Family Activities, Events for Parents, and More Timely Resources

Scroll down this page for free family events, helpful events for caregivers, and more important resources!

Free or Low-Cost Family Fun

Affordable, family-friendly fun here in Columbus, Ohio! Events are free unless otherwise noted. Click the links for event & registration details. 

• Now – Aug. 9: Ohio State Fair
• Friday, July 31: Community Creatures Collage Workshop with We Amplify Voices
• Friday, July 31: Commons for Kids: Games & Sports
• July 31 – August 2: Dublin Irish Festival ($0-30)
• Saturday, Aug. 1: PlayStreets Free Block Party at Residences at Career Gateway
• Saturday, Aug. 1: Picnic & Painting in the Park with Femergy (Registration required)
• Saturday, Aug. 1: Poindexter Village Drum Circle
• Sunday, Aug. 2: Community Day at Franklin Park Conservatory
• Sunday, Aug. 2: Community Day at The Big Splash Grove City
• Tuesday, Aug. 4: National Night Out Events
• Wednesday, Aug. 5: BenAnna Band Concert at CML Canal Winchester Branch
• Wednesday, Aug. 5: For Kids: Catch A Bug at Three Creeks Metro Park
• Thursday, Aug. 6: Rise Up CBUS at Driving Park
• Thursday, Aug. 6: Baby Olympics at CML Canal Winchester Branch
• Friday, Aug. 7: Baby & Me Tours: Cosmic Texture at Columbus Museum of Art ($10)
• Friday, Aug. 7: High School Social Group with Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio
• Saturday, Aug. 8: PlayStreets Free Block Party at Linden Fresh Market
• Saturday, Aug. 8: Superstars of STEAM with Makerspace Central
• Saturday, Aug. 8: PBJ & Jazz with Columbus Jazz Community Band at Topiary Park
• Saturday, Aug. 8: WOSU Second Saturday Kids Day
• Sunday, Aug. 9: Little Hikers Club at Battelle Darby Creek Cedar Ridge
• Wednesday, Aug. 12: BugFest in New Albany
• Wednesday, Aug. 12: Young Adult Community Night at Kaleidoscope Youth Center (Ages 18-24)
• August 13-15: Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival
• Thursday, Aug. 13: Touch-a-Truck at Battelle Darby Creek Cedar Ridge
• Friday, Aug. 14: Franklinton Friday
• Friday, Aug. 14: Family Adventures at Columbus Museum of Art ($10, Ages 5-12)
• Friday, Aug. 14: KidX Paw Patrol at Polaris Fashion Place
• Saturday, Aug. 15: PlayStreets Free Block Party at Reeb Avenue Center
• Saturday, Aug. 15: Columbus Women & Girls Fest
• Saturday, Aug. 15: Paw Patrol Dino Movie Workshop at Lowe’s
• Sunday, Aug. 16: Community Day at Columbus Museum of Art
• Tuesday, Aug. 18: Family Creeking at Highbanks  Big Meadow
• Tuesday, Aug. 18: Adaptive Adventures: All Bodies Beginners Hiking Club at Rocky Fork
• Tuesday, Aug. 18: Community Dinner and Open Mic Night at Central Community House
• Wednesday, Aug. 19: Adaptive Adventures: Adaptive Archery at Scioto Grove
• Friday, Aug. 21: Clintonville Jamboree
• Friday, Aug. 21: Free Family Movie Night at Columbus Commons: Elemental
• August 22 & 23: Festival Latino at Columbus Commons
• Saturday, Aug. 22: India Festival at Ohio Expo Center ($10)
• Saturday, Aug. 22: PlayStreets Free Block Party at Maize Manor
• Saturday, Aug. 22: Superstars of STEAM with Makerspace Central
• Saturday, Aug. 22: Fairy House Building at Blendon Woods
• Saturday, Aug. 22: Playdate at Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground for Children with Developmental Disabilities
• Thursday, Aug. 27: Rise Up CBUS at Colerain Elementary
• Thursday, Aug. 27: Tots on Trails at Blacklick Woods
• Friday, Aug. 28: Community CREAturEs Collage Workshop with We Amplify Voices
• Friday, Aug. 28: Westerville Fourth Friday
• Friday, Aug. 28: Preschool: Monarchs at Battelle Darby Creek Nature Center
• Sunday, Aug. 30: Art in the Park at Topiary Garden
• Sunday, Aug. 30: Columbus International Festival
• 2nd & 4th Sundays of Each Month: Upper Cup Chess Community Open Play 
• Mondays: Neighborhood Social Worker with Columbus Public Health at CML Barnett Branch
• Tuesdays-Thursdays: Free Summer Movies at Phoenix Theatres
• Thursdays: Infant Music Class for 18-36 months at CML Hilltop Library
• Thursdays: Art with Duarte at Transit Arts for Ages 12-21
• Thursdays: LIVE Outdoor Summer Concert Series at Polaris Fashion Place
• Thursdays: Theme Thursdays at The Big Splash Grove City
• Fridays: Yoga for Teens at Bexley Public Library
• Fridays & Saturdays: Free Adventure Nights at Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay
• June – July: Late Night Basketball at Participating Columbus Community Centers
• June – July: Columbus Metropolitan Library Summer Reading Challenge
• From Book to Film: Free Movies at Gateway Film Center with your CML library card
• Pride Month Book Lists from Columbus Metropolitan Libraries
• Official 2026 Ohio Summer Events Guide
• Walk With A Doc Central Ohio Locations & Schedules
• Columbus Splash Pads
• Columbus Recreation and Parks Pools ($3 Admission)
• Public Pools in Central Ohio
• Kids Bowl Free This Summer at These Columbus Locations
• Columbus Farmers Markets
• Actors’ Theatre of Columbus – Free Shows at Schiller Park
• Picnic with the Pops (Lawn Seats $0-12.50)
• Free Outdoor Concerts in Columbus
• Events for Free School Supplies & Back-to-School Resources! 

More Fun & Free Resources from CAP4Kids! 

Educational & Wellness Resources

Parenting classes, job help, college prep, and more! Events are free unless otherwise noted. Click the links for event & registration details. 

• Thursday, Aug. 6: Suicide Prevention Training; Talking with Your Child About Mental Health
• Thursday, Aug. 6: Parent Support Group for Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities
• Tuesday, Aug. 11: SRD Strong Start Support Services Workshop (Registration required, for individuals 34 weeks pregnancy or with a child under 1 year old)
• Tuesday, Aug. 11: Free Parenting Workshop: Hassle-Free Mealtimes with Children
• Thursday, Aug. 13: Free Parenting Workshop: Developing Good Bedtime Routines
• Friday, Aug. 14: Building Kids’ Mental Health for the School Year
• Saturday, Aug. 15: Basic Babysitter Training with Nationwide Children’s ($35)
• Tuesday, Aug. 18: SRD Strong Start Circle for Parents and Caregivers
• Wednesday, Aug. 19: First Steps: Infant Care for New or Expecting Parents with Nationwide Children’s ($15)
• Thursday, Aug. 20: Parent Support Group for Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities
• Thursday, Aug. 20: Free Parenting Workshop: Managing Fighting and Aggression
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: Grief Matters: Unmasking Our Grief Workshop with Cornerstone of Hope
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: Free Parenting Workshop: Dealing with Disobedience
• Thursday, Aug. 27: Linden Love: Dinner & Conversation for Black Moms & Families
• Saturday, Aug. 29: Basic Babysitter Training with Nationwide Children’s ($35)
• Saturday, Aug. 29: Preparing for Baby: Practical Tips for the First Six Weeks with FACCES
• Fourth Monday of each month: Latino Living with HIV Support Group
• Thursdays: Reynoldsburg PACE Walk Series at Huber Park
• Saturdays: Marion Village Free Fitness in the Park
• Free Exercise, Wellness, and Parenting Classes and More at Mount Carmel Healthy Living Center 
• Bloom Kids Mental Health Online Curriculum for Parents
• Suicide Prevention Resources for Families
• HB68 Trans Community Resource Guide 
• Resources for Kids Impacted by Incarceration
• Cyclospora Information from U.S. FDA
• Franklin County Air Quality Alerts from MORPC
• Mobile Health Locator 

Essential Needs & Resources

Free stores, healthcare screenings, job help, benefits help, and other material supports. Click the links for details. 

• Sunday, Aug. 2: SRD Hygiene Free Store
• Tuesday, Aug. 4: Columbus Kids’ Book Bank Giveaway in Worthington
• Wednesday, Aug. 5: FACCES Little Legacies Marketplace for Expecting Families
• Thursday, Aug. 6: SRD Strong Start Baby Supplies
• Thursday, Aug. 6: Franklin County Board of Commissioners Mobile Unit at Reeb Avenue Center
• Saturday, Aug. 15: SRD Hygiene Free Store
• Monday, Aug. 17: Pop-up Care Village for International Overdose Awareness Day – haircuts, food, and more
• Sunday, Aug. 23: Hope Discount Pet Vaccine Clinic
• Tuesday, Aug. 25: Make-A-Day Community Health Fair
• Saturday, Aug. 29: Free Pet Food Pop-up Pantry at Columbus Humane
• Fridays: Drop-In Cell Phone and Computer Support at Fran Ryan Center
• Monthly: Get help signing up for benefits at your local YMCA!
• Wednesdays: TECHO: Spanish-Speaking Housing Legal Clinic – English Flyer
• Wednesdays: TECHO: Spanish-Speaking Housing Legal Clinic – Español
• Clothing Resources
  
• Searching for Childcare
• Ohio Means Jobs Calendar

Food:

• Free Summer Meals at Participating Columbus Metropolitan Libraries
• SUN Bucks: Free Summer Meals for Kids
• 2026 Columbus Street Card
• Mid-Ohio Food Collective SNAP Outreach Team – Help with applying for SNAP & understanding new work requirements
• Franklin County Food Resources
• Mobile Produce Markets Schedule
• Emergency Food Help 

Housing & Utilities:

• Rentful: Resource for Renters in Franklin County 
  
• Emergency Housing Help 
• Columbus Power & Water Discounts
• HEAP and PIPP Utility Discount Programs
• Columbus Utility Discount Resources
  
• AEP Ohio Outage Map 
• Columbus Trash Collection Day Lookup
• Cheapest Gas Prices Around Columbus 

Legal:

• Legal Aid Legal Clinic Calendar
• Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) Legal Clinic Calendar
• All Of Us: Columbus Know Your Rights Resources
• CRIS FAMILIA Hotline
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Printable Know Your Rights Red-Cards in 16 Languages