Happy Friday, Columbus,
Starting to feel a little bit more like Summer around here! Hopefully we are able to dodge a few spring storms and actually get outside to enjoy this weekend.
This one has a little of everything: a big festival day, a strawberry-themed Columbus moment, free museum options, and a birding event that feels oddly charming in the best way.
You do not need to maximize the weekend. One good outing is enough.
Featured Partner
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://mlabohio.com/camps.html
For kids who are always climbing the couch, launching themselves off furniture, or turning the backyard into an obstacle course, Movement Lab makes a lot of sense. This North Columbus gym offers ninja and parkour classes, camps, open gym time, and parties in a space that feels active, focused, and a lot more interesting than the usual indoor play spot.
What we like about it is that it gives all that energy somewhere useful to go. Kids get to climb, swing, balance, and move with purpose, and the setup feels designed for actual skill-building, not just chaos with padded walls. It is fun, but it also feels like the kind of place where kids can really grow into something.
If You Only Do One Thing This Weekend
Asian Festival
Saturday, May 23 | 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Franklin Park | Near East
Free
https://asian-festival.org/
If you want the kind of outing that can carry a whole day, this is probably it. There’s food, performances, cultural demonstrations, plenty to see as you wander, and enough variety that different ages can all find something to latch onto. It feels festive without needing much explanation. Just show up, explore, snack often, and call it a win.
Happening This Weekend
FountainFest
Saturday, May 23 | 12:00-4:00 PM
Bicentennial Park | Downtown / Scioto Mile
Free
https://downtowncolumbus.com/event/fountain-fest/
This is a strong contender if you want summer energy without planning a whole production. The fountain reopening, open space, entertainment, and food trucks make this one easy to say yes to, especially if your kids are happiest near water and moving at full speed.
Land-Grant × Jeni’s Strawberry Jam
Saturday, May 23 | 11:00 AM
Land-Grant Brewing + Town Street | Franklinton
Free admission, pay as you go
https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/event/land-grant-%C3%97-jenis-strawberry-jam/92833/
This is such a specific Columbus sentence that it almost sells itself. Strawberries, Jeni’s, Franklinton, family-friendly activities, and live music is a pretty good formula for a Saturday outing. A nice pick if you want something festive but slightly less all-day than a major festival.
Farm Animal Event at Westerville Library
Saturday, May 23 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Westerville Public Library | Westerville
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/westerville-public-library/farm-animal-event-at-westerville-library/1520202316491602/
This is exactly the kind of low-effort, high-payoff event we love. Kids get actual farm animals. Parents get a clear start and end time. Nobody has to invent fun from scratch. Great for younger kids, and easy to pair with a coffee stop or a quick park visit after.
Columbus Clippers Game
Saturday, May 23 | 7:00-9:00 PM
Huntington Park | Arena District
Paid admission
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05006374AB5398B7?adobe_mc=MCMID=43765196898215203280317153039992606093|MCORGID=A65F776A5245B01B0A490D44%40AdobeOrg|TS=1779195612
If your family is in the mood for a night out, this is the splurge pick. A Clippers game is one of those outings that usually lands well even if not everyone is deeply invested in baseball. Add Star Wars Night and postgame fireworks, and it starts to feel like a full event instead of just a game.
Free Sundays at CMA
Sunday, May 24 | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Columbus Museum of Art | Downtown
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/480-e-broad-st-columbus-oh-united-states-ohio-43215/free-sundays-at-columbus-museum-of-art/1440063930820701/
This is one of the easiest Sunday recommendations in the city. Free admission takes the pressure off, and the museum gives you room to have exactly the kind of outing you need. Wander a little. Stay longer if it clicks. Leave before anyone melts down. All acceptable outcomes.
May Community Day
Sunday, May 24 | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Franklin Park Conservatory | Near East / Franklin Park
Free for Columbus and Franklin County residents with ID
https://www.fpconservatory.org/events/may-community-day/
A free Conservatory day is always worth a look, and this one is especially nice if you want something that feels a little special without spending much. It is easy to roam, easy to pace, and has enough built in to keep the day from feeling flat. A strong choice for families who want a Sunday outing that still feels relaxed.
Easy Wins
Rocky Fork Family Bird Hike
Sunday, May 24 | 11:00 AM
Rocky Fork Metro Park | New Albany / Northeast
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/rocky-fork-metro-park/rocky-fork-family-bird-hike/2481418068957508/
A birding event is one of those things that sounds either very peaceful or very aspirational depending on how your morning is going. But this is a sweet option if you want fresh air, a little structure, and a reason to notice what is happening around you besides who forgot their water bottle.
Blooms & Butterflies
Saturday, May 23 | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Franklin Park Conservatory | Near East / Franklin Park
General admission
https://www.fpconservatory.org/exhibitions/blooms-butterflies/
If your family likes outings that are calm, pretty, and easy to enjoy without a lot of build-up, this is a good one. Butterflies do most of the work here. You just walk in and let the kids be delighted.
That’s the list.
If you try one this weekend, hit reply and let me know how it went. I always like hearing which events were actually worth the shoes, snacks, and sunscreen.
Hope you find one thing that feels easy and a little memorable.
If you run a local business that serves Columbus families and want to support the newsletter, reply and I’d be happy to share partner details.
— Columbus Families Unplugged
