Happy Friday, Columbus
Some weekends have room for a plan.
Some have room for one good outing, one iced coffee, and a slightly later bedtime.
So here’s a short list for July 10 through 12. A few genuinely good options around town, with one standout if you want to make a day of it, plus a couple easier plays if your weekend energy is more “let’s keep this manageable.”
If You Only Do One Thing This Weekend
Columbus Book Festival
Saturday, July 11, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Main Library + Topiary Park | Downtown Columbus
Free
https://www.columbusbookfestival.org/
This is the kind of event that works for a surprisingly wide range of ages. There are author talks, family entertainment, exhibitors, food trucks, and plenty of room to wander without feeling locked into a schedule. If you have a kid who loves books, great. If you have a kid who mostly loves snacks, grass, and the occasional interesting distraction, honestly, still great. It feels big enough to be memorable without tipping into exhausting.
Happening This Weekend
Westerville Music & Arts Festival
Saturday, July 11, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Heritage Park | Westerville
$2
https://www.visitwesterville.org/event/westerville-music-and-arts-festival/2026-07-11/
A very solid family festival pick. Live music, artists, food, and enough going on that it feels like a real outing, not just a quick lap around vendor booths before everyone asks for a snack. The $2 admission helps too. Low enough to feel easy, but still like you went somewhere worth going.
Commons for Kids: STEAM Day
Friday, July 10, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Columbus Commons | Downtown Columbus
Free
https://columbuscommons.org/event/commons-for-kids-steam-day-2/
This is a strong Friday option if your kids like to touch everything and ask how everything works. Face painting, inflatables, lawn games, crafts, and hands-on activities makes it feel more fun than formal. A good pick for younger elementary kids especially, and easy to pair with lunch downtown after.
Summer Movie Series: Lilo & Stitch
Friday, July 10, 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Windsor Neighborhood Green Space | New Albany
Free
https://newalbanyohio.org/event/summer-movie-series-lilo-stitch/
A very easy Friday night plan. Show up with blankets, let the kids sprawl out on the grass, and call it a family movie night without having to clean your living room first. This is exactly the kind of event that doesn’t require much from you, which sometimes is the whole selling point.
Picktown Palooza
Saturday, July 11, 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM
300 Opportunity Way | Pickerington
$20 adults, kids 10 and under free with paying adult
https://picktownpalooza.org/schedule/
If you want something bigger, this is probably it. Festival energy, entertainment, food, vendors, and enough going on that you can stretch it into a full afternoon if the mood is right. It is a little more commitment than some of the others, but for the right family, this is the “make a memory and come home tired” option.
Culture Fusion Festival - 2K26
Saturday, July 11
Nafzger Park | Columbus
See event listing
https://www.facebook.com/events/nafzger-park/culture-fusion-festival-2k26/1136595905126459/
This is the wildcard of the weekend, in a good way. A cultural festival can be one of the easiest ways to make a regular Saturday feel more interesting. New food, music, different rhythms, and something your kids will probably remember better than another standard playground stop.
All Disabilities Festival
Sunday, July 12, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Dorrian Green | Downtown Columbus
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/cosi-center-of-science-and-industry/free-event-12th-annual-all-disabilities-festival-christmas-in-july/1762361801875020/
A free, family-friendly Sunday event with a welcoming community feel. This one stands out because it feels festive without asking families to spend much, and it is the kind of outing where everyone can settle in at their own pace. A nice option if you want something social but not overly complicated.
Easy Wins
FREE Kayak Days
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Boat launch under the Main Street bridge | Downtown Columbus
Free
https://www.sciotomile.com/events/
If your kids are old enough for it, this is a pretty great add-on. Being on the water automatically makes a regular day feel more memorable, and free makes it even better. This works especially well if you are already downtown for something else.
Worthington Farmers Market
Saturday, July 11, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Downtown Worthington
Free admission
https://www.worthington.org/calendar.aspx?EID=9207&PREVIEW=YES
A classic low-pressure Saturday morning outing. Walk around, grab a pastry, listen to a little music, let the kids point out things they would never eat at home but suddenly find fascinating in market form. Home by lunch, which is always a point in its favor.
The Dublin Market
Saturday, July 11, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Bridge Park | Dublin
Free admission
https://www.visitdublinohio.com/event/the-dublin-market/1642/
Another easy morning option if you want something simple but still a little lively. Bridge Park gives you room to stroll, and the market setup makes it easy to stay 30 minutes or turn it into more of a morning depending on how everyone is doing.
If you end up trying one of these, hit reply and let me know how it went. The best finds usually come from other Columbus parents.
And a small reminder for the weekend: you do not need to maximize it. One good outing is plenty.
If you run a local business that serves Columbus families and want to support the newsletter, reply and say hello.
— Columbus Families Unplugged