There are loads of art things to do in Columbus, Ohio, from visiting fantastic music venues and galleries to stopping at local coffee shops where you can rub elbows with other artists, designers, and creatives. To get you started, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite things to do in Columbus—and they’re located near Columbus College of Art & Design’s campus in the downtown Discovery District.
Columbus ART: THINGS to do
Franklinton Arts District: Scrawl & Franklinton Fridays
Columbus arts go big at Scrawl, central Ohio’s longest running mural festival, hosted in the Franklinton Arts District. At Scrawl, you can witness live mural creations at 400 West Rich (completed murals are later auctioned to support grants for artists). As with any good festival in Columbus, food trucks, music, and drinks are in abundance at Scrawl–not to mention, you can enjoy DJ sets, live performers, and dance exhibitions and learn about Franklinton-area community organizations.
You don’t need to wait for Scrawl to experience all that Franklinton—and Columbus art—has to offer. On the second Friday of the month, the district hosts Franklinton Fridays, a late-night art crawl for the public to explore the neighborhood’s galleries, businesses, and institutions.
934 Gallery
Located in the Milo Arts District, 934 Gallery is a space for programming that showcases emerging visual and performing artists as well as more established local, national, and international artists. Exhibitions change each month, and other events include fashion shows, pop-up exhibitions, film premieres, and artist talks. The gallery also is home to 934 Fest, an annual music and arts festival with food trucks, art and craft vendors, and loads more. Traveling? You can also check out 934 at CMH, a gallery pop-up space at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
Columbus Arts Festival
See the best performing and visual artists from around the world at the Columbus Arts Festival, held every June in downtown Columbus. You can see and shop more than 250 visual artists, catch live performances on four different stages, and enjoy fresh food from dozens of food vendors—and entry is free! The arts festival has an international draw, but you won’t want to miss the Big Local Arts Village, a showcase space for emerging Columbus-area artists (including many CCAD alums).
Alley Islands
Looking for an art event in Columbus, Ohio? You don’t have to go far from CCAD’s campus to find one of the city’s best art festivals. Alley Islands, organized by our Discovery District neighbors at Blockfort Gallery and Studios, is a day of music (hip-hop and indie rock, to be specific), food, art, and fun. Blockfort has a number of CCAD grads among its studio tenants; they open their doors for visits during Alley Islands so you can check out their work. And you'll see even more of our alums selling their wares in booths outside at the event. Watch artists create murals on and around Blockfort while you enjoy performances (which also include poetry, comedy, and storytelling) and create some work of your own by way of interactive art pieces.
Columbus art: Places to go
Two Dollar Radio HQ
Book Riot calls it “one of the hippest bookstores and indie presses in the Midwest,” and we think of this indie bookstore/event space/coffee shop/vegan cafe/study spot as a home away from home. The light- and plant-filled space is a great place to meet up with friends, hear from world-renowned authors such as Hanif Abdurraqib or Maggie Smith, or join in one of the groups meeting there regularly, such as the Feminist Sci-Fi book club, the Queer Creations Crafting Club, or the Village Poetry Open Mic.
Fox in the Snow
Possibly the most Instagrammable place on Earth, Fox in the Snow is a cafe full of natural light, gorgeous coffee drinks, and no shortage of dreamy houseplants. And it’s not just good looks: Fox in the Snow’s egg sandwich is legendary—and you won’t want to sleep on its epic galettes and other sweet treats. You’ll be sure to see someone you know in line, and no in-house WiFi means you might be forced to make conversation instead of doing endless hours of work on your laptop. Fox in the Snow has multiple locations in Columbus, including two close to campus (Fox in the Show German Village, 210 Thurman Ave., and Fox in the Snow Italian Village,1031 N. Fourth St.), so you’re never far from your next great meal. (You also can visit Fox in the Snow Dublin at 38 W. Bridge St. or Fox in the Snow New Albany at 160 W. Main St.)
Kafe Kerouac
Just north of Ohio State University in the North Campus neighborhood sits a meeting house disguised as a coffee shop. Kafe Kerouac is a staple of the creative community in Columbus; on any given night you may find yourself in the middle of a hip hop or improv performance, a poetry slam, a book reading, or other talk. The coffee shop is filled with thousands of records and books —including many by local writers and comic book artists, as well as hard-to-find small press items—not to mention drinks cleverly named after authors.
Hear from a CCAD student on some of his favorite things in the Columbus arts scene
The city is a wonderful place and there’s so many things to do for fun. I recommend Columbus more than anything,” shares a CCAD student. Watch the video above to learn more about creative things to do in Columbus, Ohio.
Need more things to do in Columbus, Ohio? Check out the following:
- Tabletop Game Cafe, in Clintonville, offers board game rentals, a regular introduction to those who want to learn how to play Dungeons & Dragons, a monthly evening for LGBTQ+ gamers to connect, and much more.
- The music is hardcore—but your laundry can be oh so soft—at Dirty Dungarees, a music venue-slash-laundromat serving up live punk, experimental, and hardcore music from its North Campus-area home.
- Gather in the Short North every October in your best costume for HighBall Halloween, a holiday block party and a terrific complement to CCAD’s annual student costume party, Big Boo!
- Pins Mechanical, which has a downtown location close to CCAD’s campus, has loads of activities for you and friends, including duckpin bowling, pinball, and Giant Jenga on the patio. (And you can fuel your activities with eats from a food truck stationed outside.)
Learn more about things to do in Columbus, Ohio—and why Columbus is a great city for young creatives—on our Columbus is Calling webpage.
