Fall programs and events Ohio History Center and Ohio Village

Ohio History Center and Ohio Village are the perfect places to visit for some historical fun in Columbus.

Ohio Village is a full-scale 1890’s village, with characters ready to tell you about life in the 1890’s as you explore the buildings, homes, and participate in traditional activities.

The Village is closed in winter, except for special events, but the Ohio History Center has fun all year round.

Your visit at Ohio History Center features interactive exhibits exploring everything from life in the 1950s to extinct and endangered Ohio species to an exquisite collection of restored Civil War battle flags.

Ohio History Center

Ohio History Center is open Wednesdays–Sundays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., in addition to special events.

Admission is $16/Adult, $14/age 60+ or college student with ID, $10/ages 4–12, and Free/age 3 & under. Ohio History Connection members enjoy free admission. Select special events may require additional fee.

Pre-purchase tickets are available, but not required. Walk-up admission is available anytime during open hours at the Ohio History Center front desk.

Read below for some of the upcoming events at Ohio History Center.

Exploring Ohio Village

Visit a reimagined 19th century community full of 1890s fun from Spring through late Fall, plus holiday events.

Set in the 1890s, Ohio Village features an era that represents a fascinating time in history, one in which technology, politics and everyday life was changing at a rapid pace. 

Explore the community and meet and interact with citizens of Ohio Village; see our NEW villagers and hear their stories.

Visit the bicycle shop and discover cycling, the latest craze. Experience storytelling, food preparations and demonstrations with vintage recipe cards.

You can feed and tend to the chickens, play traditional games like croquet–an 1890s favorite–on the village green, and watch a vintage 19th century baseball game played by the Ohio Village Muffins. 

photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection

Food and Drink

The Ohio Village Emporium now offers a selection of grab-n-go foods and cold beverages every day from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy your purchase at nearby picnic tables and other outdoor seating in Ohio Village, or bring your blanket for an old-fashioned picnic.

Ohio History Connection members save 10%. 

Ohio Village Admission details

Open to the Public: During the summer, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays

Admission: $16/Adults, $10/Children ages 4–12, $14/60+ or College student with ID, Free/Ohio  History Connection member or age 3 and under. Parking is free. 

See ohiohistory.org/ohiovillage for additional ticketing information. 

800 E. 17th Ave. (I-71 and 17th) in Columbus

Events at Ohio Village and Ohio History Center

Ohio Archaeology Day 2023

September 30, 2023 from 10 am – 4 pm.

Learn what it takes to be an archaeologist, participate in a mock dig on site and hear from experts in the field. Activities will include presentations, partner booths, pottery making, flint knapping, atlatl throwing and mastodon crafts. 

Special day exploring Ohio archaeology. More details to be announced.

All Hallows’ Eve Sleepy Hollow at Ohio Village

Saturdays, October 7th, 14th, 21nd, and 28th, 2023 from 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Enjoy a traditional 19th Century Halloween with family-friendly haunted events in the village. Activities include pumpkin carving, fortune telling, crafts, games, and Halloween traditions from the 1890’s.

But beware… the Headless Horseman will visit during a bonfire reading of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow each night. 

Join in the 19th century masquerade party, meet the strange characters roaming the Village, and explore the funeral parlor to learn about 19th century funeral practices. 

Special event requires tickets for members and non-members. Purchase on the website.

Celebrate a traditional 1890’s Halloween at All Hallows’ Eve at Ohio Village

Victorian Dance Workshop

November 4, 2023
Learn the thrilling and surprisingly accessible art of ballroom dancing in this Victorian Dance Workshop! Register here.

Columbus Member Advantage Program

If you’re a member of select Central Ohio attractions, you can save $3 on general admission to Ohio History Center and Ohio Village and other attractions through the Columbus Member Advantage program. No coupon is necessary.

Simply show your valid participating membership card when you visit! Limited to 4 discounts per membership per day; can’t be combined with other discounts.  

Member Advantage partners for 2023 include:

• Columbus Museum of Art and Pizzuti Collection (see our article)
• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (see our article)
• Dawes Arboretum (see our article)
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (see our article)
• LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Columbus (see our article)
• National Veterans Memorial and Museum (see our article)
• Ohio History Center & Ohio Village (see our article)
• Wexner Center for the Arts (see our article)
• The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology (also qualifies for ASTC reciprocal admission)
• Columbus Metropolitan Club

Ohio History Center 
800 E. 17th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43211

Special events; tba for upcoming year

The Ohio Village photographed Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus, Ohio. (© James DeCamp Photography | Tom Dukes Photo

photo: Ohio Village

Dickens of a Christmas 

Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10 & 17, 2022 • 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Sundays, Dec. 4, 11 & 18, 2022 • 1–5 p.m.

Ohio Village celebrates a Victorian Christmas with Dickens of a Christmas, inspired by the stories of Charles Dickens. 

Wander the Village and visit with characters from Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” and the residents of Ohio Village. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, hands-on crafts, decorations, caroling, readings by candlelight, and many more Victorian holiday traditions.

Join the villagers in music, dancing, and activities of the era.

Advanced registration required, see more details here.

Kwanzaa – A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture 

The Ohio History Center is hosting a Kwanzaa celebration from December 26-December 31, 2022 from 4-8 pm. 

Kwanzaa, which means first fruits or harvest in Swahili, is a celebration honoring African American culture. Based on the Seven Principles of Nguzo Saba. OHC and TAWI Family Village will present two evenings of Kwanzaa that will feature African drumming, music, dance, storytelling and hands on art activities.  

See more details here.

MLK Jr. Day Celebration

Monday, January 16, 2023 • 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Ohio History Center, Columbus

In Partnership with King Arts Complex, the Ohio History Connection presents the annual, MLK Open House.

Celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King through visual and performing art performances. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the impact of Dr. King’s teachings and learn how his work changed the trajectory of the country. 

More information on the programs happening this day will be added soon! Please check back here.

Seeds of Caring MLK Day of Service

January 16, 2023 at 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm
Celebrate MLK Day as a “day on, not a day off” through 5 different service stations as part of the larger MLK Day Open House Celebration.

Program is for ages 2-12; adults must accompany children. Siblings of participants outside this age range are welcome, but may find the event to be less meaningful and fulfilling.

Seeds of Caring will provide 5 youth service stations as part of the larger MLK Open House Celebration.

Activities will include making posters with Pint Size Protesters, assembling personal care kits for neighbors in need, decorating and packing snack bags for unhoused neighbors, designing bookmarks promoting diversity in literature with Harper’s Corner, and creating take-home art inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. Learn more and register here.

Day of Service runs in conjunction with The MLK Open House Celebration, which is from 12-4pm with free admission. In addition to the service activities, you will find art activities, education, and live theatrical and musical performances honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Columbus

Wild Ohio Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, February 4-5, 2023 • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Ohio History Center, Columbus
Included with museum admission.

Join the Ohio History Center for a weekend full of natural history programing and learn more about the plants and animals that call Ohio their home! Check out the list of activities you can expect; more will be added.

Black History Month with Ohio History Connection

February 2023

Ohio History Connection is made up of the Ohio History Center and more than 50 historic sites throughout Ohio.

The Ohio History Connection celebrates Black History month with events at the Ohio History Center, and more at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center.

They offer a robust series of Black history programs including curator talks, discussions and interactive experiences. Some are virtual, so you can participate and enjoy from anywhere. 

See registration and full offerings on the website.

The Tea Room

Saturday, February 18, 2023 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
$25/Participant, $20/Ohio History Connection member

The Tea Room is a contemporary version of the African American Tea Ceremony which began in the mid 19th century. Annually held on February 15, enslaved people were given the left over teas, food and china from Valentine’s Day celebrations. 

This tradition evolved into gatherings held at churches and later black owned tea houses.

Designed to create an environment of fellowship and empowerment, the Tea Room will be a forum for participants to network and learn about the achievements of African Americans in Ohio. 

Purchase tickets here.

Presidents Day 2023

Monday, February 20, 2023
All programs included with museum admission. 

Celebrate Presidents Day, 2023 at the Ohio History Center! Stop by to create your own campaign memorabilia and meet several 1st-person Presidential presenters on the museum floor. Other themed activities will be available throughout the day as well. Details here.

Night at the Museum

Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 7–9 p.m.

Find out what goes on at the Ohio History Center museum after hours. Do the exhibits really come to life?

Dozens of different characters will be roaming the museum, and you can learn all about their unique place in Ohio history. Grab an autograph book (provided) and collect the signatures from your favorites! Several hands-on activities are available for kids.

This family event is so fun for all ages! See more details here.

Night at the Museum at Ohio History Center

As A Matter of Black: Film Screening and Discussion

Sunday, February 26, 2023
Tickets are $10-$15; details here.

The film, As A Matter of Black is a documentary that chronicled the work of local artists during a time of civil unrest. After a viewing of the film, Donte Woods-Spikes, the filmmaker will talk about the motivation behind his work and will lead a discussion with artists that were featured in the film.

Spring Thaw

April 5-8, 2023

Celebrate the end of winter and learn something new with the family this spring break! Join us at the Ohio History Center for a week of fun and interesting natural history programs from April 5th to April 9th. Details tba here.

War Maker-Peace Maker: The Dineh Tah’ Navajo Dancers and the Legacy of General William T. Sherman

April 16, 2023

The Ohio History Connection is honored to present the Dineh Tah’ Navajo Dancers as they perform traditional songs and demonstrations, as well as a presentation on General William T. Sherman’s role and legacy in the indigenous peace treaties of the late 19th century.

Included with general museum admission. Details here. 

History After Hours: Totally 80s!

Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 7-10 p.m.
$25/Adult, $20/Member adult

Dig out your crimper, grab your acid wash jeans and pop in your shoulder pads because Ohio History Connection is going back to the eighties! Join us as we jam to classic hits of the decade, play popular games of the era, enjoy toys and activities, and more!

More details tba here!

Earth Day Celebration at Ohio History Center

Saturday, April 23, 2022, 11 a. m. – 3 p.m.
Seeds of Caring’s Kids as Planet Protectors: An Earth Day Celebration at the Ohio History Center is FREE!

Kids are invited to participate in multiple projects, helping them to connect with our natural history, take action to protect our environment, and invest in our planet’s future. Indoor and outdoor activities will be geared toward kids ages 4-12 and will include educational scavenger hunts, litter clean-up, reduce and reuse activities, gardening, and more.

Families are also invited to explore the Ohio History Center for FREE during the event.
Families can get more information and register at https://www.seedsofcaring.org

Victorian Tea Time

Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 11 am – noon. 
Adult – $13, Senior (60+) – $11, Youth (4-12) – $7Child, (3 & under) – FREE
Ohio History Connection Member – FREE, College Students (with school ID) – $11

Drinking tea with your pinky up might not be as fancy as you think! Stop by to learn more about Victorian tea etiquette and see how to properly prepare, pour and drink tea with an Ohio Village character.

Spring Ohio Village Weekends

Saturdays & Sundays, April 2-May 22, 2022 • 10a.m.-5p.m. Come experience life in the 1890’s! Spring has sprung in our recreated 19th-century community, where William McKinley is president and Gibson Girl-style shirtwaists are trending. Explore Ohio Village on weekends through May 15, included with Ohio History Center museum admission.

Ohio Village Opening Weekend-Carnival

Saturday, May 20, 2023, 10a.m.-5p.m. Bring the entire family and experience a day at a Victorian Carnival!  

Learn about the popular entertainment of the 1890s, attend exciting performances, have your fortune told and much more. Explore Ohio Village homes and businesses, get to know the residents and play old-fashioned games on the village green.

Enjoy classic 19th century carnival games, get up close to some adorable animals, and see fantastical presentations inspired by real historical performers!

Regular admission applies. Purchase in advance or at the door. Read more about Ohio Village Opening Weekend.

Storybook Village, Ohio Village

Storybook Village at Ohio Village

Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

At Storybook Village, see your favorite storybook characters magically come to life! Bring your little ones to meet classic characters and popular favorites from PBS including Pete the Cat and Elephant & Piggie. Ask Rapunzel to let down her hair, help Prince Charming in his quest, and visit with Cinderella!

This special event is made possible through a partnership with Columbus Metropolitan Library, Franklin Park Conservatory and WOSU Public Media.

See pictures and read more about Storybook Village.

Juneteenth – Jubilee Day Festival at Ohio History Connection

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Now a federal holiday, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Originating in Texas, it’s been observed on the 19th of June annually since 1865.

Juneteenth 2022 at Ohio Village

Join Ohio Village for an 1890’s Juneteenth observation in the Ohio Village.

The Jubilee Day Festival will open with a parade that begins at 12:15 p.m. at the Ohio Village Welcome Center. Welcoming remarks will be in the Town Hall at 12:30 p.m., with other programs and activities to follow throughout Ohio Village.

Juneteenth 2022 at Ohio Village

Featured activities will include historical interpretations, storytelling, and dance. The Jubilee Day Festival will conclude with a Jubilee Church Service in the Village Church at 3:30 p.m.

Admission is FREE! Advanced reservation recommended.

See more details about Juneteenth Jubilee Day Festival. 

Juneteenth 2022 at Ohio Village

Independence Day Celebration at Ohio Village

July 1, 2023 from 10 am – 4 pm

Celebrate our nation’s independence, 1890’s style! Bring the entire family and engage with fun activities linked to July 4th.

Learn about how this momentous holiday was celebrated at the turn of the 20th century, visit with skilled artisans, vote in our mayoral election, and much more. Explore Ohio Village homes and businesses, get to know the residents and play old-fashioned games on the village green.

Regular admission applies; free for members. Read more about the Independence Day Celebration here.

Pleasures of the Cup at Ohio Village

Tip your cup like they did in the 19th century with Pleasures of the Cup cocktail parties at Ohio Village.  These progressive historic cocktail parties pair authentic adult beverages with stories, characters and the experience of days gone by. Read more about Pleasures of the Cup!

Tickets are $40 for adults, or $35 for Ohio History Connection Members. Advanced tickets required; must be over age 21. Alcohol is included with admission. Guests will receive a sample glass with admission.

• Drinks of the Speakeasy: May 7, 2022
• Mad for Martinis: August 13, 2022

Summer at the Center at Ohio History Center

There’s so much going on at Ohio History Center this Summer, including themed programming!

Monthly themes will include natural history in June, air and space history in July and the history of new Ohioans in August. Weekly programs will include morning story times, exhibit tours and documentary film screenings. 

June – Natural History

Story Time at the Museum: June 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 11 a.m.
Join us every Wednesday this month at 11 a.m. for a special natural history themed story time for the little ones! Ideal for Kids age 3-6 years old.

Ancient Fossil Tour: Fridays, June 2, 16 & 30 at 1 p.m.
From shallow sea to massive glacier, learn about and get hands-on with some of the animals and plants that lived in ancient Ohio.

Ice Age Mammals Tour: Fridays, June 9 & 23 at 1 p.m.
Learn about some of the giant mammals that roamed modern-day Ohio during the Ice Age, which ended around 10,000 years ago.

Special Documentary Screening: Americas National Parks at 100. Sundays, June 4, 11, 18 & 25 at 1 p.m.
Presented by the Smithsonian.

The National Park Service has been active for over a century preserving and protecting over 400 units across America, from the wild and natural to the man-made and historic. Take a tour through iconic Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon and discover smaller, hidden treasures throughout the country as we explore the agency’s evolution over the last century. Through rarely seen footage and stunning aerial views, we celebrate the sites and stories of the national landmarks that reflect our country’s past, present, and future.

July: Air & Space History

Story Time at the Museum: Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19 at 11 a.m.
Join us every Wednesday this month at 11 a.m. for a special air & space themed story time for the little ones! Ideal for Kids age 3-6 years old.

WWI Aviators Tour: Fridays, July 7, 14 & 21 at 1 p.m.
WWI is often considered as the first modern war in history partly due to the use of new and deadly technologies during the conflict. Among the many technologies used in warfare for the first time was the airplane. Follow along on this guided staff tour as we discuss some of the technology and history of WWI airplanes and the aviators that flew them!

Special Documentary Screening: Apollo’s Moon Shot: Sundays, July 2, 9, 16 & 23 at 1 p.m. 
Presented by the Smithsonian.

A million spectators gather to witness the launch of Apollo 11 from Kennedy Space Center in 1969. The mission will be the culmination of a decade of sacrifice, dedication, and sheer determination to get a foothold on another world. Now, the hopes of the nation rest on the next eight days. Look back on humankind’s most ambitious journey, revealed through iconic and rarely seen footage, archival interviews with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, and secrets hidden inside Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

August: New Ohioans

Story Time at the Museum: Wednesdays, Aug 9, 16, 23 & 30 at 11 a.m.
Join us every Wednesday this month at 11 a.m. for a special immigration themed story time for the little ones! Ideal for Kids age 3-6 years old.

Special Documentary Screening: America in Color: Coming to America: Sundays, Aug. 13, 20 & 27 at 1 p.m.
Presented by the Smithsonian.

For many immigrants, their first sight of the U.S. is the Statue of Liberty. The iconic structure promises sanctuary, hope, and a fresh start, but they soon learn that America’s arms are not always open. Colorized rare home movies and archival footage reveal the amazing stories of ordinary people who share the same dream. From Caribbean immigrants who settled in Harlem to Italian “radicals” shipped back home to celebrities such as Albert Einstein, see how America changed as immigrants brought new cultures from the margins to the mainstream.

All “Summer at the Center” activities are included with general museum admission. It’s a great time to get a membership – you can enjoy the air-conditioned programs inside the Ohio History Center, and enjoy all of the fun activities at Ohio Village (free or discounted) too!

Crime and Corruption at Ohio Village

August 19, 2023, 10a.m.-5p.m.

Join us as we explore the seedy side of history with Crime & Corruption! Bring the entire family and engage with fun activities linked to Ohio’s diverse and unique criminal past. Learn about day-to-day crimes that people dealt with, investigate a crime scene, and even participate in circuit court trials in our Town Hall.

While you’re there, explore Ohio Village’s homes and businesses, get to know the residents, and play old-fashioned games on the village green. Free for members; regular admission applies for non-members. Details here.

Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival

September 1-3, 2023 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Celebrate the end of summer with us at Ohio Village. More than 25 teams from across the nation will come to Ohio Village experience 1860s-style base ball with you and compete for the Ohio Cup.

Special activities all day for kids, including historic games and sports and a chance to try your hand at 1860s-style base ball with our own vintage team, the Ohio Village Muffins. Free for Ohio History Connection members or with museum admission. Learn more HERE. 

History After Hours: Night in the 1890s

Sat. September 10, 2022, from 7–10 p.m.

Explore Ohio Village after hours as we relive the 1890s! Get exclusive access to village buildings, interact with characters from the time period, and try your hand at historic games and activities.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase. 21+ Event. $25/Adult, $20/Member Adult. Details here.

Victorian Sci-fi Weekend at Ohio Village

September 17 and September 18, 10a.m.-5p.m.

Explore the bright future envisioned by those living in the Victorian Era! Bring the entire family and engage with fun activities linked to how people in the 1890s imagined our world would look like today.

Learn about what people thought our day-to-day routines would look like, enjoy some popular science fiction films of the era, and get hands-on with some of the 19th century’s most interesting inventions.

Free for members; regular admission applies for non-members. Details here.