm

This is a good one for families who want an outing that can stay flexible. You can make a whole afternoon of it or just stop into one shop, let the kids pick out a book, grab a snack nearby, and head home feeling like you did something. That counts.

City Nature Challenge
Saturday, April 25 | 4–5 PM
Westerville / Columbus | Blendon Woods
Free
https://www.metroparks.net/event/city-nature-challenge-2/

A simple outdoor option with just enough structure to keep kids engaged. It has a scavenger-hunt kind of feel, which helps when you want fresh air but do not want to spend the whole time convincing everyone to keep walking.

School Stage Spotlight: Annie Jr.
Friday, May 1 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 2 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Liberty Middle School | Powell
Tickets: https://olentangy.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?tile_item=9

A nice chance to support a local school and take in a classic most families already know. The Olentangy Liberty Middle School Drama Club is putting on Annie Jr., and there is something especially fun about watching young performers take on a show this familiar. For kids in the audience, it can be genuinely inspiring to see other young people up on stage, and for parents, it is a pretty easy way to spend an afternoon or evening.

If you end up trying one of these, hit reply and let me know how it went. I always like hearing which outings were actually worth the effort.

You do not need to build a perfect weekend. One fun thing, a little fresh air, and maybe a snack nobody spills in the car is enough.

And if you run a local business that serves Columbus families and want to support the newsletter in a thoughtful, community-friendly way, feel free to reach out.

— Columbus Families Unplugged