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FILL YOUR FREE TIME WITH ACTIVITIES FOR ANY BLOCK OF TIME

We know conferences keep you busy, but when you do have extra time, check out some of these unique and fun Columbus specialties!

A man leans close to a Groot sculpture at COSI's Marvel exhibit

Have hands-on fun at COSI, the award-winning center of science

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Festival goers at the Ohio Black Expo

Enjoy music, food and games at a local festival, happening most weekends throughout the summer

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Group looking at art at Columbus Museum of Art

Visit the Columbus Museum of Art and explore the free Wonder Room wing to create your own

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National Veterans Memorial and Museum

Learn about our nation’s history and our veterans, past and present at National Veterans Memorial and Museum

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Signs lead the way for various restaurants inside Budd Dairy Food Hall

Grab a bite at the new restaurant incubator, Budd Dairy Food Hall

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Concerts large and small play the Arena District at Express Live! and Nationwide Arena

See a nationally touring rock band at KEMBA Live!, A&R Bar or The Basement

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Scavenger Hunt

Explore downtown Columbus with a scavenger hunt through Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure

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heroes and games logo

Browse racks of comics and sample video games at Heroes & Games in the convention center

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Coffee3

Explore your hipster side among the books and vinyl records at Kafe Kerouac coffee shop (a preview for college days!)

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cogo bike share

Get a day pass with CoGo Bike Share and explore Columbus on two wheels

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capasummermovieseries

Enjoy classic films in a grand, historic theatre at the CAPA summer movie series

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View from above of table full of Nepali food including bowls of dumplings and salad

Sample foods of all tastes at the North Market

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CHNO Clippers

Cheer on the Columbus Clippers minor league baseball team

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crew

Root for the Columbus Crew major league soccer team

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Zoombezi Bay

Splash down the slides at Zoombezi Bay water park

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Commons wellness

Take a free fitness class (like yoga, kickboxing or hip-hop dance) or hit up a weekly food truck court at the Columbus Commons

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Jeni's Ice Cream

Stroll through the Short North and have Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

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Aerial view of the Children's Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory

Get up-close with butterflies at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

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Goodale Park

Play frisbee or catch a band at the gazebo at Goodale Park

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Dining near the Scioto Mile Fountains at Bicentennial Park, Milestone 229

Run through the fountains at Bicentennial Park

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Loaded hot dog sitting on pile of tater tots on table at Dirty Frank's

Try some of the world’s wildest hotdog toppings and explore the quirky rock & roll memorabilia at Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace

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carousel_blog

Ride the carousel or play chess with giant chess pieces over an ice cream cone at Columbus Commons

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Bikes on the Scioto Mile

Jog, bike, rollerblade or stroll The Promenade on the Scioto Mile

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Woman in climbing gear hanging from wires and climbing up on climbing wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park

Climb the world’s largest free climbing wall at the Scioto Audubon

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scioto audubon

Challenge friends to race the large-scale obstacle course at the Scioto Audubon

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Couple reading with daughter at Scioto Audubon Center

Go birdwatching or fishing at the Scioto Audubon

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Children Kayak at Scioto River

Kayak underneath the downtown skyline in the Scioto River

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Couple poses in front of "Rolling in Love" Mural

Play duck pin bowling, giant Jenga or pinball at Pins Mechanical Co.

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McFerson Commons

Join in a kickball game at McFerson Commons under the historic arch

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Smart Columbus Experience Center

Visit the Smart Columbus Experience Center to see how electric cars work and learn about transportation of the future

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Craig CM Campbell Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum

Explore the largest collection of cartoons in the world at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum on the Ohio State campus

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big fun 2

Take in the vintage toy collection at Big Fun Columbus

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SegAway Tours of Columbus

Take a Segway tour through Columbus entertainment districts, departing from SegAway Tours in the convention center

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brewcadia brew pub and game bar

Play vintage video games, like Pacman and Space Invaders, or board games, like Clue and Connect Four, while you eat at Brewcadia

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penn and beech candles

Explore your artisan side as you develop your own scent to make a custom candle at Penn and Beech Candle Co.

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cosmetics displayed on pink background

Make a custom lip gloss at Mukha Custom Cosmetics & Med-Spa

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Crowd of people inside Columbus Main Library viewing the Huntington Holiday Train display

Take a YouMedia Teens class, where you learn to create music, videos and digital art at the Columbus Main Library

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Topiaries surrounded by trees and flowers in Topiary Park

See the larger-than-life topiary recreation of George Seurat’s famous painting at the Topiary Park

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Hand holing to-go mug of coffee with Winan's label in front of Scioto Mile park

Taste chocolates at Winans Chocolates + Coffee

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North Bank Park

Take pictures of the city and the Scioto River at North Bank Park

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Ohio Statehouse

Take a tour of the Ohio Statehouse

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As We Are selfie

Explore the art collection at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, and the world’s largest selfie machine, As We Are

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Thurber House Summer Literary Picnic

Attend a Young Writer’s Workshop or Literary Picnic at the Thurber House

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Pistacia Vera

Try the amazing macaroons at Pistacia Vera

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Schmidt's Valentine's Cream Puff Trio

Nosh on cream puffs at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant — and take your picture in the lederhosen cut-outs while you’re there!

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Performance at Schiller Park

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll enjoy a completely free play in Schiller Park during Shakespeare in the Park with The Actors Theater of Columbus

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Gateway

Catch a movie at the Gateway Film Center

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Shadowbox Live

See a live cabaret at Shadowbox LIVE! — America’s largest resident theatre company

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Two ladies shopping at Easton.

Take the bus for an unforgettable shopping experience at Easton

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Manatee with pumpkin during Boo at the Zoo

Feed giraffes or pet stingrays at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

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Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau

277 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 221-6623 I (866) 397-2657

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