Your Columbus Family Weekend Cheat Sheet (Apr 3–Apr 5)

Some weekends are built for doing a lot.
This one feels better suited to doing one good thing, preferably outside.

There are plenty of Easter events around town, but a few options this weekend feel a little more memorable than the standard egg dash. A spring festival at the Conservatory. A Yellow Springs day with Young’s and a hike. A Clippers game if you want something easy and classic.

Here are a few worth knowing about.

Sandlot Camp Westerville (Ages 8–13 | Westerville | $230/week)

If you’re still figuring out summer camp, this is a good one to have on your radar.

Sandlot Camp is built around active outdoor games, team-based challenges, and the kind of week where kids come home sweaty, happy, and full of stories. It’s not a single-sport camp, which makes it a great fit for kids who just want to move, play, and be part of something fun.

The structure is thoughtful too, with licensed teachers and coaches leading each week, plus a mix of games, field activities, and character-building woven throughout.

Spots are still available:
• June 1–5
• June 15–19
• July 6–10
• July 20–24

View details and registration: SandlotWesterville.com/registration
You can also get a feel for camp on their Facebook and Instagram

Miner 49er Blacklight Mini Golf
Easter Sunday Special
Sunday, April 5 | 12 to 8 PM
Grandview Heights
Half-priced mini golf all day
https://www.miner49erminigolf.com/

If you need an easy Easter Sunday outing that does not involve sprinting across a field at 9 AM, this is a good one. Miner 49er’s blacklight mini golf has a fun, slightly quirky glow-in-the-dark setup, and they are offering half-priced golf all day Sunday. Even better, you can stay for pizza, milkshakes, and drinks, which makes this feel a little more relaxed than the average family outing.

JASCO Cherry Blossom Day
Sunday, April 5 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Franklin Park Conservatory | Near East / Columbus
Free for Columbus and Franklin County residents with ID
https://www.fpconservatory.org/events/april-community-day/

This is a genuinely good one. Free admission for local residents is already a win, but the bigger draw is everything else layered in: Japanese cultural performances, hands-on activities, food vendors, and an excuse to wander the Conservatory while the cherry blossoms are peaking. It feels different than the standard Easter weekend lineup, and it has real potential for a spring core memory kind of day.

43rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 5 | 2:00 PM
Young’s Jersey Dairy | Yellow Springs
Free
https://youngsdairy.com/easter-egg-hunt/

Young’s Dairy is a great option if your family is in the mood for a fuller day out. The egg hunt is fun on its own, and the nearby hiking in Yellow Springs makes it easy to turn the trip into something a little more memorable.

Columbus Clippers Game
Sunday, April 5 | 1:00–5:00 PM
Huntington Park | Downtown Columbus
Check ticket price
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05006374AB329869

Baseball season is back, which is reason enough to put this on the list. Clippers games are one of the easiest family outings in the city. Grab a hot dog or cotton candy, find your seats, and you’ve got a fun night out.

Eggs, Paws, and Claws
Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4 | 9:15 AM–5:00 PM
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | Powell
Included with regular zoo admission
https://www.columbuszoo.org/events/eggs-paws-and-claws

The zoo tends to do seasonal events well, and this is a nice way to make a regular zoo day feel extra festive. Bunny photos, character meet-and-greets, an egg scavenger hunt, and all the usual animal wandering make this a pretty easy crowd-pleaser.

Spring Break Carnival Skate
Friday, April 3 | 1:30–4:00 PM
Skate Zone 71 | Northland / Columbus
Check rink pricing
https://www.unitedskates.com/skate-zone-71/event/%f0%9f%8c%b8-spring-break-at-skate-zone-71-%f0%9f%8c%b8/

There is something about a roller rink that still hits a very specific childhood memory for a lot of us. This one is active, indoors, and has that spring-break energy that makes it feel more fun than a standard open skate.

Children of the Sahel: WSSA Culture Show!
Saturday, April 4 | 5:00–7:30 PM
Ohio Union | University District / Columbus
Starts at $10
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/children-of-the-sahel-wssa-culture-show-tickets-1981266118294

If you want one option this weekend that feels completely different from the Easter circuit, this is probably it. Music, dance, and a celebration of Sahelian culture makes for a more lively Saturday night pick, especially for families with elementary-age kids who enjoy performances.

Upper Arlington-Grandview KidsFest
Friday, April 3 | 5:00–8:00 PM
Tremont Elementary School | Upper Arlington
Free
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-kidslinked-upper-arlington-grandview-kidsfest-43-registration-1982847125128

A nice Friday option when you want something easy and social without putting a lot of thought into it. Bounce-house energy, kid activities, and enough going on to make it feel like a real start to the weekend.

Drop in: Squirrel World
Saturday, April 4 | 1:00–3:00 PM
Highbanks Nature Center | Lewis Center
Free
https://www.metroparks.net/event/drop-in-squirrel-world/

Best viewed as a nice add-on to a Highbanks hike. If you were already planning to get outside, this gives the outing a little extra shape without turning it into a whole production.

Kids Slime Making & Acrylic Paint Pour Class
Saturday, April 4 | 9:00 AM
Terra Gallery & Creative Studio | Dublin
Check ticket price
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kids-slime-making-acrylic-paint-pour-class-tickets-63092248614?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

A solid pick for kids who would rather make something than hunt for eggs. Messy, hands-on, and much more interesting than another generic craft table.

Kids Easter Brunch With Easter Bunny
Sunday, April 5 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
TownHall Short North | Short North / Columbus
Free entry, food extra
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kids-easter-brunch-with-easter-bunny-townhall-short-north-tickets-1984939990946

This is the useful one. Good for families with grandparents in town, kids in Easter clothes, or anyone who wants a festive morning without having to organize much themselves.

That’s it.

You do not need to pack the whole weekend full. If one of these turns into a fun afternoon, a good meal, or one of those “we should do that again” family outings, that’s enough.

If you end up trying something from this list, reply and let me know how it went. I always like hearing which things were actually worth it.

Also, we’re currently partnering with a few local businesses that want to support Columbus Families Unplugged in a thoughtful, community-friendly way. If that sounds interesting to you or your business, you can share a few details here: https://forms.gle/Z4nu9vDZrbDVr7Dq5

Here’s to one good outing, a little spring weather, and maybe not spending the whole weekend in the car.

— Columbus Families Unplugged