Happy Friday, Columbus,
This weekend has a little extra buzz to it.
Dublin is in full Memorial Tournament mode, summer schedules are starting to get loose again, and suddenly it feels like the kind of weekend where you should probably have at least one plan. Not a full itinerary. Just one thing that gets everyone out of the house and gives the day a little shape.
That is the goal here, as always.
Here are a few family-friendly picks for June 5 through 7.
Featured Partner: Movement Lab
Movement Lab Ohio
North Columbus
Summer Camp Hours: Full Day 9 AM-4 PM | Half Day 9 AM-12 PM or 1 PM-4 PM
https://www.mlabohio.com/camps.html
If summer break has already turned your house into a trampoline park with snack requests, Movement Lab is worth a look. Their summer camps are built for kids ages 5 to 12 and include ninja and parkour-style movement, games, open gym time, trampoline, and foam pit time, with full-day, half-day, and weekly options. No previous ninja or parkour experience is needed.
Movement Lab is active, structured, and designed for kids who need to move. Full-day camp runs 9 AM to 4 PM, with half-day options in the morning or afternoon. Pricing on the camp page is listed as $105 for a full day and $55 for a half day for non-members.
If You Only Do One Thing This Weekend
The Memorial Tournament
Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7
Muirfield Village Golf Club | Dublin
Ticketed adult required. Kids 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult.
https://www.thememorialtournament.com/tickets/overview/
If your family already has tickets lined up, this is one of the more memorable outings of the weekend. Kids 15 and under get in free with a ticketed adult, which makes it more family-friendly than a lot of big events, and there is enough people-watching, walking, and general big-event energy to make it fun even if your kids are not exactly golf purists. Dublin is lively all weekend, and if you want to stretch the outing a bit, Fore!Fest at Bridge Park is part of the surrounding Memorial-weekend atmosphere too.
Happening This Weekend
Commons for Kids – Animal Day
Friday, June 5 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Columbus Commons | Downtown Columbus
Free
https://columbuscommons.org/event/commons-for-kids-animal-day-2/
A very easy Friday outing for younger kids. Animal encounters, face painting, and enough built-in activity that you do not have to work too hard to make it feel like a real outing. This is a good one for the “we should do something, but not too much” crowd.
Arts on Arlington
Friday, June 5 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Mallway Park | Upper Arlington
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/986856727089470/
Live music, local artists, food, and interactive art stations make this a nice summer Friday option. It feels local in the best way. Not giant, not overhyped, just a genuinely pleasant way to spend an evening outside.
Free Family Movie Night: Aladdin
Friday, June 5 | 7:00 PM
Columbus Commons | Downtown Columbus
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/160-s-high-st-columbus-oh-united-states-ohio-43215/free-family-movie-night-aladdin/810248755466303/
Outdoor movie nights are one of those summer traditions that almost always feel worth the effort once you are actually there. Bring a blanket, grab the free popcorn if you get there in time, and call it a win.
June Community Day
Sunday, June 7 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Franklin Park Conservatory | Near East Columbus
Free with Columbus or Franklin County ID
https://www.fpconservatory.org/events/june-community-day/
This is one of the best flexible Sunday options in town. You can wander, linger, move quickly, or let the kids set the pace a little. It works whether you want a full afternoon outing or just somewhere reliably good to go for a couple of hours.
Bring the Zoo to You
Sunday, June 7 | 4:00 PM–6:00 PM
Britton Farms Park | Hilliard
Free
https://hilliardohio.gov/event/bring-the-zoo-to-you-2/
Live animals, crafts, balloon twisters, and airbrush tattoos is a pretty strong lineup for a free community event. This feels especially useful if you want something that is easy to say yes to and likely to go over well with a wide age range.
Easy Wins
Westerville Saturday Farmers Market
Saturday, June 6 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
COhatch / North High Brewing area | Westerville
Free admission
https://www.westerville.org/about-westerville/events-calendar
A coffee, a pastry, a little wandering, maybe home before anyone melts down. Sometimes that is the whole plan, and honestly, sometimes that is the right one.
Frog Friday
Friday, June 5 | 8:00 PM–9:00 PM
Highlands Wetlands | Westerville
Free
https://parks.westerville.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/16170/2414?backlist=%2Fparks-home-page
A short evening nature outing with just enough novelty to feel memorable. Nighttime events tend to have an automatic sense of adventure for kids, and looking for frogs is a pretty good way to make an ordinary Friday feel slightly more interesting.
That’s the list.
If you end up trying one of these, hit reply and let me know how it went. I always like hearing which outings actually worked for real Columbus families.
You do not need to win the weekend. One good outing is enough, especially if everyone ends the day a little tired and mostly happy.
And if you run a local business that serves Columbus families and want to learn more about supporting the newsletter, feel free to reach out.
— Columbus Families Unplugged