11 Ways to Enjoy Columbus This Summer

Festivals & Events
See Columbus’ creative side as the Columbus Arts Festival transforms the Scioto riverfront into an art gallery June 6 through 8. 

“We have exhibiting visual artists from 31 states and the province of Ontario,” says Jami Goldstein, the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s chief creative officer. “They span 15 mediums, from photography to jewelry to glass, 2D mixed media [and] paintings. It really is a wonderful way to experience the visual arts.” 

The performing arts are also featured on stages throughout the festival, with music and dance groups scheduled throughout the weekend. Whether you’re searching for inspiration, looking to purchase artwork or simply wanting to enjoy some tasty food, the arts festival is the place to be. 

The energy continues through the month at other free events. On June 13 and 14, celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ community during Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival & Resource Fair. Head to Goodale Park, where you’ll find live entertainment, more than 200 vendors, a community wellness zone and more. Saturday brings the Pride March, where over 20,000 marchers will parade up High Street.

June 14 also brings 614 Day, a pep rally for the city that takes over the Franklinton neighborhood. With a name referencing Columbus’ area code, 614 Day encourages residents to support local businesses, restaurants, breweries and nonprofits, many of which are hosting activities and exhibits during the celebration. 

On June 21 and 22, the Juneteenth Ohio Festival at Genoa Park commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The event features vendors, live music and food, while festival organizers also emphasize the importance of strengthening the community through resources such as a college and career fair and a wellness pavilion. 

Celebrate Independence Day at the Midwest’s largest fireworks show in downtown Columbus. On July 3, Red, White & Boom! returns once again, featuring a spectacular fireworks display choreographed to music. Before the show, don’t miss the parade honoring U.S. military veterans, and enjoy great food and a lineup of local bands.

Carol Tyler’s “Not All Scars Are Visible,” which was published in 2015 in “Soldier’s Heart,“ the third installment of her graphic novel series, ”You’ll Never Know” (artwork © Carol Tyler)

Summer Exhibitions
This summer, becoming a part of the Star Wars universe won’t require traveling to a galaxy far, far away. Visit COSI to see “Unofficial Galaxies,” one of the world’s largest fan collections of memorabilia from the iconic franchise, on display through Sept. 1. 

“While you might see this exhibition elsewhere in the country, with the costumes and the props that it comes with,” says Josh Sarver, the museum’s chief experience officer, “COSI is enhancing that with environmental additions, full-size starships and exhibit experiences unlike anywhere else.” 

The museum partnered with local artists to create a number of  immersive, one-of-a-kind experiences for the exhibit. Pose with a full-size X-wing, plot alongside Darth Vader at a Death Star control panel and even attempt to escape from the trash compactor seen in “A New Hope.”

The Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti showcases a different kind of partnership in a new exhibition opening July 19. “Las Vegas Ikebana: Maren Hassinger and Senga Nengudi” examines a 50-year friendship between two experimental artists. Their prolific collaboration is shown through sculpture, video, artists’ books and more. Look for pieces inspired by the duo’s concept of “Las Vegas Ikebana,” which unexpectedly combines America’s Sin City with the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. And don’t miss Nengudi’s “See-See Riders,” which resembles a seesaw and honors her relationship with Hassinger. Programming for the exhibition will include dance performances created in relation to a sculpture on display. 

Just a short drive up North High Street, “Write It Down, Draw It Out: The Comics Art of Carol Tyler” runs through Nov. 9 at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. The exhibition spans the career of cartoonist Carol Tyler, who was always collecting stories and ephemera to incorporate into the autobiographical comics she is known for. Highlighted in the exhibition is Fab4 Mania, a 2018 book inspired by the artist’s teenage obsession with The Beatles. See diaries, drawings and fan zines from that era of the artist’s life, alongside original artwork and other memorabilia that showcases the process of creating the graphic novel decades later.

Fresh Finds
Although it has expanded to several central Ohio cities since its founding, Johnson’s Real Ice Cream started in 1950 as a walk-up stand in Bexley. 

“My great grandfather had a little ice cream maker in there,” says Matt Wilcoxon, the family-owned business’ fourth-generation president. “He would make enough for the day, and when he sold out, he closed up.” 

Since then, Johnson’s Real Ice Cream has expanded to nine locations throughout the region, with the newest ones opening this year in Powell and Pickerington. Celebrate the anniversary all year long with seasonal throwback flavors like Orange Pineapple and Key Lime Pie. The original Bexley location will also host a birthday bash
on Sept. 6. 

Along with the two additional Johnson’s Real Ice Cream locations, Isla is also new to the local food scene and opens mid-June in the Merion Village neighborhood. After running the Roys Ave Supper Club from their home for six years, chef Andrew Smith and his wife, Devoney Mills, shifted the concept into a restaurant. Open three nights a week for two seatings of 14, Isla encourages guests to connect with one another. The tasting menu evolves as ingredients come in and out of season, but the focus is always on storytelling and reducing food waste. The first course, for example, is titled “Scraps” and foreshadows the coming meal by utilizing elements to be found in the next six to seven courses.

While Isla inspires guests to slow down, Racing Line gives them permission to put the pedal to the metal. It became the first dedicated simulated racing bar in Ohio when owner Shaun Cupp opened it in February 2025. Twelve simulators, or rigs, feature realistic controls and graphics, as well as a vast selection of racetracks and vehicles, including open-wheel cars, stock cars and more. Rookies can book a 30-minute arcade session, where staff will assist in configuring beginner-friendly settings. Experienced drivers can opt for longer sessions or compete against others in drop-in races. Beyond the driver’s seat, the bar offers a variety of canned beverages to enjoy while watching races — real and simulated — on five big-screen TVs.

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WHEN YOU GO
To learn more about other events and destinations in Columbus, visit experiencecolumbus.com.

Festivals & Events

614 Day
614.day

Columbus Arts Festival
columbusartsfestival.org

Juneteenth Ohio Festival
juneteenthohio.com

Red, White & Boom!
redwhiteandboom.org

Stonewall Columbus Pride
stonewallcolumbus.org/pride

Summer Exhibitions 

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
cartoons.osu.edu

COSI
cosi.org

Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti
columbusmuseum.org

Fresh Finds

Isla
isla614.com

Johnson’s Real Ice Cream
johnsonsrealicecream.com

Racing Line
racinglinecbus.com