200+ events for Summer fun at Columbus Commons

Columbus Commons is THE place to be in Downtown Columbus all Summer long!

With diverse programming of over 200 events including family movies and concerts, fitness classes, free carousel rides, date-night events, festivals, and more, there’s always something going on at Columbus Commons. 

photo: Robb McCormick Photography

Hungry? Pack a picnic, or Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Tortilla Street Food are on-site for events. Monday – Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Select events will also have food trucks to dine from!

Free Carousel Rides

Daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | April 17 – Sept. 30

Take a spin on the Carousel, no matter what your age!

credit: Columbus Commons

Kickball facilitated by Go Kickball!

Mondays and Tuesdays, 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. | April – October

Kickball is back at Columbus Commons this season, with three sessions to choose from. Grab your friends and coworkers and register to play!

Photo by Robb McCormick Photography (www.robbmccormick.com)

Free Fitness Classes with Quality Wellness & RawYoga614

Tuesday, May 6 – Tuesday, Sept. 30
Free outdoor HIIT and yoga classes for all skill levels. Bring a friend or stop by solo to get your sweat on in the heart of Downtown Columbus.

• Tuesdays – HIIT, 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays –Yoga, 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Read more here. 

Columbus Commons, Photo by Robb McCormick Photography (www.robbmccormick.com)

Breakfast at the Commons

Wednesdays, 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | May – October, 2025

Stop by the Commons to enjoy several rotating breakfast food trucks

Food Truck Food Court

Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | May – October, 2025

Enjoy lunch from Columbus’ best food trucks on Thursdays. Nine trucks will be featured throughout the season including Elevated Pizza, Fetty’s Street Food, McGinnis Grill, Pitabilities, Schmidt’s, Taesty’s and Zaki Grill, with two rotating trucks each month.

Local Matters Veggie Van will be joining our line-up again to provide fresh produce to Columbus Commons visitors.

Read more here. 

Columbus Commons, Photo by Robb McCormick Photography www.robbmccormick.com ©2022

Free Friday Family Movie Nights

Catch a free flick with the family at Columbus Commons. Movies start at 7 pm. Free popcorn while supplies last. Details here. 

May 9 – Finding Nemo
June 20 – Inside Out
July 18 – Surf’s Up
Aug 1 – Tangled
Sept. 5 – Moana 2

Free Commons for Kids

Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | June 7 – Aug. 9

Free kid-friendly fun including inflatables (select weeks), face painting, unique activities facilitated by community partners, crafts and of course, carousel rides.

Read more about the themes and other fun during Commons for Kids. 

Family Funday Columbus Commons credit: Randall L. Schieber

Free Local + Live Concert Series

Free live music outside in Downtown Columbus. A bar and food trucks will be available. Concerts start at 6 pm 

Friday, May 23 – The Song Remains: A Night of Led Zeppelin with a Pink Floyd Tribute Band
Sunday, June 8 – Parker Louis with The Deeptones (start time is 5 p.m.)
Thursday, July 31 – Mojo x Yoncé…A MojoFlo Beyoncé show with Eric Rollin & Friends
Thursday, August 14 – Zoo Trippin’, Paul Valdiviez & The Devious Boys, and The High Definitions
Friday, August 29 – The Dead Revival Band with The Groove Brothers Band: A Celebration of The Allman Brothers Band
Sunday, August 31 – Shadowbox Live Performance of Rock This Way: A Music Tribute to Aerosmith and Van Halen
Friday, September 26 – The Navigators

More details here

Photo by Robb McCormick Photography www.robbmccormick.com

Sunset Movie Series

Enjoy a movie under the stars and city skyline at this free series. Bring a blanket, grab a drink from the bar and enjoy the movie! Free popcorn while supplies last. Presented in partnership with CAPA
Thursdays in October, 7 p.m.

Oct 2 – Goosebumps
Oct 9 – Hocus Pocus
Oct 16 – The Goonies
Oct 23 – Wicked
Oct 30 – The Nightmare Before Christmas

One-Time Events at Columbus Commons

Free Family Fun Day

Saturday, May 24 | 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Free family fun for everyone to enjoy! Inflatables, face painting, live music, crafts and more.

image: cotc

Family Funday at the Columbus Commons

Free Harvest Fair

Saturday, Sept. 6 | 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrate the shift to cooler weather with free fall-themed family fun for everyone to enjoy! Inflatables, face painting, pumpkin patch, petting-zoo, live music, crafts and more.

image: Columbus Commons

Other events hosted at Columbus Commons

SUMMER614 Concert produced by Fame Productions

Friday, May 30 | 6 p.m. & Saturday, May 31 | 4 p.m.

Your favorite R&B & Hip-Hop festival is expanding to TWO days, bringing the best in music and wellness! Produced by Fame Productions, SUMMER614 — where Music is Therapy— features Tank, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Total, Stokley from Mint Condition, Tweet, J Holiday and more in this beloved kickoff to summer! Tickets here. 

Women of Color Owned Summer Market by Zora’s House

Saturday, June 7| 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Zora’s House is bringing their WoCO (Women of Color Owned) Summer Market to Columbus Commons for the third year in a row. The Market will feature some of the most amazing Women of Color artisans in Columbus!

Enjoy live music, food trucks, activities for the kiddos and so much more! A free, family friendly event.

Picnic with the Pops produced by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra

June 14 – July 26 | 6 p.m.
The summer home of the Columbus Symphony, Columbus Commons is excited to host another season of the annual outdoor concert series, Picnic with the Pops. Tickets required to attend.

schedule tba

Picnic with the Pops and Richard Marx Columbus Commons

Celebrating the Lasting Legacy of Unstoppable Women produced by Momentum Dance

Thursday, July 17 | 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Join Momentum as they showcase the culmination of their Summer Intensive program. This year, Momentum’s free dance performance celebrates seven extraordinary women from Ohio and beyond, who forged their own path and made lasting contributions to science, art, literature, politics, and social change. By illuminating their stories, we are inspired to pursue our passions, embrace our individuality, and bravely build a more equitable world.

614 Funk Fest Concert produced by Fame Productions

Saturday, Aug. 9 | 4 p.m.
The producers of SUMMER614 bring your favorite Funk groups to Columbus Commons, complete with music starring Morris Day, ZAPP & Friends, Con Funk Shun with food, drinks and vendors you won’t want to miss!

Tickets are required to attend.

*All events are subject to change

About John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons
Set within the scenic Downtown skyline, Columbus Commons is more than just a six-acre park. It is a gathering space for Central Ohio, a backyard for Downtown residents and an attraction for people of all ages.