Over 75 ideas for Spring Break in Columbus and Central Ohio

Maybe you aren’t heading to a warm beach for Spring Break this year, but there’s no reason you can’t have lots of fun around Columbus! With Easter falling in early April this year, Spring Break in Columbus ranges from late-March to early-April at schools around the area. Take short (less expensive) trip, or stay in town and enjoy one of many events going on during Spring Break.

We have plenty of options, including ways to enjoy the (hopefully) warmer weather, free indoor play areas (for the inevitable rain), some culture, cheap eats, fun outings, day trips, and so much more!

Want us to highlight your event or give it a prime spot at the top of this list? Email me about sponsoring this popular post: ads@columbusonthecheap.com.

Featured events for Spring Break in Columbus

(Scroll down for a FULL calendar of fun)

Columbus Bunny Run and Hilliard Kids Fest
March 20 from 8 am – noon.
Head to the Franklin County Fairgrounds for some Bunny fun! The Columbus Bunny Run kicks off the morning and includes a great swag bag and awards, pancake breakfast, and egg hunt. Want to skip the run? You can sign up for the free Hilliard Kids Fest for more fun and giveaway! See details.

Easter Bunny, Pony and Carriage Rides & Petting Zoo with Horse -N- Round Fun LLC
March 27, March 28, and April 3, 2021
Kuhlwein’s in Hilliard, Ohio. Pony Rides and Carriage Rides including access to the petting zoo and a visit with the Easter Bunny to take your own photo. See details.
They are also offering Spring Break Horse Day Camp on April 1.

Eggs Paws & Claws at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium:
April 2-3, 2021. Meet lots of famous bunnies and the Angry Birds, plus animal encounters, egg scavenger hunt, and photos with Easter Bunny! See details.

NOTE: the following events are from 2020 and will be updated if available for 2021.

Get outside for some fresh air!

Columbus Metro Parks offer programming year round for all ages, with 19 natural area parks with more than 200 miles of trails. Pick a new one each day and explore! In addition to hikes and outdoor exploration, some offer indoor activities (though most will require registration or will be moved to outdoors until further notice). At this time, programs are limited and are being announced through Facebook pages. See links on the programming search page. Ready to try new things at the Metro Parks? Fill up your 2021 Adventure Card by participating in outdoor activities and programming through the Try-It series! See details here.

Watch Spring spring up while you enjoy these amazing Nature walks and scenic hiking trails in Columbus. You’ll get details, tips, and more of these local spots you’ll want to check out.

Check out the best playgrounds around the city (via Columbus Parent)

Warm weather? Looking to get ON the water, but not IN the water? We have a whole list of the best places for kayaking and canoeing. If you’re really brave, or it’s really warm, check out these great places for creeking in Columbus. But let’s be honest, that’s pretty wishful thinking for March in Ohio.

Want to try a new sport? Disc golf is fun and easy to learn – and there are lots of courses in Columbus! Get started with Disc Golf in Columbus at these great courses.

Want to try something new? Enjoy some walking meditation at a labyrinth. We have a whole list of Walking Labyrinths in Columbus.

Want to focus your eyes on the skies instead? Check out our list of upcoming Celestial events, as well as some planetariums and observatories where you can catch the stars. Note: most indoor planetariums are still closed, but some are offering virtual events, and may be offering limited audience in-person events.

Take a stroll around some of these great Public Gardens in Columbus and see what’s in bloom!

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a great way to spend an entire day. No matter the weather, there are plenty of indoor exhibits to tuck into, and some of the animals are more active in the cooler weather.

The Irish Fairy Doors of Dublin Trail
Pick up your Trail Guide at the Irish Fairy Garden in the Dublin Visitor & Information Center (9 South High Street) and follow the path on your trail guide through Historic Dublin to 12 different businesses to find tiny magical fairy doors. Find the name of each resident fairy, fill in your passport and return your completed passport to the Visitor’s Center for a FREE Fairy Doors of Dublin t-shirt.

Fun and Tasty Adventure Trails in Ohio

Olentangy Indian Caverns
Opens on April 1 for the season!
This place is awesome, even if you don’t plan to tour the caverns (the actual caverns have lots of stairs and tight spots, so it’s not as accommodating with babies or young toddlers). There are outdoor play structures and lawn games, gem mining, treasure hunt maze, and the highlight for my kids is the huge animal encounters area (just $4 per person). They loved feeding the friendly animals and frolicking with them in the “petting zoo”.

Adventure and Active Fun

Play: Cbus, 535 Lakeview Plaza Blvd Worthington, OH 43085

53,000 sq. ft. indoor active entertainment center, is a place for all groups and ages.

Attractions include a two-story rope course, Via Ferrata, ninja + obstacle courses, climbing + bouldering walls, and much more! There’s fun for younger kids too! Plus, a restaurant and bar onsite – with great food!

Open Wednesday – Sunday

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Columbus On The Cheap (@cbuscheap)

Ninja Citi, 2620 Sawmill Place Blvd Columbus, OH 43235

30k square feet facility featuring 12 ninja courses, 5 warped walls, rock wall, parkour arena, and ninja training classes. Courses and obstacles are available for kids 46 inches and up, from beginner to expert levels. All obstacles are rotated regularly to give you new experiences each time you visit!

You can purchase a one hour open gym, all day pass, or 10 hour Ninja punch card. Classes, competitions, and parties are also available for booking.

Urban Air Adventure Park Dublin, 7679 Dublin-Plain City Road Dublin, OH 43016

Trampoline and Adventure park features Indoor Playground, Sky Rider, Warrior Course, Ropes Course, and MORE.

Three levels of tickets are available for various attractions during open play. Discounts for 5 and under as well as parent passes. Reservations recommended in advance; walk-ins are subject to availability and capacity. Membership and birthday party bookings are available as well.

Get Air Columbus, 3708 Fishinger Blvd Hilliard, OH 43026

Get Air Trampoline Park features wall to wall trampolines, dodgeball, ninja courses, foam pit, kiddie court, slamball, and more. Birthday parties are available for booking. Open jump times available everyday.

Movement Lab Ohio, 7086 Huntley Rd Columbus, OH 43240

Movement Lab Ohio offers fun and challenging parkour and Ninja Warrior classes for kids and adults, as well as open gyms, adaptive ninja events, family open gyms, and more. Memberships and birthday parties are available, as well as elite obstacle course training opportunities.

Drop-in’s are available for most classes and open gyms. Family open gyms allow for ages 3 and up to participate together. Each family unit must have at least two people, including one adult participating. Drop in pricing is discounted for family open gyms.

Glow Putt Mini Golf in Gahanna, 161 Granville St, Gahanna, OH 43230
Indoor glow-in-the-dark putt putt. Pricing is $5 and up.

See more on our indoor play list!

Museums and more (learning can be FUN!)

Free Sunday admission at Columbus Museum of Art and Pay-What-You-Want at Columbus Museum of Art: every Thursday from 5-9 pm.

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State has exhibits and programming that comic book and cartoon fans will love, and walking around campus is a fun way to spend a hour or two. Reservations are required for museum or library reading room.

Wexner Center for the Arts offers FREE admission for exhibitions for everyone on Thursdays after 4 pm, as well as on the first Sunday of every month.

Libraries
Many libraries are holding special Spring Break activities, like Spring Break Movies and more. Check you local branch, or check the Columbus Metropolitan Libraries, Southwest Libraries, Worthington Libraries, Grandview Heights Public Library, Upper Arlington Public Library, Delaware County District Library, Marysville Public Library, Bexley Public Library, or your closest library. Note: some libraries may not have resumed in person visits at the time of Spring Break. Refer to the websites to find out about virtual or in-person events available at that time.

Franklin Park Conservatory
Watch daily butterfly releases at the Blooms and Butterflies exhibit through May 31 or check out the programming for families and kids this spring, including the monthly free Community Day for Franklin County residents. Make plans to spend some time in the The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden! Or have a date night on April 10 for Chihuly Nights!

Cheap eats in Columbus

Kids Eat Free each day of the week at various restaurants (verify details before you go, as promotions can change)

Find other dining freebies and deals in Columbus here.

Hit up a happy hour! Kids shouldn’t have all of the fun on Spring Break! Take some time for yourself.

Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt shops. Too many to name, but there’s probably one right around the corner from you. It’s never too cold for ice cream.

Take a short drive outside of Columbus

Road trip to Cincinnati and find 20+ things to do with kids

Explore sea life at Newport Aquarium near Cincinnati, featuring the new Jim Henson’s Splash & Bubbles Reeftown Adventure, Freshwater Falls exhibit, and more.

Tour the Butler County Donut Trail at your leisure and earn a t-shirt if you complete all of the stops

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology in Newark is like a mini-COSI for kids of all ages

Hike at Hocking Hills: So much to explore, with trails, waterfalls, caves, and more. Book a cabin or take a day trip!

Farm at Walnut Creek: Check out the working farm, feed exotic animals, and enjoy family time in a beautiful setting. Opens for the season in April.

A-ha Children’s Museum in Lancaster is a fantastic play museum that encourages creative play for kids 1-8. They now have an amazing outdoor play and exploration area, so the kids will have tons to do no matter if the weather is good or bad. There are so many fun things to do in Fairfield County as well – check out some other family-fun we enjoyed in Lancaster!

Comfort Inn Splash Harbor is Bellville is a great affordable option for a “trip” that is just one or two nights and totally affordable. Kids love staying in hotels, and this one has an amazing pool area, including water slides, hot tubs, fountains, and so much more.

Indoor places to play

The weather is always unpredictable in March and April, so keep this HUGE list of FREE and cheap Indoor Places to play for when you need to get out of the house and let the kids play off some energy for an hour or two! I’m highlighting a few options below, but check out the list if you are looking for other ideas.

Graeters Scoops and Shoots Play Area: There’s a great play area in the Graeters on Bethel Rd. with slides and structures to climb in and around. No purchase necessary, but it’s ice cream, so just plan to get some while you’re there. Otherwise, the play area is completely free! Geared for ages 9 and under.

Coffee Connections in Hilliard: This coffee house has a separate space behind with more seating and a kids’ area on the second floor with comfy seating and creative play opportunities.

Reserve your playtime! You can now reserve a private playtime in the annex playroom. Reservations are limited to groups of 10 or less for safety precautions, and cost $25 for 1 hour. Rentals are available any day of the week from 7AM-12PM.

Socially-distanced tables can also be reserved in the main coffee house any day 7AM-12PM for $10 per hour or $25 for the whole day (includes a free drink).

Roller skating in Columbus

Whether your kids are new to roller skating or experienced, it will make for a fun and tiring activity. There are 3 roller skating rinks in the Columbus area, and all are offering fun activities and skating parties over spring break. Sessions are 2-3 hours long, and some are discounted admission or included meals. Most of the websites offer additional coupons, so be sure to look for those

Skate America in Grove City: Great pricing and plenty of discounts
Skate Zone 71 near Morse Rd: Tons of skate parties with character visits. Little kids skate is on Saturday mornings. There are also discounted days, young teen nights, and adult nights, and Easter Day Skate
United Skates of America on Refugee Rd: Lots of family skate, character skate, and discount days.

Indoor Ice Skating

Chiller Ice Rinks in Easton, Lewis Center, Dublin and Downtown: Check public skate times and pricing for each location.
The Ohio State University Ice Rink, 390 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus. Phone: (614)292-4154
Public admission is $6, skate rental is $3. Check here for updates for open skate sessions.
Lou & Gibb Reese Ice Arena, 936 Sharon Valley Rd, Newark. Phone: (740) 349-6784
Admission $3-$6, skate rental is $3.

Bowling in Columbus

Plenty of options, but here are a few nice suggestions for families. Check for coupons and Spring Break specials on the website!

Star Lanes Polaris, 8655 Lyra Drive, Columbus
Rule (3), 650 Windmiller Dr., Pickerington
Columbus Square Bowling Palace, 5707 Forest Hills Blvd., Columbus
AMF Sawmill Lanes, 4825 Sawmill Road, Columbus
Gahanna Bowling and Family Fun Center, 215 W. Johnstown, Gahanna
Ten Pin Alley, 5499 Ten Pin Alley, Hilliard

Indoor Swimming in Columbus

It’s not the beach, but the air and the water is warm, and most of the pools offer lots of fun activities, including zero entry for the tots, slides, lazy rivers, and more.

Dublin Community Recreation Center (price increase to $5-$15 for daily admission, depending on residency) 5600 Post Road, Dublin. Lazy river, zero entry for area, waterslides, and more. Check link for leisure pool hours.
Worthington Community Center ($5-$8, free under 3) 345 E. Wilson Bridge Rd., Worthington, OH 43085, Ph: (614) 436-2743. Great option for little kids with zero entry, little kids slide, plus lazy river and vortex and larger slides. Check link for leisure pool hours.
Westerville Community Center ($5-$12) Westerville Community Center also has a climbing wall (fees required), and a great, free indoor playground for kids off of the lobby. 350 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville, OH 43082, Phone: (614) 901-6500. Renovated pool features shallow area, lazy river, fountains, slides, and more. Check link for leisure pool hours.
Columbus Aquatic Center ($1) 1160 Hunter Ave. Columbus, OH 43201 (614) 645-3129 Must also get a $1 leisure card; good for 3 years. Check link for pool hours.