🌈 Columbus Pride Returns This Weekend

Plus: 💸 Franklin Park Conservatory Is Worth More Than You Think

Author

Chelsea Wiley
June 16, 2026

Sponsored by Columbus Recreation and Parks 🎵
The Columbus Symphony presents a FREE evening of live music, from beloved classical masterpieces to iconic movie soundtracks and popular favorites, this concert is on June 28 at Bicentennial Park at Scioto Mile Concert Series, presented by Columbus Recreation and Parks and the Columbus Symphony. For more info, head over to sciotomile.com.

Hello, Tuesday! Chelsea, here.

Columbus feels like it’s in full summer mode this weekend, with things happening all over the city and a lot of people heading downtown. Pride is the big one at the center of it all, with Stonewall Columbus bringing its annual celebration back under the theme “Until We’re All Free.” It’s part festival, part march, part citywide gathering that tends to spill well beyond the park and into the streets. The vibe is usually equal parts celebration and visibility, with a lot of people just showing up as themselves and being around each other. If you’re going downtown, you’ll feel it pretty quickly—this is Pride weekend in Columbus.

Navigator Feature Story: 🌈 Columbus Pride 2026: What You Need to Know

🏡 Olde Towne East’s Home Tour Highlights Restoration, History, and Change
Olde Towne East’s Summer Tour of Homes returns next month, offering a rare look inside eleven historic properties spanning 150+ years of architecture and restoration. The tour highlights the neighborhood’s evolving character through preserved details, adaptive reuse, and lived-in history.

💵 A New Study Says Franklin Park Conservatory Is One Of Columbus’ Most Valuable Cultural Assets
A new study found Franklin Park Conservatory generated $225 million for Ohio's economy over six years and could more than double its impact by 2030. Here's what the numbers reveal about one of Columbus' most important cultural institutions.

Headlines 📰 

👏 Ohio has launched a new “Safe Haven Program” to provide mental health and substance use support for firefighters and EMTs, aiming to address burnout and job-related stress. Officials say it’s the first program of its kind specifically available to first responders in the state. (NBC4)

🪏 Denison University researchers are excavating a field near Granville to investigate a possible ancient Indigenous earthwork circle detected through subsurface imaging. Early findings are suggestive but not conclusive, and further analysis and carbon dating are underway. (WOSU)

The National Weather Service confirmed two EF-1 tornadoes touched down in Columbiana County during Sunday’s severe storms, bringing Ohio’s 2026 tornado count to 12. Officials say additional severe weather is possible later this week. (10TV)

⛈️ Weather: 78 and mostly sunny

Sponsored by Short North Stage 🎭
Short North Stage kicks off its 15th season with Pippin, the Tony Award-winning musical featuring an unforgettable score by Stephen Schwartz, the legendary composer behind Wicked and Godspell. Filled with magic, mystery, and dazzling theatrical spectacle, Pippin follows a young prince's search for purpose, happiness, and what it truly means to live an extraordinary life. For tickets and more information, visit shortnorthstage.org.

Coming Up This Week 📆

Coming Up This Month 📆

Photo by David Heasley, courtesy of Columbus Arts Festival.

😎 The Best Things To Do in Columbus This Month
June is packed with reasons to get out and explore Columbus. From the Columbus Arts Festival and Pride celebrations to Juneteenth, concerts, baseball games, and more, we've rounded up some of the biggest events happening around the city this month.

Today's Photo 🤳

Instagram Post

⚽️ I can’t get over how delightful these new Library Cards are! They go perfectly with the Culture Passes that the Library has availabe, allowing you to cheer on the Columbus Crew.

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- Chelsea