Commons For Kids
Commons for Kids
Presented by Nationwide Children's Hosptial
Friday mornings
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
June 7 - August 9
Every week has a unique theme, with activities for the little ones AND the big kids! Check below for more information on each date.
Kids of all ages can enjoy unique activities, carousel rides, and lawn games - all with a panoramic view of Downtown’s skyline for FREE, thanks to Nationwide Children's Hospital. Each Commons for Kids is programmed to be a launching pad for exploration. With six acres of open and inviting space, there’s no shortage of fun on Fridays at the Commons.
Pack a picnic or grab a bite to eat from Tortilla Mexican Street Food and dessert from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Tortilla and the vending machines by the cafe stands sell Pepsi products, and there are drinking fountains behind the cafes as well.
Easy and convenient parking is available just south of the park at the Columbus Commons Main Garage, located at 55 East Rich Street.
Please note: Our permanent restrooms will be open, which are located behind Jeni's. The portable restroom units onsite will remain locked for the Picnic with the Pops performance the following evening.
Going Green
Friday, June 7
- Face painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Balloon twisting with Pretty as a Princess
- Craft DIY binoculars and build your own bird feeder with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Become a garden detective and dive into composting, gardening, and insects with Franklin Park Conservatory
- Create a healthy and happy backyard habitat using stamps and crayons in a backyard stamping activity with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
- Play a recycling game with the Alum Creek Park Rangers
- Tackle a plant-and-grow project with Lowes
- Learn about the water cycle, and participate in a hands-on water filtering activity with Ohio Wetlands Association
- Purchase a healthy snack at the Local Matters Veggie Van
- Explore climate science, learn about invasive plants, and make a climate pledge with Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland
- Lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food, Jeni's Ice Cream and Roaming Rooster Food Truck!
Animals
Friday, June 14
- Face painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Create bead snakes, popsicle stick turtles, and pipe cleaner animals with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Experience an animal encounter from with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (FROM 10am – 11am ONLY)
- Touch and feel bones and fur from Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
- Discover the creatures that live in the soil with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
- Learn about Primates with For The Love of Primates
- Meet a four-legged friend, learn about dog handling and safety, and spin a prize wheel with Franklin County Dog Shelter
- Learn about biodiversity, wetland food webs and plants with Ohio Wetlands Association
- Play Animal Games with Alum Creek Park Rangers
- Create an animal field guide and play an animal acting game with Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland
- Experience a full farm petting zoo with Bring the Farm to You
- Lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food, Jeni's Ice Cream and Roaming Rooster Food Truck!
Celebrate Summer
Friday, June 21
DUE TO HEAT ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THIS DATE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
- Inflatables from SuperGames including Atomic Rush 45 Obstacle Course, Sunglasses Slide, and Butterfly Combo
- Face painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Create suncatchers, paper plate frisbees and play with bubbles with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Meet the famous Beethoven with The Columbus Symphony Orchestra
- Learn some summer themed rhymes and songs and enjoy a story time of Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs with The Columbus Metropolitan Library
- Check out a summery steel drum performance from Ted Royalty
- Check out what summer produce the Local Matters Veggie Van has for purchase
- Summer Craft with the Ohio Craft Museum
- Make your own sunshine! Create a sun sculpture with We Amplify Voices
- Lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food and Jeni's Ice Cream!
Games
Friday, June 28
- Inflatables from SuperGames including Giant Tic Tac Toe, Hungry Hippo Chow Down, Lego Obstacle Course, and Level Up Slide
- Face painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Balloon twisting from Pretty as a Princess
- Craft some paper plans and straw rockets with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Play a few rounds of chess, or sit down at a board for the first time with The Royal Oak Initiative
- Discover video game design and create a video game avatar with pixel art with Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland.
- Live Music performances from Columbus Folk Music Society
- Columbus Public Health will be on-site offering free Lead Testing. You can get more details here!
- Free lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food and Jeni's Ice Cream!
Health + Safety
Friday, July 5
DUE TO FORECASTED RAIN AND POTENTIAL THUNDERSTOMS, THIS DATE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
- Inflatables and skill games from SuperGames including Fire Truck Slide, Police Dog Bounce, Wacky Chaos Jr. Obstacle, Flap Attack, King of the Hill
- Face painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Blow paint and pom-pom crafts and activities with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Touch and try on the gear that keeps our military safe with National Veterans Memorial Museum
- Learn about home safety with the Columbus Fire Department’s SafeHouse, and from 10am – 11am ONLY Columbus Fire Department will have a touch a truck experience with a CFD Firetruck.
- Learn all about safety from Columbus Police Department
- Learn about water safety from the Alum Creek Park Rangers
- Learn about bike safety with the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods.
- Columbus Public Health will be on-site offering free Lead Testing. You can get more details here!
- Lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food and Jeni's Ice Cream!
Carnival Day
Friday, July 12
- Inflatables from SuperGames including Vertical Rush WD, Zap-a-Mole, Skee-Ball, and Ferris Wheel Bounce
- Face painting from Pretty as a Princess
- Balloon twisting from Pretty as a Princess
- Craft a mask and Styrofoam snow cones with OSU Urban Arts Space
- "I Spy With my Goofy Little Eye" -- have fun creating goofy art to wear, if you dare, with Ohio Craft Muesum
- Take in some tunes from Columbus Folk Music Society, with the Cbus Jammers
- Try your shot at soft-tip archery with Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland
- Maximize the power of play with The Parachute People
- Check out the Magical Musings of Robbin Marks Magic Show.
- Columbus Public Health will be on-site offering free Lead Testing. You can get more details here!
- Lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food, Jeni's Ice Cream and Roaming Rooster Food Truck!
Sports + Fitness
Friday, July 19
- Inflatables with SuperGames including EndZone Obstacle Course, Football Bounce, and Wacky Ball
- Face painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Create a sports flip book ad decorate Brutus with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Meet the mascots and play an inflatable game with The Columbus Clippers
- Celebrate the MLS All-Star Game coming to Lower.com Field on July 24 with a soccer themed set-up from the Greater Columbus Sports Commission
- Craft a smiley sunshine with Ohio Craft Museum
- Get into the soccer spirit with the Columbus Crew
- Tackle an obstacle course with JumpBunch
- Bring your new or gently used sports gear to donate them to Level The Playing Field!
- Columbus Public Health will be on-site offering free Lead Testing. You can get more details here!
- Free lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food, Jeni's Ice Cream and Roaming Rooster Food Truck!
STEM
Friday, July 26
- Face Painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Balloon Twisting with Pretty as a Princess
- Craft Cork Sail Boats and Marble Mazes with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Learn about light spectrums and write secret messages with COSI
- Create Rain Fish based on the book "Rain Fish" by Lois Ehlert with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
- Learn the science of balancing military aircrafts with National Veterans Memorial Museum.
- Activity facilitated by Franklin Park Conservatory
- Activity facilitated by See Brilliance
- Coloring Activity Facilitated by The Center of Architecture and Design
- Columbus Public Health will be on-site offering free Lead Testing. You can get more details here!
- The Amazing Giants Stiltwalkers will be roaming the park from 11am - 12pm
- Free lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food and Jeni's Ice Cream!
Arts + Crafts
Friday, August 2
- Face Painting with Pretty as a Princess
- Balloon Twisting with Pretty as a Princess
- Create tissues paper paintings, flowers, and popsicle stick puzzles with OSU Urban Arts Space
- The world of Ohio's arts and crafts history is at your fingertips, come get creative with the Ohio History Center museum center.
- Craft upcycled CD's into whimsical outdoor garden art with Ohio Craft Muesum
- Get creative with the folks from Columbus Children's Theater
- Enjoy musical performances from Columbus Folk Music Society
- Create Friendship Bracelets with We Amplify Voices
- Columbus Public Health will be on-site offering free Lead Testing. You can get more details here!
- Roaming Stilt Walkers from The Amazing Giants from 11am - 12pm
- Free lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food and Jeni's Ice Cream!
Music Day
Friday, August 9
- Inflateables from SuperGames including Atomic Rush Obstacle, Beach Sunglasses Slide, Butterfly Combo, and High Voltage Obstacle Course.
- Face painting from Pretty as a Princess
- Balloon Twisting from Pretty as a Princess
- Craft musical instruments and sing some karaoke with OSU Urban Arts Space
- Music Columbus will host an Instrument Petting Zoo, sponsored by local music store, Music Go Round, that invites hands-on play with a variety of string, percussion, and other instruments.
- Enjoy an activity with Columbus Children's Theater
- Meet Beethoven from The Columbus Symphony Orchestra
- Create noisemakers with We Amplify Voices
- Meet Stilt Walkers from The Amazing Giants from 11am - 12pm
- Enjoy musical performances from the Columbus Folk Music Society
- Free lawn games and carousel rides, weather permitting
- Plus Food and Treats for purchase from Tortilla Street Food, Jeni's Ice Cream!
