Hello, August. This weekend looks to be a classically busy Columbus summer weekend. The Dublin Irish Festival takes over Coffman Park, the Ohio State Fair hits its first full weekend, Pelotonia will see thousands of cyclists in action, and Barry Manilow plays what’s billed as his final Columbus concert.
Every event below was verified before it made the list, the same standard as the monthly guide. Here’s your weekend.
This Weekend At A Glance
| Event | When | Where | Cost |
| Dublin Irish Festival | Fri 4pm–midnight, Sat 11am–11pm, Sun 9:30am–8pm | Coffman Park, Dublin | $25/day; kids 11 & under free |
| Ohio State Fair (first weekend) | Daily through Aug 9 | Ohio Expo Center | $13 at the gate; $10 parking |
| Pelotonia Ride Weekend | Ceremony Fri 4–8pm; rides Sat & Sun | North Bank Park & downtown | Free to cheer |
| Premier Lacrosse League | Fri–Sun, five games | Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium | From $50 per session |
| Picnic with the Pops: OSU Marching Band | Fri & Sat, 8pm | Columbus Commons | Ticketed |
| Josh Johnson’s Comedy Band Camp | Fri, 7pm & 10pm | Palace Theatre | Ticketed |
| Commons for Kids | Fri, 10am–1pm | Columbus Commons | Free |
| Clippers vs. Toledo Mud Hens | Fri & Sat 7:05pm, Sun 1:05pm | Huntington Park | Ticketed |
| Actors’ Theatre: Othello | Thu–Sun, 8pm | Schiller Park | Free |
| Gallery Hop | Sat, afternoon into evening | Short North | Free |
| Alison Krauss & Union Station | Sat, 7pm | Ohio State Fair | Ticketed |
| Cartoon Capers | Sat, 10am | Ohio Theatre | $6 |
| Biome Bonanza: Koibito of the Water Garden | Sat, 11am–2pm | Franklin Park Conservatory | Included with admission |
| Crew at Inter Miami (watch party) | Sat, 7:30pm | Prime Video, or a Crew bar | Free on TV |
| Manilow: The Last Columbus Concert | Sun, 7pm | Nationwide Arena | Ticketed |
| YUNGBLUD | Sun, doors 6pm | KEMBA Live! (outdoors) | Sold out; resale only |
| August Community Day | Sun, 10am–5pm | Franklin Park Conservatory | Free with Columbus/Franklin Co. ID |
| Goodale Park Music Series: Gathering Stars | Sun, 12:30–2pm | Goodale Park | Free |
| The American Revolution Experience (final days) | Fri & Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 1–6pm | Westerville Public Library | Free |
Friday, July 31
🍀 The Dublin Irish Festival Takes Over Coffman Park
The 39th Dublin Irish Festival runs all three days at Coffman Park: Friday 4pm to midnight, Saturday 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 9:30am to 8pm. One-day tickets are $25 online, a weekend pass is $50 through Friday, and kids 11 and under get in free. Two money-savers worth knowing: Sunday admission is free from 9:30 to 11am with a donation for the Dublin Food Pantry, and the public lots and the Metro Place shuttle cost nothing. The full breakdown of stages, whiskey tastings, parking, and ticket fine print is in the Dublin Irish Festival guide.
Location: Coffman Park, 5200 Emerald Parkway, Dublin
When: Friday–Sunday; hours vary by day
Cost: $25 one-day online; kids 11 and under free
More info: Dublin Irish Festival
🎡 First Full Weekend of the Ohio State Fair
The fair opened Wednesday and this is its first full weekend: rides, livestock barns, the butter cow, and the new food hall. Gate admission is $13 for adults, $10 for kids 6–12 and seniors, free for 5 and under, and parking runs $10. The Celeste Center stays busy all weekend too, with The S.O.S. Band and The Dazz Band on Friday and Sammy Kershaw on Sunday. Everything you need is in the Ohio State Fair guide, and the discount roundup covers how to get in for less.
Location: Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave.
When: Daily through August 9
Cost: $13 gate admission; $10 parking
More info: Ohio State Fair
🚲 Pelotonia Ride Weekend
Pelotonia’s 18th Ride Weekend starts Friday with the Opening Ceremony at North Bank Park and McFerson Commons from 4 to 8pm, headlined this year by Andrew McMahon. Saturday morning, thousands of riders roll out of North Bank Park on routes that pass through Bexley and the Ohio State campus before finishing Sunday. Every dollar raised goes to cancer research at OSU James, and cheering from the curb costs nothing. If you’re driving downtown this weekend, plan around the closures near the Arena District.
Location: North Bank Park and routes across the region
When: Friday ceremony 4–8pm; rides Saturday & Sunday
Cost: Free to spectate
More info: Pelotonia
🥍 Pro Lacrosse Comes to Ohio State
The Premier Lacrosse League brings its Week 12 stop to Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium with five games in three days: two Friday night (6pm and 8:30pm), two Saturday afternoon (12:30pm and 3pm), and one Sunday at 3pm. The PLL is the top pro league in Lacrosse, and this is a rare chance to see it without leaving town. Single-session tickets start at $50, and a weekend pass runs $126.
Location: Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium
When: Friday–Sunday, five games
Cost: From $50 per session
More info: Premier Lacrosse League
🎺 Picnic with the Pops: The OSU Marching Band
The Best Damn Band In The Land joins the Columbus Symphony on the Commons lawn Friday and Saturday at 8pm. This sells out and for good reason: a full orchestra and TBDBITL on the same stage, with a downtown skyline behind them. Bring a picnic and get there early.
Location: Columbus Commons
When: Friday & Saturday, 8pm
More info: Columbus Symphony
🎤 Josh Johnson’s Comedy Band Camp at the Palace
Daily Show correspondent Josh Johnson, called “the funniest guy on the internet” by WIRED, plays two shows at the Palace Theatre on Friday, 7pm and 10pm. His YouTube and short form video stand-up sets rack up views by the hundreds of millions.
Location: Palace Theatre
When: Friday, 7pm & 10pm
More info: CAPA
🎪 Commons for Kids: Sports & Games (Free)
The Commons’ free Friday-morning kids series hits its Sports & Games week: inflatables, face painting, crafts, and carousel rides from 10am to 1pm, all free. If the forecast hits 80 degrees, the inflatable water slide comes out, so pack a swimsuit for the little ones.
Location: Columbus Commons
When: Friday, 10am–1pm
Cost: Free
More info: Columbus Commons
⚾ Clippers Close Out the Homestand
The Clippers wrap their series against the Toledo Mud Hens with three games at Huntington Park: Friday and Saturday at 7:05pm, and a 1:05pm Sunday matinee.
Location: Huntington Park
When: Friday & Saturday 7:05pm, Sunday 1:05pm
More info: Columbus Clippers
🎭 Free Shakespeare: Othello at Schiller Park
Actors’ Theatre of Columbus performs Othello on the Schiller Park amphitheater stage Thursday through Sunday at 8pm, free, with the run continuing through August 9. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and arrive early for a good spot. Free outdoor Shakespeare in German Village is one of the city’s best summer traditions.
Location: Schiller Park, German Village
When: Thursday–Sunday, 8pm
Cost: Free
More info: Actors’ Theatre
Saturday, August 1
🖼️ Gallery Hop in the Short North (Free)
It’s the first Saturday of the month, which means Gallery Hop. It’s free high-energy fun with lots of great food options.
Location: Short North Arts District
When: Saturday, afternoon into evening
Cost: Free
More info: Short North Alliance
🎻 Alison Krauss & Union Station at the Fair
Twenty-seven Grammys and an all-time great American voice performing at the Ohio State Fair. Alison Krauss & Union Station play the Celeste Center Saturday at 7pm.
Location: Celeste Center, Ohio Expo Center
When: Saturday, 7pm
More info: Ticketmaster
🍿 Cartoon Capers at the Ohio Theatre ($6)
The CAPA Summer Movie Series runs a Saturday morning of classic Warner Bros. cartoons on the Ohio Theatre’s big screen at 10am, with Clark Wilson playing the Mighty Morton organ beforehand. Tickets are $6, and it’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning with kids. The rest of the summer lineup is in the CAPA Summer Movie Series breakdown.
Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.
When: Saturday, 10am
Cost: $6
More info: CAPA
🌺 Biome Bonanza: Koi and Water Gardens
Franklin Park Conservatory’s monthly biome spotlight lands on the Pacific Island Water Garden and its koi collection, with pond builders and the Conservatory’s own koi caretakers on hand from 11am to 2pm. Included with general admission.
Location: Franklin Park Conservatory
When: Saturday, 11am–2pm
Cost: Included with admission
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory
⚽ Crew vs. Messi: Watch-Party Night
The Crew are in Florida this weekend, and it’s one you might want to watch: Columbus at world famous Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, 7:30pm on Prime Video. Any match against Messi is appointment viewing, and this one features our Crew. Skip the couch and watch it at one of our local Crew bars.
Location: Your couch, or a Crew bar
When: Saturday, 7:30pm kickoff
Cost: Streaming on Prime Video
More info: Columbus Crew
Sunday, August 2
🎹 Manilow: The Last Columbus Concert
Barry Manilow says goodbye to Columbus with a show billed as his final concert in the city, Sunday at 7pm at Nationwide Arena. “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” “I Write the Songs,” one last time.
Location: Nationwide Arena
When: Sunday, 7pm
More info: Nationwide Arena
🎸 YUNGBLUD at KEMBA Live! (Sold Out)
YUNGBLUD’s Idols World Tour stop, rescheduled from May, finally lands Sunday on the KEMBA outdoor stage with Return to Dust opening. Doors open at 6pm. The show is sold out, so you’ll have to check resale.
Location: KEMBA Live! (outdoors)
When: Sunday, doors 6pm
Cost: Sold out; resale only
More info: PromoWest
🌳 Free Day at Franklin Park Conservatory
Sunday is August Community Day at the Conservatory: free admission all day with a Columbus or Franklin County ID. That includes the biomes, the Chihuly glass, and the outdoor gardens. It’s one of the best free-culture deals in the city, and it only comes around once a month.
Location: Franklin Park Conservatory
When: Sunday, 10am–5pm
Cost: Free with Columbus or Franklin County ID
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory
🎵 Gathering Stars at the Goodale Park Gazebo (Free)
The Goodale Park Music Series continues with Gathering Stars at the gazebo, 12:30 to 2pm, free, with food carts nearby. A lazy Sunday hour in the park is a fine way to finish off the weekend.
Location: Goodale Park
When: Sunday, 12:30–2pm
Cost: Free
More info: Short North Civic Association
🏛️ Last Days of the American Revolution Experience
The American Battlefield Trust’s traveling pop-up exhibit closes out its Westerville Public Library run this weekend, with interactive kiosks and artifacts telling the story of the Revolution through the people who lived it. It’s free, and hours run 9am to 6pm Friday and Saturday and 1 to 6pm Sunday, with Monday, August 3 the final day.
Location: Westerville Public Library
When: Through Monday, August 3
Cost: Free
More info: Westerville Public Library
That’s the weekend. The Irish Festival plus the State Fair make for a busy weekend before even considering everything else happening. If you’re planning further out, the monthly guide runs through everything August.
Get out there and have fun!
