💧 Here’s How Bad The Flooding Got Across Central Ohio

Plus: 🎈 The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend

Author

Chelsea Wiley
August 21, 2026

🤝 TOGETHER WITH CCT

The ghost-with-the-most is haunting the stage in Beetlejuice Jr. Follow Lydia Deetz into a world of ghosts, laughs, and high-energy musical numbers in this family-friendly adventure from Columbus Children’s Theatre. The show runs until August 23, and tickets are available now. Don’t miss the spooky fun!

Hello, Friday! Chelsea, here.

Well, that escalated quickly. After another round of heavy rain overnight on Wednesday, yesterday was full of flooded roads, submerged neighborhoods, water rescues, and rivers that were still very much on the rise. Columbus activated the Franklinton floodwall, I-70 was underwater near Buckeye Lake, and part of the village was placed under a mandatory evacuation order. We pulled together the biggest flooding impacts from around the region, along with some of the videos and photos showing just how much water Central Ohio was dealing with.

🎈 The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend
After the weather we’ve had lately, Columbus could probably use a little fun. The All Ohio Balloon Festival turns 50, Festival Latino moves downtown, and there’s still plenty of tacos, lanterns, live music, free festivals and general weekend distraction to go around.

🛍️ Five New Stores Are Coming To Easton, Including A 15,000-Square-Foot MINISO Land
Easton is getting a whole lot more to browse, including a 15,000-square-foot MINISO Land packed with plushies, collectibles, and enough cute stuff to test your self-control. Here’s what else is new around Easton.

Headlines 📰 

🍔 A former Wendy’s executive who spent more than two decades traveling with founder Dave Thomas has collected some of the stories, struggles, and stranger details of his life in a new book, Call Me Dave. (Columbus Monthly)

🏛️ Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin is officially running for mayor in 2027, setting up a Democratic matchup with Mayor Andrew Ginther. Hardin says transparency, public education, and making sure longtime residents feel included in the city’s growth will be priorities. (NBC4)

⚖️ The Ohio Supreme Court has unanimously tossed a lawsuit challenging the state’s voter-approved reproductive rights amendment. The case was brought by a Trumbull County judge who argued the 2023 amendment improperly stripped away his authority over parental notification, but another challenge to the amendment is still pending. (Statehouse News Bureau)

☀️ Weather: 82 and sunny

Coming Up This Week 📆

🎭 8/21-8/30: Pippin
🎭 8/21-8/23: Beetlejuice Jr.
🎭 8/21-8/22: Sanctuary City
🎭 8/21-9/6: And Then There Were None
🎭 8/21-8/23: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (ages 0-5)
⚾️ 8/21-8/23: Columbus Clippers vs. St. Paul Saints
🍸 8/22: The Great Bourbon Affair
🎡 8/22: India Festival
🌳 8/22: Columbus ArborFest
🖼️ 8/22: Alley Islands
🎡 8/22-8/23: Festival Latino
🚗 8/22-8/23: Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire
🍴 8/23: Taste of Gahanna
🎵 8/23: Ella Mai

The Kicker 🤳

Instagram Post

🚧 Roads, trails, and even sidewalks were temporarily transformed into creeks and canals. Here’s hoping that we’ve got sunnier days ahead, friends.

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- Chelsea

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