Happy Friday, Columbus!
Mother’s Day lands on Sunday, and this feels like a good weekend to celebrate the people who keep the whole operation running. The snack-packers. The schedule jugglers. The ones who know where the lost shoe is, until they don’t.
So this week’s list leans a little festive, a little easy, and very doable. A few options if you want to make a proper outing of it, a few if you just want to get out of the house for a while and call that a win.
If You Only Do One Thing This Weekend
Upper Arlington Spring Fling
Saturday, May 9 | 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
Sunny 95 Park, Upper Arlington
Free
https://www.upperarlingtonoh.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=1333
This is probably the best all-around family outing of the weekend. Touch-a-truck, inflatables, crafts, entertainment, and enough going on that you do not have to work very hard as the parent in charge. Which, honestly, feels on theme for Mother’s Day weekend. If you want one event that feels festive without being complicated, this is a very good bet.
Happening This Weekend
WOSU Second Saturday Kids Days
Saturday, May 9 | 9:00 AM-11:00 AM
WOSU Public Media Headquarters
Free
https://www.wosu.org/events/event/wosu-presents-second-saturday-kids-days-may-05-05-2026-11-52-19
A very solid low-stakes Saturday morning option, especially for younger kids. Crafts, coloring, chalk, bubbles, and an artist visit make this feel a little more special than a standard drop-in activity, but still easy enough to be home by lunch.
Salamander Search
Saturday, May 9
Blendon Woods Nature Center
Free
https://www.facebook.com/events/blendon-woods-nature-center-4265-e-dublin-granville-rd-westerville-oh-united-sta/salamander-search/965555922529212/
If your kid is in a bugs, frogs, salamanders, sticks, mud, or “what lives under that log?” phase, this one has real potential. It is one of the more memorable nature options on the list, and the kind of outing that can feel oddly magical without needing tickets, lines, or much prep.
May Hops on High
Saturday, May 9 | 12:00 PM-8:00 PM
Short North
Free
https://shortnorth.org/hops-on-high/
This is a good one for families who prefer a wander to a formal event. The street goes pedestrian-only, there are makers and artists all along the route, and food trucks do a lot of the heavy lifting. Great for an afternoon when you want energy and snacks, but not a rigid plan.
2026 Columbus Spring Makers Festival & Vendor Market
Friday-Sunday, May 8-10
North Bank Park, Downtown
Free
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-columbus-spring-makers-festival-vendor-market-tickets-1983455621156
Another browse-and-stroll kind of outing, but with more festival market energy. This feels like a nice pick if you want to be downtown, poke around a bunch of local vendors, and keep the day flexible. Easy to do for an hour or easy to stretch longer if everyone is in a decent mood.
Mother’s Day Flowerpot Craft
Saturday, May 9 | 11:00 AM
Franklin Park Conservatory
$5 per craft, plus admission
https://www.fpconservatory.org/events/mothers-day-flower-craft/
A genuinely nice Mother’s Day weekend pick because it still feels kid-centered. Decorate a flowerpot, plant a spring flower, and walk away with something sweet that does not involve glitter taking over your dining table. Also easy to pair with time in the Conservatory if you want to make it more of an outing.
Free Sunday at Columbus Museum of Art
Sunday, May 10 | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Columbus Museum of Art, Downtown
Free
https://www.columbusmuseum.org/free-discounted-tickets/
This is one of the best flexible options of the weekend. Free admission on Sunday makes it easy on the budget, and it works whether you want a slower Mother’s Day outing or just need an indoor plan that still feels worthwhile. Wander a little, let the kids pick what they want to look at, and leave before anyone melts down. A very respectable strategy.
Easy Wins
Storyline Presents: Mother’s Day Books & Blooms
Sunday, May 10 | 11:00 AM or 3:00 PM
Storyline Bookshop, Upper Arlington
See event page
Morning: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storyline-presents-mothers-day-books-blooms-morning-tickets-1987276088276
Afternoon: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storyline-presents-mothers-day-books-blooms-afternoon-tickets-1987276231705
A nice smaller-scale Mother’s Day outing if you want something bookish and calm. This feels especially good for families who want to mark the day without turning it into a whole production.
Worthington Farmers Market
Saturday, May 9 | 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Downtown Worthington
Free admission
https://worthington.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=9198
Reliable for a reason. Grab coffee, pick up something good to eat, let the kids wander a little, and call it a successful morning. You could also pair this with Green on the Green nearby if you want to turn Worthington into the plan.
Not Your Mama's Mother's Day Craft Market
Sunday, May 10 | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM
The Exchange at Bridge Park, Dublin
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/not-your-mamas-mothers-day-craft-market-dublins-bridge-park-tickets-1983898539938?aff=erelexpmlt
A fun Mother’s Day add-on if you want something a little more festive than the usual brunch routine. Think local makers, easy browsing, and a built-in excuse to wander Bridge Park with coffee or a snack in hand.
That’s it.
You do not need to plan the perfect Mother’s Day weekend. One good outing, one easy memory, one stretch of time where nobody is asking where their water bottle went is enough.
If you try one of these, reply and let me know how it went. I always love hearing which events were actually worth it in real life.
And if you run a local business that serves Columbus families, there are a few sponsor spots opening up in upcoming issues.
— Columbus Families Unplugged
