😎 The Best Things To Do in Columbus This July

Plus: 💦 Beat the Heat At Central Ohio’s Best Free Splash Pads

Author

Chelsea Wiley
July 06, 2026

Sponsored by North Market 🍴
North Market is calling your name! Whether you're exploring the original downtown location for its classic market charm or the Bridge Park spot in Dublin for a modern twist, there's no better place to eat, shop, and discover the best of Columbus. For more info, head over to northmarket.org.

Hello, Monday! Chelsea, here.

Hopefully you had a chance to relax over the Fourth of July weekend, and maybe found a way to stay cool through the heat, too. Now that we're officially into the heart of summer, Columbus is wasting no time filling the calendar. This month brings everything from major concerts and festivals to baseball, soccer, outdoor adventures, and plenty of free events around town. Here’s what you need to know about what’s going on around town this month.

Navigator Feature Story: 😎 The Best Things To Do in Columbus This July

🧗‍♀️ ODNR Bringing Back Women’s Outdoor Adventure Weekend This Fall
The Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventure Weekend returns in September at Salt Fork State Park, offering hands-on outdoor skills classes for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Registration opens this week, with space limited to 95 attendees.

💦 Beat the Heat: Central Ohio’s Best Free Splash Pads
Central Ohio has no shortage of free splash pads for beating the summer heat, from downtown fountains to suburban parks with plenty of shade and seating. Here are 10 spots across the region that make it easy to turn a hot day into a quick, kid-friendly outing.

Headlines 📰 

🪦 Ohio has long been home to thousands of Revolutionary War veterans' graves, but there was no single place to find them. Now, a new crowdsourced database has already documented more than 4,000 burial sites. (Ideastream Public Media)

🐄 A silver pitcher awarded for the "second best cow" at the 1859 Ohio State Fair inspired an Ohio History Connection curator to uncover the surprisingly rich story behind the prize, the winning cattle, and Ohio's early fair history. Sometimes the runner-up has the better story. (Ohio History Connection)

🏕️ What was once a scarred coal mining site in eastern Ohio is now a 1,300-acre park with hiking trails, campgrounds, kayaking, fishing, and an 89-acre lake. Friendship Park is a striking example of how abandoned industrial land can be transformed into a destination for outdoor recreation and wildlife. (Islands.com)

🌤️ Weather: partly sunny and 85

Coming Up This Week 📆

Sponsored by Columbus Recreation and Parks 🎸
Get ready for a powerful, soul-stirring performance as Ruthie Foster takes the stage for a free show on Friday, July 10 at the Scioto Mile Concert Series, presented by Columbus Recreation and Parks in partnership with CAPA. For more info, please click here.

Today's Photo 🤳

Instagram Post

🌾 Ohio's native prairies are among the state's rarest ecosystems, providing critical habitat for pollinators, birds, and hundreds of native plant species. Protecting these grasslands helps keep both wildlife and Ohio's natural heritage alive.

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- Chelsea