Happy Friday, Columbus —
This weekend has a little bit of everything.
You could go big and make a whole outing of it. You could keep things simple and still end up with a really good afternoon. You could expose your kids to local art, local wildlife, young entrepreneurs, or a few truly elite dogs doing things your dog would absolutely never agree to do.
That’s a pretty solid weekend lineup.
If you only do one thing, I’d make it the Columbus Arts Festival. But there are a handful of other very good options too.
If You Only Do One Thing This Weekend
Columbus Arts Festival
Friday, June 12 | 11:00 AM-9:00 PM
Downtown Columbus | Scioto Riverfront / Bicentennial Park
Free admission
https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/event/columbus-arts-festival/89911/
This is such a good Columbus event. It feels local in the best way. You get the art, the community, the chance to support local artists, and one of the prettiest settings in the city all at once. Walking along the Scioto Mile right by the river is already nice, and then you add food trucks, arts and crafts, and all the festival energy and it starts to feel like a full outing instead of just something you pop into for 20 minutes.
Happening This Weekend
Second Sunday at Ohio Wildlife Center
Sunday, June 14 | 1:00-3:00 PM
Powell | Ohio Wildlife Center
Free
https://ohiowildlifecenter.org/event/second-sunday/2026-06-14/
I love this one because it is such a contrast to the big festival energy of downtown. This is the slower, lower-key option if you want to get outside and reconnect with nature a bit. You can meet animal ambassadors, walk the trails, and support an organization doing genuinely good work rehabilitating wildlife here in Ohio. It also feels nice that the people helping make it happen are volunteers who care deeply about these animals.
Acton Academy Children’s Fair
Saturday, June 13 | 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
Dublin | Riverside Crossing Park
Free
https://dublinohiousa.gov/calendar-events/acton-academy-childrens-fair/
This basically feels like a lemonade stand on steroids. I love the idea of walking around this with kids and letting them see what other kids are capable of building when they have an idea and actually go for it. It is fun, but it also has that nice community-building layer where you are supporting young entrepreneurs and maybe planting a few ideas of their own along the way.
Dog Days of Summer Community Event
Saturday, June 13 | 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
Northeast Columbus | America's Floor Source
Free
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/americas-floor-source-dog-days-of-summer-tickets-1988853909582?aff=oddtdtcreator
A lot of kids already think dogs are impressive because their own dog can sit or shake paws. This is a chance to see dogs who are basically athletes. If your family has ever watched dog agility on TV and thought, “okay, that’s actually amazing,” this feels like a fun way to see that kind of wow factor in person. Add food trucks and kid-friendly activities and it has the makings of a surprisingly great afternoon.
Cinema Under the Stars
Friday, June 12 | Pre-show at 5:30 PM, movie at 8:00 PM
Gahanna | Friendship Park
Free
https://www.gahanna.gov/633/Cinema-Under-the-Stars
I am always in for these community movie nights. Watching a movie with a crowd just makes it more fun, and this one has enough extras to make it feel like an actual event instead of just a screening in a park. Crafts, bounce houses, vendors, and face painting go a long way, especially when the whole thing still does not cost an arm and a leg.
Juneteenth BASH 2026: Black Authors Spotlight on Heritage
Sunday, June 14 | 1:00-5:00 PM
Near East / King-Lincoln | Martin Luther King Branch Library
Free with registration
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-bash-2026-black-authors-spotlight-on-heritage-tickets-1985640810115
I wanted to include this one because I do not think every family outing has to be pure entertainment to be worth doing. This feels like a thoughtful, community-based way to celebrate Juneteenth, with a focus on Black authors and storytelling. For families who want ways to mark important moments and give kids a little more cultural context along the way, this feels like a meaningful option.
Easy Wins
Summer Movie Series – Sonic 3
Friday, June 12 | 6:00-11:00 PM
New Albany | Upper Clarenton Neighborhood
Free
https://newalbanyohio.org/event/summer-movie-series-sonic-3/
Same basic appeal as the Gahanna movie night, just in a different part of town. Balloon artists, face painting, food trucks, and Sonic, which is obviously doing some heavy lifting here. A very easy yes if your kids are into it.
Gone Fishing at Cabela’s
Sunday, June 14 | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Polaris | Cabela’s Columbus
Free
https://www.columbusonthecheap.com/fishing-event-at-cabelas/
If you are already going to be up around Polaris, this is a pretty great stop-in option. Especially if you are grabbing a few things at the mall anyway. Low effort, hands-on, and enough built-in novelty to make it worth the detour.
That’s it.
If you end up trying one of these, hit reply and let me know how it went. I always like hearing which events were actually worth it for real Columbus families.
One good outing is plenty. You do not need to optimize the whole weekend to have a memorable one.
If you run a local business that serves Columbus families and want to support the newsletter, reply and I’d be happy to share sponsorship details.
— Columbus Families Unplugged