Throughout much of the year Columbus is home to over 89,000 full time college students. During the academic season, these students collectively organize thousands of educational, service, and social events for their peers. For college students who are residing in Columbus after the majority of their peers have departed however, the city still offers many attractions and programs to keep one busy during the summer semester.
Author’s Top Festivals
1. Columbus Asian Festival
May 28th-29th at the Franklin Park Conservatory
1755 E Broad St, Columbus
Attracting over 100,000 visitors last year, the Asian Festival has continuously grown since its inception in 1995. Just some of the festival’s events include: dragon boat racing, martial arts lessons, live dance performances, and of course authentic Asian cuisine. In addition, both admission and parking are free of charge.
2. Columbus Pride Parade
June 18th
Step off at 10:30AM at the corner of Broad and Front Streets.
https://www.columbuspride.org/parade
A Columbus tradition since 1981, Columbus Pride has continued to grow over the years and attracted over 500,000 people in 2014. In 2015, over 200 separate organizations took part in the parade ranging from churches and synagogues to fortune 500 companies and locally owned small businesses. The parade is now known as one of the largest pride events in the Midwest. In addition to the parade itself, be sure to stop by Goodale Park afterwards for the community festival.
3. Columbus Community Festival (ComFest)
June 24th-26th
Goodale Park, 120 W Goodale St, Columbus
The first ComFest was held in 1972, and it is organized as, “a party with a purpose”. As the nation’s largest independent, volunteer-run festival ComFest features dozens of musical performances from both local and national artists. In addition, workshops and lectures are offered on topics as diverse as food, politics, and art.
Author’s Top Restaurants
1. Lavash Cafe
2985 N. High St. Clintonville
614-263-7777
In the mood for hummus, lamb, shawarma, or falafel? This restaurant has all your Mediterranean cravings covered. Voted by Columbus Alive as Columbus’s best Mediterranean restaurant of 2016, this restaurant is sure to delight your palate, and, with all menu options being under $20, your wallet will be happy too.
2. Harvest Pizzeria
495 S 4th St Columbus
614-824-1769
This quaint little pizza shop is located in historic German Village and has received many outstanding reviews from a variety of travel blogs including Famtipper and Columbus Underground. While of course serving excellent pizza, don’t forget to also save room for the dessert menu, which features five dishes including the exceptional Butterscotch Budino.
3. Katzinger’s Delicatessen
475 S 3rd St, Columbus
614-228-3354
Another East Side favorite, Katzinger’s has been in operation for over 25 years and is ranked the best deli in Columbus by Foursquare.com. Serving many traditional Ashkenazi (German) Jewish dishes such as: latkes, kugle, and chopped liver, Katzinger’s can rival any East Coast Delicatessen. In addition, Katzinger’s serves up a variety of sandwiches, including famous rubens.
Author’s Top Arts Centers
1. Palace Theater
4 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215
614-469-9850
http://www.capa.com/venues/palace-theatre
Modeled off of France’s Versailles, the 2,827-seat Palace Theatre is located at the base of the LeVeque Tower on Broad Street. The Palace regularly features performances from nationally recognized singers and acts from Broadway Across America. Some upcoming events include:Sinbad on June 24th, Weird Al Yankovic on July 6th, and Wicked August 17th-September 4th. Rarely is there a night without a performance at The Palace.
2. Wexner Center for the Arts
1871 N High St, Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-3535
Located on the campus of The Ohio State University, the Wexner Center is a nationally known center of contemporary art, and admission is free for anyone who presents a student id. In addition to showcasing art, The Wex also features film screenings and live musical performances.
3. Franklin Park Conservatory
1777 E Broad St, Columbus
614-715-8000
http://www.fpconservatory.org/
Located on the grounds of Franklin Park, just two miles east of downtown Columbus, this 88-acre park is known for its green spaces, exotic plants, and artwork. With a mile long walking path, Franklin Park Conservatory is a great place to exercise, or just relax. Be sure to check out the Palm House and Rainforest Biome for a taste of the exotic.
