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. 

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 20 – Sept 30

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

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! 

Free Fitness Classes with Quality Wellness & RawYoga614

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, May 5 – 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. 

Taco Tuesday

Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | May – September, 2026
Eat tacos and more from your favorite Latin food trucks paired with live music in the Bosque.

Breakfast at the Commons

Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | May – September, 2026
Stop by the Commons to enjoy several rotating breakfast food trucks

Food Truck Food Court

Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | May – September, 2026
Come to the Commons for lunch with 10 of Columbus’ best food trucks. Enjoy live music and shop at the new Downtown Farmers Market, in partnership with Common Greens, during the weekly event.

Read more here. 

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. 

• June 5: Aladdin
• June 26: Zootopia 2
• July 10: Up
• Aug. 21: Elemental
• Sept. 18: Shrek 

Free Play Tuesday and Thursdays

11am – 4pm
Come Downtown and take a free spin on the Carousel, play under the parachute, build with our Imagination Playground big blue blocks, kick a soccer ball, or make your own fun. Plus, enjoy storytime with Columbus Metropolitan Library on the first Tuesday of the month!

Free Commons for Kids

Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | June 5 – Aug. 14, 2026

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. 

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. More details here

• Friday, May 22 – The Navigators, a charity concert benefiting Families Flourish
• Sunday, May 24 – Shadowbox Live Presents: Women of Rock
• Saturday, June 6 – JoyFest, featuring Honey and Blue, Blucone and Lungu Vybz, 1 p.m. In partnership with Zora’s House
• Thursday, Aug. 27 – Back to School Night, with live music performances by the students of the Fort Hayes Music Program and Joey Aich
• Friday, Sept. 4 – The Dead Revival Band with the Groove Brothers Band: A Celebration of The Allman Brothers, including custom projections by local digital arts collective, ReMix

Black Flix & Chill Movie Nights

Enjoy a movie on the lawn with free popcorn while supplies last. Bring a blanket or chair and grab a drink from the bar. Stay tuned for a chance to vote for the movies you want to watch! Presented in partnership with Black Flix & Chill Cbus

• Thursday, July 23
• Saturday, Aug. 29
• Friday, Sept. 11 

Sunset Movie Series

Thursdays in October, 7 p.m.
Enjoy a Halloween-themed movie on the lawn with free popcorn while supplies last. Bring a blanket or chair and grab a drink from the bar. Bar and food truck open at 6 p.m. Movie starts at 7 p.m. Presented in partnership with CAPA

• Oct. 1: Wicked for Good
• Oct. 8: Ghostbusters
• Oct. 15: Beetlejuice
• Oct. 22: The Craft
• Oct. 29: The Sixth Sense

One-Time Events at Columbus Commons

Free Family Fun Day

Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Free family fun for everyone to enjoy! Inflatables, face painting, live music, crafts and more.

Family Funday at the Columbus Commons

Free Harvest Fair

Saturday, Sept. 12 | 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.

Other events hosted at Columbus Commons

Concert for Humanity produced by Harmony Project

Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 7:30 pm
Harmony Project brings their Concert for Humanity back to Columbus Commons. More than 500 chorus members will take the stage proving music doesn’t erase our differences. It gives us a way to connect across them. You won’t want to miss this powerful performance!

The concert is FREE; tickets are required. Reserve yours at harmonyproject.com

SUMMER614 Concert produced by Fame Productions

Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 4 p.m.
Your favorite R&B & Hip-Hop festival brings the best in music and wellness! SUMMER614 —where Music is Therapy— features Keyshia Cole, Keke Wyatt, Ying Yang Twins, Plies & Next in this beloved kickoff to summer! Tickets here. 

Women of Color Owned Summer Market by Zora’s House

Saturday, June 6, 2026| 1 p.m. to 8 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. Details here.

Picnic with the Pops produced by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra

June 13 – August 1 | 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

Columbus Crew Soccer Celebration

Friday, June 19, 2026 | 1 p.m. Festivities begin | 3 p.m. Kickoff
Bring your family & friends for an afternoon of soccer, games, and great food as the U.S Men’s National Team competes against Australia. This event is free to attend. Learn more here.

America 250-Ohio Signature Homecoming & Picnic

Saturday, July 4, 2026 | 6 p.m.
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at Columbus Commons this summer! This family-friendly celebration is made complete with bars, food trucks and a special concert by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. This event is free to attend. Learn more here.

614 Funk Fest Concert

Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 | 4 p.m.
614 Funk Fest returns to Columbus Commons on Saturday, Aug. 8th with a high- energy celebration of classic funk, 80s hip-hop, and timeless R&B. Stay tuned for the full artist lineup. Tickets are required to attend.

Gay Softball World Series Event Opener

Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 | 4 p.m.
The Gay Softball World Series returns to Columbus for the fourth time this summer and is kicking off the competition with a welcome celebration at Columbus Commons! This event is free to attend. Learn more here.

*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.