The Best Things To Do In Columbus This Weekend (November 6th–8th)

It’s a big weekend in Columbus, and not just because the Buckeyes are welcoming Oregon back to the Shoe for the first time since last year’s playoff showdown.

There’s a little bit of everything happening around town, from a major Broadway musical taking its final bow to Diwali fireworks, a nighttime Chihuly celebration, and the return of Gallery Hop. You can catch a circus before it leaves town, see Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpieces without leaving Polaris, or spend Sunday throwing pumpkins off a 40-foot-high walkway (yes, really).

And with holiday shopping, live music, comedy, and plenty of reasons to get out of the house, your weekend calendar might fill up faster than expected. Here’s what’s happening around Columbus November 6-8.

This Weekend At A Glance

Friday, November 6th

🎪 UniverSoul Circus At Historic Crew Stadium, Last Weekend

UniverSoul Circus leaves town after Sunday. The Columbus run that started October 29th ends November 8th, and the show opens in Raleigh the following week. Friday has one show, at 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday have three each, with the Soul Skaters, the Extreme Riders and Caribbean Carnival on the bill of a circus in its 32nd year. Parking is $10 a car, and tickets are through Ticketmaster.

Location: Historic Crew Stadium, 1 Black & Gold Blvd.
When: Fri 7pm; Sat noon, 3:30 & 7:30pm; Sun noon, 3 & 6:30pm
Cost: Parking $10 a car
More info: UniverSoul Circus · Showtimes

🤖 Maybe Happy Ending At The Ohio Theatre

The Broadway in Columbus run of Maybe Happy Ending closes Sunday, with five performances left: Friday night, two Saturday and two Sunday. It won six Tony Awards, and Best Musical was one of them. Michael Arden directed, and USA Today called it one of the best musicals in years. The Saturday matinee has ASL interpretation and audio description.

Location: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.
When: Fri 7:30pm; Sat 2 & 7:30pm; Sun 1 & 6:30pm
More info: CAPA

🏴‍☠️ Pirates! The Penzance Musical At The Palace Theatre

Opera Columbus and CAPA move Gilbert and Sullivan’s pirate ship to New Orleans in a jazzy, blues-infused version adapted by Rupert Holmes. Nina West plays Ruth. It’s part of the Palace’s 100th anniversary celebration, and there are only two performances, Friday night and Sunday afternoon, with no Saturday show. It’s sung in English with English captions, and Sunday’s performance has audio description.

Location: Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
When: Fri 7:30pm; Sun 2pm
More info: CAPA

😂 Jordan Klepper At Mershon Auditorium

Jordan Klepper, the Emmy-winning co-host of The Daily Show, is at Mershon Friday night, doors at 6:30 and the show at 7:30. He recently picked up another Emmy for his special Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: MAGA: The Next Generation.

Location: Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St.
When: Friday, doors 6:30pm, show 7:30pm
More info: Mershon Auditorium

⛪ Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition At Polaris

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition opens Friday at Polaris Fashion Place and runs through December 27th. It shows all 34 of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes as life-size reproductions, from The Creation of Adam to The Last Judgment, and a visit runs 60 to 90 minutes at your own pace with a free audio guide on your phone. The exhibition is in the former Forever 21 storefront facing the parking lot, beside the archway near Dave & Buster’s, and there’s no entrance from inside the mall.

Location: Polaris Fashion Place, 1500 Polaris Pkwy.
When: Fri & Sat 11am–8pm; Sun 11am–6pm
Cost: From $26; discounts for seniors, military, students and youth
More info: House of Live

🏀 Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs. Youngstown State

Ohio State men’s basketball plays its first regular-season home game Friday against Youngstown State. The Buckeyes played BYU in Salt Lake City on Monday, and the only earlier game at the Schott was an October exhibition against Butler. It streams on B1G+.

Location: Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr.
When: Friday, 6:30pm
More info: Schottenstein Center · Ohio State schedule

🍷 Night Shift: Au Naturel At CMA At The Pizzuti

Night Shift at the Pizzuti is free with registration. Kyle Huffman of Cordial Cocktail Club & Bottle Shop picks the natural wines, the Tavares Strachan show The Day Tomorrow Began is open until the galleries close at 8pm, and the Bar Room stays open until 10.

Location: Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti, 632 Park St.
When: Friday, 5–10pm; galleries until 8pm
Cost: Free with registration
More info: Columbus Museum of Art

🎷 SML At The Wexner Center

SML, a Los Angeles quintet that mixes improvisation, groove, electronics and jazz, plays twice in the Wex Performance Space, at 7 and 9pm.

Location: Wexner Center for the Arts, Performance Space
When: Friday, 7 & 9pm
More info: Wexner Center

🎭 Eureka Day At The Riffe Center

The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, the company formerly called CATCO, opens its run of Jonathan Spector’s Eureka Day in Studio Two at the Riffe Center. A mumps outbreak hits a proudly progressive California elementary school, and the discussion spirals from there. Friday’s preview is pay what you want, and Sunday’s 2pm matinee is the Parent’s Day Out performance, with a free theater workshop for kids 5 to 12 during the show. It runs through November 22nd.

Location: Riffe Center, Studio Two, 77 S. High St.
When: Fri & Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm
Cost: Pay what you want Friday
More info: The Contemporary

🖋️ Hell City Tattoo Fest At The Hyatt Regency

Hell City takes over the Hyatt Regency downtown for three days with more than 250 tattoo artists, vendors and live painters, plus tattoo competitions. It’s open noon to 11pm Friday and Saturday and noon to 7pm Sunday. Door prices are $30 Friday, $35 Saturday, $30 Sunday, or $80 for the whole weekend.

Location: Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N. High St.
When: Fri & Sat noon–11pm; Sun noon–7pm
Cost: $30 Fri, $35 Sat, $30 Sun, $80 weekend at the door
More info: Hell City

🎸 George Birge At The Bluestone

George Birge is at the Bluestone Friday, doors at 7pm.

Location: The Bluestone
When: Friday, doors 7pm
More info: PromoWest

📚 Devon Halliday At Prologue Bookshop

Devon Halliday talks about the debut novel To Stay, To Stay, To Stay with Lee Martin at Prologue Bookshop on North High Street, from 6:30 to 7:30pm. RSVP through Eventbrite.

Location: Prologue Bookshop, 787 N. High St.
When: Friday, 6:30–7:30pm
More info: Eventbrite

🤘 Speak Of The Devil And Screamers At Shadowbox Live

Shadowbox has two shows up this weekend. Speak of the Devil, built on the music of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, plays Friday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm and runs through November 15th. Screamers, sketch comedy and rock, plays Saturday at 7pm and runs through November 14th. Seating is cabaret-style and sold by the table, one to six people.

Location: Shadowbox Live, 503 S. Front St.
When: Speak of the Devil Fri 7pm & Sun 2pm; Screamers Sat 7pm
More info: Speak of the Devil · Screamers

☘️ Columbus Ceili At The Shamrock Club

A ceili is an Irish social dance, and the Shamrock Club hosts the Columbus Ceili in its main hall on West Castle Road Friday night.

Location: Shamrock Club of Columbus, 60 W. Castle Rd.
When: Friday, 7–10pm
More info: Shamrock Club

Saturday, November 7th

🏈 Ohio State vs. Oregon At Ohio Stadium

The Buckeyes are back in the Shoe for Oregon, with a 3:30pm kickoff on CBS and 97.1 The Fan on the radio. Ohio State has won 12 straight at home, the longest home winning streak in the Big Ten, and leads the series 10-2 going into the 13th meeting between the programs. It’s Scarlet the Shoe, so wear scarlet. Cardale Jones is the Bell Ringer. Skull Session doors at St. John Arena open at 12:30, three hours before kickoff, and the stadium gates open at 1:30. The Ohio Stadium game-day guide has the rest.

Location: Ohio Stadium
When: Saturday, 3:30pm kickoff; gates 1:30pm; Skull Session doors 12:30pm
More info: Game center · A-Z guide

🪔 Diwali Celebration In New Albany

New Albany’s Diwali celebration is at the Hinson Amphitheater from 4 to 7pm, with vendors and food trucks open from 3. The program has a kids parade, Nalanda School of Dance, OSU Origins and Buckeye Fusion, and it ends with a dance party and fireworks at 7pm. The game kicks off at 3:30, so send the half of the house that isn’t watching here instead.

Location: Hinson Amphitheater, New Albany
When: Saturday, 4–7pm; vendors from 3pm; fireworks 7pm
More info: City of New Albany

🌿 November Chihuly Night At Franklin Park Conservatory

The Conservatory lights all 17 of its Chihuly installations after dark Saturday and stays open until 10pm. Starlit Ways, singer Rose Nkechi and guitarist Chris Glover, plays from 8:30 to 9:30, and 45-minute docent tours leave at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8pm. Tickets are $28.35 for ages 13 to 59, $24.15 for seniors 60 and up and $17.33 for kids 3 to 12, fees included, and the Conservatory asks you to reserve ahead.

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.
When: Saturday, 6–10pm
Cost: $28.35; seniors $24.15; kids 3–12 $17.33
More info: Franklin Park Conservatory

🎨 November Gallery Hop In The Short North

Gallery Hop is the first Saturday of every month, as it has been since 1984, and November’s runs from 4 to 8pm up and down High Street in the Short North. The galleries open their new shows the same night, and there are musicians and performers out on the sidewalks. It’s free.

Location: Short North Arts District, N. High St.
When: Saturday, 4–8pm
Cost: Free
More info: Short North Alliance

🎻 ProMusica: Bach, Pärt, & Beethoven At The Southern Theatre

ProMusica plays the same program both nights at 7pm: Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, then Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa featuring concertmaster Katherine McLin and creative partner Vadim Gluzman, with Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony to close. Guest conductor Ken-David Masur leads the 37-musician orchestra.

Location: Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
When: Sat & Sun, 7pm
More info: CAPA

🎁 Gifts Of The Craftsmen At The Ohio Craft Museum

The gift shop takes over the whole Ohio Craft Museum for the 27th Gifts of the Craftsmen, with work from nearly 200 artists on sale through December 23rd. Saturday has the artist demonstrations: Cody F. Miller from 10am to noon, ceramicist Julie Miller from 12:30 to 2:30pm, and scratchboard artist Evangelia Philippidis from 3 to 5pm. The museum is closed Sunday.

Location: Ohio Craft Museum, 1665 W. Fifth Ave.
When: Fri & Sat; demos Sat 10am–noon, 12:30–2:30 & 3–5pm; closed Sun
More info: Ohio Craft Museum

📖 Worthington Library Book Sale And Farmers Market

The Friends Foundation of Worthington Libraries sells gently used books at clearance prices in the Owl Meeting Room at Old Worthington Library all three days, from 9am to 5pm Friday and Saturday and from 1 to 4pm Sunday. Saturday morning the Worthington Farmers Market, going since 1987, is indoors for the cold months at The Shops at Worthington Place from 9am to noon.

Location: Old Worthington Library, Worthington; The Shops at Worthington Place, Worthington
When: Book sale Fri & Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 1–4pm; market Sat 9am–noon
More info: Worthington Libraries · Worthington Farmers Market

💃 Rhinestone Revolution Hafla On Jaeger Street

The Rhinestone Revolution Hafla is a belly dance show night at 6pm on Jaeger Street, with an open call for dancers who want to perform, and it caps a day of workshops with Phaedra Darwish.

Location: 1069 Jaeger St.
When: Saturday, 6pm
More info: Athena Shimmy

⚽️ Columbus Crew At Chicago, Decision Day

The Crew close the regular season in Chicago on Decision Day with a 4pm kickoff on Apple TV. The playoff spot is already clinched. The match moved from Soldier Field to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview because of a Bears conflict.

Location: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
When: Saturday, 4pm
More info: Columbus Crew

🇺🇸 Veterans Day Celebration In Canal Winchester

Canal Winchester holds its Veterans Day Celebration at Stradley Park Saturday at 10am.

Location: Stradley Park, Canal Winchester
When: Saturday, 10am
More info: City of Canal Winchester

Sunday, November 8th

🎤 sombr At Nationwide Arena

Nationwide Arena’s listing calls sombr “Gen Z’s rockstar heir apparent.” He’s Shane Boose, the sole writer and a co-producer of his songs, and Dove Cameron and Hannah Jadagu open. Doors are at 6pm and the show at 7.

Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.
When: Sunday, doors 6pm, show 7pm
More info: Nationwide Arena

😂 Daniel Sloss: BITTER At The Davidson Theatre

Daniel Sloss brings BITTER, his 13th solo show, to the Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center at 7pm, with special guest Kai Humphries. His specials Jigsaw and DARK are on Netflix and X is on HBO. It’s 16 and up, and it’s a phones-off show.

Location: Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St.
When: Sunday, 7pm
Cost: Ages 16+
More info: CAPA

🖼️ Free Sunday At The Columbus Museum Of Art

Admission at the Columbus Museum of Art is free every Sunday. Clare Rojas: Returning and Queer Constellations, photographs from the Aronowitz Family Collection, are both up into next year, and Group f.64 and Its Influence closes December 13th. ReelAbilities screens Dream Touch Believe from 1 to 3pm, with a talk-back after.

Location: Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St.
When: Sunday; ReelAbilities 1–3pm
Cost: Free
More info: Columbus Museum of Art · ReelAbilities

🧥 Luminary Vintage Fest In Old Worthington

Luminary is a free outdoor vintage market on North High Street in Old Worthington, from 9am to 4pm, with local sellers carrying 90s and Y2K clothes, streetwear and jerseys. The year-round shops are in the vintage and antique store guide.

Location: 579 N. High St., Worthington
When: Sunday, 9am–4pm
Cost: Free
More info: Eventbrite

🔬 KidsLinked STEM & Arts Expo At Polaris

The 12th KidsLinked STEM & Arts Expo is at Polaris Fashion Place from noon to 5pm, free to walk in. Many of the hands-on activities need pre-registration through Eventbrite, so sign up before you go.

Location: Polaris Fashion Place, 1560 Polaris Pkwy.
When: Sunday, noon–5pm
Cost: Free; pre-register for activities
More info: Eventbrite

🎃 Canopy Walk Pumpkin Drop At Blacklick Woods

Bring whatever jack-o’-lantern is still on the porch. Blacklick Woods’ second annual pumpkin drop lets you heave pumpkins and gourds off the Canopy Walk, 40 feet up, at targets below, from 5 to 6pm. The park takes unpainted pumpkins only.

Location: Blacklick Woods Metro Park, 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg
When: Sunday, 5–6pm
More info: Metro Parks

🏀 Ohio State Women’s Basketball vs. Mercyhurst

The women host Mercyhurst at 1pm at the Schott, streaming on B1G+, before UConn comes to town Thursday night on FS1.

Location: Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr.
When: Sunday, 1pm
More info: Schottenstein Center · Ohio State schedule

🎼 Worthington Chamber Orchestra: Resonant, From Stillness To Dance

The Worthington Chamber Orchestra opens its Resonant Masterworks season, and a year of marking 200 years since Beethoven died, with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol and de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain with guest pianist Orlay Alonso. The concert ends with Beethoven’s Seventh, the symphony Wagner called the apotheosis of the dance. Tickets are $35, $25 for church members and $15 for students.

Location: Worthington United Methodist Church, 600 N. High St., Worthington
When: Sunday, 3–5pm
Cost: $35; church members $25; students $15
More info: Worthington Chamber Orchestra · Tickets

🎻 Jenny Scheinman’s All Species Parade At Capital University

The New Jewish Music Series starts with violinist Jenny Scheinman, who has played with Joni Mitchell, Lucinda Williams and Bill Frisell, at Capital University’s Huntington Recital Hall, with Carmen Staaf, Keith Ganz, Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen in the band. Some of the music is from One Hundred Years Today, her forthcoming record about her grandmother’s journey through Europe in the 1930s. It’s free, but you need a ticket, reserved through the presenter’s SimpleTix page. Doors are at 7.

Location: Huntington Recital Hall, Capital University, 1 College & Main
When: Sunday, 7:30pm; doors 7pm
Cost: Free; ticket required
More info: New Jewish Music · Tickets

⚖️ The Jury Experience: The Deadly Boat Ride At The Fawcett Center

Fever’s immersive courtroom show puts the audience in the jury box for an hour. The son of a powerful politician took the wheel of the family speedboat, and hours later one person was dead and another in a coma; you debate the case, question the motives and vote on the verdict. Shows are at 4:30 and 7pm, and it’s ages 12 and up, with anyone under 16 needing an adult along.

Location: Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Rd.
When: Sunday, 4:30 & 7pm
Cost: Ages 12+
More info: Fever

🐭 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Exhibit At COSI, All Weekend

COSI’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse exhibit is open all weekend and included with general admission. The activities are hands-on, and the exhibit is bilingual in English and Spanish, with ASL included.

Location: COSI, 333 W. Broad St.
When: Fri–Sun, during COSI hours
Cost: Included with general admission
More info: COSI

The Blue Jackets are back at Nationwide Arena Tuesday, November 10th against Florida. Everything else this month is in the November things-to-do guide.

Have fun, Columbus!