We’ve seen some fantastic festivals around Columbus so far, and the fun continues as summer kicks into full gear!

As we mentioned last month, some members of the Greater Columbus Events Council are giving away fabulous prizes so you can experience their festivals and events this summer.

Here are the next set of prizes:

Winner number 1 will receive:
· 2 entries to the Preview Party at the 2011 North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival

Winner number 2 will receive:
· 2 one-day tickets to the Dublin Irish Festival Dub Club

Five lucky winners will receive:
· 2 tickets to the Ohio State Fair
· A VIP Parking Pass to the Jazz & Rib Fest

Here’s how to win: Leave a comment below and name at least one Columbus festival or event that you plan on attending in July or August. All entries must be posted by noon on Thur., June 30. One entry per person, please. We’ll randomly select the winners and notify you if you’ve won! Good luck!

I know, it doesn’t seem that way with all the rain we’ve had, but festival season is already here and the members of the Greater Columbus Events Council are offering great giveaways so that you, too, can experience why people love Columbus’ festivals and events!

For the next few months, we will be giving away fabulous prizes, so keep checking our blog. Our first prize package starts today:

2 Winners will be chosen to win a combination of:

• VIP passes to the Columbus Arts Festival
• Tickets to the Columbus Arts Festival Patron Party on Fri., June 3
• Food tickets to Juneteenth
• Tickets to the German Village Haus und Garten Tour

Here’s how to win: Leave a comment below and name at least one Columbus festival or event that you plan on attending this weekend or in June. All entries must be posted by noon on Tuesday, May 31. One entry per person, please. We’ll randomly select the winners and notify you if you’ve won!

Update 5/31/11: Congratulations Devin and Joe S. for winning the first giveway! Check back often, as we’ll give away more festival packages as the season continues!

Photo: bixentro on Flickr

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and there are plenty of things to do in Columbus to celebrate - whether you spend it with a special someone, your dearest friends or with your family.  I started to research for my own plans, and thought I’d share a few of the things that sounded unique and fun.

Unique Dining

Valentine’s Day at White Castle
Feb. 14 from 5-8 p.m.
This is an annual tradition for many couples across America and I must say, it’s on my bucket list! Bring your valentine to White Castle to enjoy a juicy slider or two. Call 614-294-3753 ext. 24 for reservations.

Valentines by Candlelight
Feb. 11-12 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
For a more elegant feel, take your date to the Ohio Historical Center. After a romantic dinner, you will be treated to Ohio Village Singers singing beautiful ballads and reciting romantic poetry. Cost is $60 per person or $50 for an Ohio Historical Society member. Call 800-686-6124 by Feb. 7 to make reservations.

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This post is part six of a seven part series featuring Columbus happy hours . Check back each week as Experience Columbus staff spotlight their favorite areas of Columbus to meet friends, share a drink and have some fun.

In this post, Sayaka explores happy hour specials at Easton Town Center. You can also check out options in the Short North Arts District , Grandview , Park Street and downtown . Stay tuned for the last post in the series, where we’ll feature Worthington.

When I was getting ready to tackle a blog post on happy hours around the Easton area, I knew I had to ask my friend, Ashley Curl for some insight. She’s the author of Columbus Socialite , and she’s always out and about.

We definitely had a blast researching the numerous options out there to wind down after work. Together, we were able to come up with a list of some happy hour specials at Easton Town Center.

Here are our favorites: (more…)

One of my favorite times of the year is almost here…Dine Originals Week! November 8-14, over fifty locally owned and operated restaurants will offer a delicious menu for $10, $20 or $30.

I look forward to it every year because it is the perfect opportunity to go out and try something new at a reasonable price. I admit that I grew up eating at the same chain restaurants and always ordering the same food. But as I’ve gotten older, things like Dine Originals Week allow me to be more open to trying new restaurants and their unique dishes. I haven’t been disappointed yet. (more…)

Homestyle cooking at the Dutch Kitchen

October is finally here – bring on the pumpkins, apple cider and the beautiful fall leaves! Kelly recently shared a whole slew of ideas for fun, family-friendly activities , but I have one more to add: Consider a trip to Plain City for the Dutch Kitchen’s Fall Family Fun Festival, which is happening all month long. It’s not that far of a drive, yet you feel like you are out in the country.

Admission to the Family Fun Festival is free and outdoor activities include: (more…)

This post is part 2 of a 6 part series featuring Experience Columbus Days , which takes place Oct. 8-11. During that time, Columbus attractions offer 50% off (or in some cases, BOGO or free admission). Plus, the restaurants of Dine Originals Columbus offer 25% off your food bill for two people.

In this post, Sayaka has rounded up a few Dine Originals Columbus restaurant suggestions . Stay tuned for future posts in the series - we’ll be featuring  Experience Columbus Days activities that are great for dates,  perfect for art fans, fun for kids and recommended for history buffs. You’ll find the first post, featuring suggestions for groups, here .

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It’s no secret to those who know me that I love to eat. And every year, I use Experience Columbus Days as my chance to try new restaurants at a discount. Now that there are ten more Dine Originals Columbus restaurants than last year, I am having a hard time deciding where to go!

I asked some of my Experience Columbus peeps where they plan on going next weekend; here are their suggestions: (more…)

I moved several months ago to Gahanna and I must say, I’ve really been enjoying my new neighborhood.

My favorite so far is Creekside, which is filled with shops, restaurants and a park along the creek.

If you’re a wine person, I highly recommend giving Mezzo Italian Kitchen and Wine a try. My boyfriend and I have been there several times now and we love it! We first went during Dine Originals Week and the atmosphere was very warm and we had the seat right by the window overlooking the outdoor patio. Definitely made for a nice romantic dinner.

And during the next couple of months, Creekside is the place to be! Check out some fun things happening: (more…)

There are some exciting things going on at the Franklin Park Conservatory .

Most of you have heard about the breathtaking Chihuly Reimagined exhibit, which you should not miss.

And every Thursday evening, there’s also Cocktails at the Conservatory from 5:30 p.m to 10 p.m. It’s a unique way to do drinks and a fun way of exploring the venue.

The Community Garden Campus

Then, there’s the new Growing to Green program, the go-to place for community gardening. They provide training and resources to create your very own community garden - everything from helping to find financial support, land and volunteers. If you are even remotely interested in gardening, you should make the trip to see what you can learn and take back to your own community. You can also take  one of their 1 1/2 hour weekend workshops - topics for this fall include planting your fall garden, selecting and planting bulbs and putting your garden to bed.

Some of the Experience Columbus staff recently had the opportunity to tour the facility and it was absolutely amazing. What used to be just a grassy area is now completely renovated. They’ve planted flowers and plants throughout the area, created sections where people can rent plots of land to grow fruits and vegetables, and there’s an outdoor fire pit and a wood-burning pizza oven.

Another really neat component of the Growing to Green program is their training facility. It is a cozy place with a kitchen where professionals teach you how to cook with the produce you grew in your own garden.

The whole concept really inspired me to take a take a stab at growing my own veggies. What a great way to save some money and eat healthy!

Get 50% off at the Wilds

Experience Columbus Days are almost here! Starting tomorrow, you can get 50% off attractions and 25% off food at Dine Originals Columbus restaurants—just by downloading a free flyer at ExperienceColumbusDays.com .

So far I have a lunch date with my friend on Friday at the Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus for their mouthwatering pot roast. I’m getting hungry already! But I still need to plan the rest of my weekend.

Since there are so many attractions and restaurants taking part in the program, I decided to see what a few of my coworkers are doing:

Cindy Hartsook : "My husband, daughter, a friend and I plan to enjoy the Italian Festival . The festival is filled with delectable aromas of an Italian village and overflowing with friendly people sharing their heritage. My husband’s maternal grandparents were from the Abruzzo region of Italy. We enjoy visiting with many old friends from our childhood neighborhoods here in Columbus. The festival is reminiscent of a huge family reunion."

Cathe Moog : "I am planning a date night with my husband and we’re going to try a place we have never been: either Tutto Vino or Trattoria Roma . On Sunday, I will take my two children (4 and 7) and my husband to the Columbus Museum of Art to see the Chihuly Illuminated exhibition. My husband used to live in Seattle, where Chihuly’s studios are located, and loves Dale Chilhuly’s work. No doubt, we’ll all be hungry after that, so we’ll probably head to Katzinger’s for sandwiches as big as your head."

Scott Peacock : "I plan to take my wife and some friends in town from Cincinnati to Tasi Cafe for breakfast, then to see Chihuly Reimagined at Franklin Park Conservatory and dinner at Maca Cafe in Powell."

Claudia Plumley : "We’re headed either to the zoo or the Wilds , depends on how early we get up. We love going to the zoo in fall and winter because all of the North American animals are out and about. Now there will be baby lions to see, too. We haven’t been the Wilds in a few years. It’s worth the drive just to see the animals enjoying the expansive grounds there."

There are some great ideas so far…now, what are you planning on doing Oct. 9-12?