things to do in central ohio

The Holidays are back in full gear with a lot of holiday lights to kick off the Holiday Season. And there is another Top Five College Football Matchup at Ohio Stadium as the # 2 Ohio Buckeyes host the # 5 Indiana Hoosiers, in the Hoosiers first ever Top Five matchup EVER.

REFERENCES:
Winter Date Ideas: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/columbus-winter-date-ideas/
Columbus Restaurant Holiday Meals: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/holiday-meals-from-columbus...
Columbus Holiday Pop-Up Bars: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/holiday-pop-up-bars-restaur...
Columbus Boutique Shopping Districts: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/boutique-shopping-districts...
Columbus Area Thanksgiving Races/Turkey Trots: https://www.columbussports.org/blog/post/columbus-thanksgiving-day-races...
Columbus Holiday Performances: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/your-guide-to-holiday-perfo...
Can't Miss Holiday Events in Columbus: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/cant-miss-holiday-events-in...
Experience Columbus Holiday Landing Page: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/holidays/
COSI Season of Celebrations: https://cosi.org/Season-of-Celebrations
Franklin Park Conservatory Aglow: https://www.fpconservatory.org/exhibitions/conservatory-aglow/
Columbus Zoo Wildlights: https://www.columbuszoo.org/wildlights
Huntington Holiday Train - Main Library: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/huntington-holiday-train/
Dublin Holiday Events (2024): https://www.visitdublinohio.com/blog/post/holidays-events-dublin/
Holiday Lights (Experience Columbus): https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/illuminate-the-night-with-h...

High School Football - Week 14 (Not Many Teams Left Locally)
Regional Finals: https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/ohsaa-releases-football-region...
(Local Teams only listed) - Regions 3, 7, 11, 12, 23 and 27 (No more teams in Divisions IV or V)

The Weekend Warrior for November 13, 2024

The Holidays are ramping up with events starting up this weekend and next week to slowly ring in the holiday season.

Week 13/Football Regional Semi-Finals (only local schools listed):
Region 2
5. Hilliard Davidson (8-4) vs. 8. Huber Heights Wayne (7-5) at Miami Trace High School Tony’s Welding and Fabrication Stadium
2. Centerville (9-3) vs. 14. Dublin Coffman (4-8) at Springfield High School Wildcat Stadium

Region 3
1. Powell Olentangy Liberty (10-2) vs. 5. Upper Arlington (10-2) at Westerville Central High School
6. Delaware Olentangy Berlin (10-2) vs. 7. Pickerington North (10-2) at Columbus St. Francis DeSales Alumni Stadium

Region 7
1. Sunbury Big Walnut (11-1) vs. 4. Ashland (12-0) at Marion Harding High School Ohio Health Field at Harding Stadium
3. Massillon Washington (9-2) vs. 7. Ashville Teays Valley (8-4) at Zanesville High School Sulsberger Stadium

Region 11
1. Columbus Bishop Watterson (12-0) vs. 4. Newark Licking Valley (11-1) at Licking Heights High School Hornet Stadium

Region 12
4. London (12-0) vs. 8. St. Marys Memorial (10-2) at Piqua High School Alexander Stadium

(No Local Division IV schools left)

Region 19
1. Ironton (11-1) vs. 4. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (9-2) at Waverly High School Raidiger Field

Region 23
1. Columbus Grandview Heights (11-0) vs. 4. Beverly Fort Frye (9-3) at Logan High School Chieftain Stadium

Region 27
1. Danville (10-2) vs. 5. Corning Miller (10-2) at Thornville Sheridan High School Paul Culver Jr. Stadium

LINK: https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/ohsaa-releases-football-region...

REFERENCES:
Winter Date Ideas: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/columbus-winter-date-ideas/
Columbus Restaurant Holiday Meals: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/holiday-meals-from-columbus...

The Weekend Warrior for November 6, 2024

Highlights include local theater and the Ohio/Purdue football game.

High School Football Playoffs (Week 12; Regional Quarterfinals)
ONLY LOCAL TEAMS LISTED (For full schedule for all 28 Regions, go to https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/ohsaa-releases-football-region...)

Division I
Region 2
13. Hilliard Bradley (3-8) at 5. Hilliard Davidson (7-4)
14. Dublin Coffman (3-8) at 6. Lebanon (7-4)

Region 3
8. Groveport Madison (7-4) at 1. Powell Olentangy Liberty (9-2)
7. Pickerington North (9-2) at 2. Pickerington Central (9-2)
6. Delaware Olentangy Berlin (9-2) at 3. Gahanna Lincoln (9-2)
15. Upper Arlington (9-2) at 4. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (9-2)

Division II
Region 7
9. Massillon Perry (6-5) at 1. Sunbury Big Walnut (10-1)
6. Canal Winchester (8-3) at 3. Massillon Washington (8-2)
5. Columbus St. Francis DeSales (9-2) at 4. Ashland (11-0)
15. Worthington Kilbourne (5-6) at 7. Ashville Teays Valley (7-4)

Division III
Region 11
8. Jackson (9-2) at 1. Columbus Bishop Watterson (11-0) - at Ohio Dominican
5. Carroll Bloom-Carroll (9-2) at 4. Newark Licking Valley (10-1)

Region 12
12. Dayton Chaminade Julienne (6-5) at 4. London (11-0)

Division IV
Region 15
8. Columbus Bishop Ready (7-4) at 1. St. Clairsville (11-0)
6. Circleville Logan Elm (8-3) at 3. New Lexington (10-1)

Division V
Region 19
5. Gahanna Columbus Academy (10-1) at 4. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (8-2)

Division VI
Region 23
9. North Robinson Colonel Crawford (9-2) at 1. Columbus Grandview Heights (10-0)

Division VII
Region 27
8. Portsmouth Notre Dame (6-5) at 1. Danville (9-2)

The Weekend Warrior for October 30, 2024

We have live comedians and concerts in town this weekend. And, Trick or Treating (weather permitting).

Trick or Treat (Experience Columbus): https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/post/columbus-community-trick-or...

Election Day is Tuesday November 5, 2024
Vote 411 - http://vote411.org
Vote Ohio - http://www.voteohio.gov
Franklin County Board of Elections - http://vote.franklincounty.gov

High School Football Playoffs (with local teams below; full pairings link with all 28 regions below):
https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/ohsaa-releases-football-first-...

Region 2
16. Grove City Central Crossing (1-9) at 1. Kettering Fairmont (8-2)
14. Dublin Coffman (2-8) at 3. Galloway Westland (8-2)
13. Hilliard Bradley (2-8) at 4. Springfield (6-4)
12. Marysville (3-7) at 5. Hilliard Davidson (6-4)
10. Dublin Jerome (4-6) at 7. Springboro (6-4)

Region 3
16. Lancaster (3-7) at 1. Powell Olentangy Liberty (8-2)
15. Pataskala Watkins Memorial (3-7) at 2. Pickerington Central (8-2)
14. Reynoldsburg (4-6) at 3. Gahanna Lincoln (8-2)
13. Lewis Center Olentangy (8-2) at 4. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (8-2)
12. Newark (7-3) at 5. Upper Arlington (8-2)
11. Grove City (7-3) at 6. Delaware Olentangy Berlin (8-2)
10. Westerville North (6-4) at 7. Pickerington North (8-2)
9. Delaware Hayes (7-3) at 8. Groveport Madison (6-4)

Region 7
16. Logan (1-9) at 1. Sunbury Big Walnut (9-1)
15. Worthington Kilbourne (4-6) at 2. Columbus Walnut Ridge (10-0)
14. Pataskala Licking Heights (4-6) at 3. Massillon Washington (7-2)
13. Columbus St. Charles (4-6) at 4. Ashland (10-0)
12. New Albany (4-6) at 5. Columbus St. Francis DeSales (8-2)
11. Westerville South (5-5) at 6. Canal Winchester (7-3)
10. Columbus Briggs (6-4) at 7. Ashville Teays Valley (6-4)
9. Massillon Perry (5-5) at 8. Columbus Northland (7-3)

Region 11

Weekend Events around town include Highball Halloween in the Short North (http://www.highballcolumbus.org), plus local Halloween staples such as Boo at the Zoo, Pumpkins Aglow, Streetlight Guild Miniature Village (http://www.streetlightguild.org),

The Ohio State Buckeyes host Nebraska for Homecoming Weekend at The Ohio State University, and there is the Division III Crosstown Rivalry between Capital University and Otterbein University in Westerville, as both are aiming for their first win of the season.

High School Football - Week 10 (Final Week):
https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/scoreboard/2024/week-10

Thursday:
Beechcroft at Northland
Columbus South at Marion-Franklin

Saturday:
Groveport Madison at Canal Winchester

FRIDAY:
(Central Catholic League)
"The Holy War" - St. Francis DeSales at Bishop Watterson (at Ohio Dominican)
Bishop Hartley at St. Charles

(Mid-State League)
Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans at Millersport
Bloom-Carroll at Circleville
Lancaster Fairfield Christian at Berne Union
Grove City Christian at Lancaster Fisher Catholic
Liberty Union at Amanda-Clearcreek
Logan Elm at Hamilton Township

(City League)
South:
Briggs at Columbus West
Eastmoor Academy at Africentric
Walnut Ridge at Independence

North:
Columbus East at Linden McKinley
Whetstone at Centennial

(Ohio Capital Conference)
Buckeye:
Lancaster at Newark
Reynoldsburg at Pickerington Central
Teays Valley at Logan

Capital:
Westland at Big Walnut
Dublin Scioto at Westerville North
Franklin Heights at Delaware Hayes
Worthington Kilbourne at Westerville South

Cardinal:
Olentangy at Olentangy Berlin
Marysville at Hilliard Darby
Thomas Worthington at Dublin Jerome

Central:
Olentangy Liberty at Olentangy Orange
Hilliard Bradley at Dublin Coffman
Upper Arlington at Hilliard Davidson

Ohio:
Central Crossing at Grove City
Gahanna Lincoln at Pickerington North
New Albany at Westerville Central

(Licking County)

The Columbus Marathon is Sunday through Columbus and its three inner ring suburbs of Bexley, Upper Arlington, and Grandview Heights.

High School Football (Week 9):
https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/scoreboard/2024/week-9

THURSDAY GAMES:
(all Local Games are City League)
Centennial at Columbus East
Linden McKinley at Mifflin
Walnut Ridge at Briggs

FRIDAY GAMES:
COLUMBUS CITY LEAGUE:
(North)
Northland at Whetstone

(South)
Independence at Columbus West
Africentric at Columbus South
Marion-Franklin at Eastmoor Academy

OHIO CAPITAL CONFERENCE:
(Buckeye)
Canal Winchester at Lancaster
Newark at Reynoldsburg
Pickerington Central at Teays Valley
Logan at Groveport Madison

(Capital)
Delaware Hayes at Westland
Big Walnut at Dublin Scioto
Westerville North at Worthington Kilbourne
Westerville South at Franklin Heights

(Cardinal)
Hilliard Darby at Thomas Worthington
Dublin Jerome at Olentangy
Marysville at Olentangy Berlin

(Central)
Dublin Coffman at Upper Arlington
Hilliard Davidson at Olentangy Liberty
Olentangy Orange at Hilliard Bradley

(Ohio)
Grove City at Gahanna Lincoln
Pickerington North at New Albany
Westerville Central at Central Crossing

LICKING COUNTY LEAGUE:
Granville at Zanesville
Heath at Northridge
Licking Heights at Watkins Memorial "The Battle of Broad Street/Pataskala"
Licking Valley at Mount Vernon
Hebron Lakewood at Newark Catholic
Johnstown at Utica

MID-STATE LEAGUE:
Worthington Christian at Grove City Christian
Lancaster Fisher Catholic at Berne Union
Circleville at Liberty Union
Amanda-Clearcreek at Lancaster Fairfield Union

KNOX-MORROW CONFERENCE:
Fredericktown at Danville
East Knox at Centerburg
Cardington-Lincoln at Galion Northmor

Non-Conference:
Harvest Prep at Cincinnati Archbishop LaSalle
KIPP Columbus at Bishop Hartley
Harrison at Bishop Watterson (at Ohio Dominican)
Cleveland Heights Lutheran East at St. Charles
Beechcroft at Whitehall-Yearling

The Weekend Warrior for October 9, 2024

The Columbus Italian Festival - October 11-13 at St. John the Baptist Church; Parade on October 13 at 1PM in the Short North
High Spirits Art & Music Fest - October 12 at High & Gay Streets, Downtown (http://www.highspiritsfestival.org)
Taste of Bexley - October 14 at St. Charles (http://www.bexleyareachamber.org)

High School Football Week 8
Source: https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/scoreboard/2024/week-8

Thursday Games:
Independence at Africentric
Columbus Academy at Worthington Christian
Whitehall at Bexley

Friday Games:
(Central Catholic League)
St. Charles at Bishop Watterson (at Ohio Dominican University)

(City League)
NORTH:
Columbus East at Beechcroft
Linden McKinley at Whetstone
Mifflin at Northland

SOUTH:
Eastmoor Academy at Walnut Ridge "The Victory Bell"
Columbus South at Briggs
Columbus West at Marion-Franklin

(OCC)
BUCKEYE:
Groveport Madison at Pickerington Central
Logan at Canal Winchester
Reynoldsburg at Lancaster
Teays Valley at Newark

CAPITAL:
Big Walnut at Westerville North
Dublin Scioto at Delaware Hayes
Franklin Heights at Worthington Kilbourne
Westland at Westerville South

CARDINAL:
Olentangy Berlin at Dublin Jerome
Olentangy at Hilliard Darby (CW Columbus Friday Night Rivals)
Thomas Worthington at Marysville

CENTRAL:
Hilliard Bradley at Olentangy Liberty
Hilliard Davidson at Dublin Coffman
Upper Arlington at Olentangy Orange

OHIO:
Central Crossing at New Albany
Gahanna Lincoln at Westerville Central
Pickerington North at Grove City

(Knox-Morrow)
Centerburg at Danville
Loudonville at Cardington-Lincoln
Mount Gilead at Northmor

(Mid-State)
Lancaster Fairfield Christian Academy at Corning Miller
Lancaster Fisher Catholic at Millersport
Logan Elm at Amanda-Clearcreek
Liberty Union at Hamilton Township

(Licking County)
Granville at Licking Valley
Hebron Lakewood at Johnstown
Newark Catholic at Heath

The Weekend Warrior for October 2, 2024

High School Football Week 7
Source: https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/scoreboard/2024/week-7

City League South:
Africentric at Marion-Franklin (Thursday)
Briggs at Independence (Thursday)
Columbus South at Eastmoor Academy (Thursday)
Walnut Ridge at Columbus West (Thursday)

City League North:
Northland at Centennial (Thursday)
Mifflin at Beechcroft
Whetstone at Columbus East

Non-Conference:
Amanda-Clearcreek at Lucas
Bexley at Columbus Academy (The Mayor/Headmaster Trophy)
Watterson at KIPP Columbus
Grandview Heights at Worthington Christian
St. Charles at Buckeye Valley
Whitehall-Yearling at Bishop Ready (at Fortress Obetz)
Berne Union at Martins Ferry
Chillicothe Zane Trace at Westfall
Richmond Heights at Harvest Prep
Federal Hocking at Linden McKinley (Saturday)

Central Catholic League:
Hartley at DeSales

Mid State League Buckeye:
Hamilton Township at Circleville
Logan Elm at Bloom-Carroll
Fairfield Union at Liberty Union

Mid State League Cardinal:
Fairfield Christian at Zanesville Rosecrans
Grove City Christian at Millersport
Corning Miller at Lancaster Fisher Catholic (Saturday)

Knox-Morrow:
Centerburg at Mount Gilead
Danville at Cardington-Lincoln
Fredericktown at Loudonville
Northmor at East Knox

OCC Buckeye:
Canal Winchester at Teays Valley
Lancaster at Logan
Newark at Pickerington Central
Reynoldsburg at Groveport Madison

OCC Capital:
Franklin Heights at Dublin Scioto
Westerville North at Westland
Westerville South at Delaware Hayes
Worthington Kilbourne at Big Walnut

OCC Cardinal:
Hilliard Darby at Dublin Jerome
Marysville at Olentangy
Thomas Worthington at Olentangy Berlin

OCC Central:
Hilliard Bradley at Hilliard Davidson
Olentangy Liberty at Upper Arlington
Olentangy Orange at Dublin Coffman

OCC Ohio:
Central Crossing at Pickerington North
New Albany at Gahanna Lincoln
Westerville Central at Grove City

Licking County League:

The Weekend Warrior for September 25, 2024

EDITED (9/29/24): Fourth Friday in Westerville was cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions. Hilliard Heritage Day scheduled for September 28 at the Historical Park next to the Franklin County Fairgrounds was also cancelled due to inclement weather. Into the Woods Fest in Bexley postponed to October 6. Sundays at Scioto in Dublin cancelled on September 29 due to inclement weather.

Some high school football games have moved to Saturday, as noted below.

High School Football Week 6
Source: https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/scoreboard/2024/week-6

City League South:
Eastmoor Academy at Briggs (Thursday)
Marion-Franklin at Walnut Ridge (Thursday)
Independence at Columbus South
Columbus West at Africentric

City League North:
Northland at Columbus East (resumes Saturday)
Beechcroft at Linden McKinley (Saturday)
Centennial at Mifflin

Central Catholic League:
Bishop Watterson at Bishop Hartley
St. Charles at DeSales

Non-Conference:
Whetstone at Grandview Heights
Bexley at Buckeye Valley
Columbus Academy at Whitehall-Yearling
Marion Elgin at Worthington Christian
Circleville at Marietta
Bishop Ready at KIPP Columbus
Wheelersburg at Harvest Prep

Mid State League Cardinal:
Corning Miller at Grove City Christian
Lancaster Fisher Catholic at Zanesville Rosecrans
Millersport at Berne Union

Mid State League Buckeye:
Amanda-Clearcreek at Hamilton Township
Bloom-Carroll at Fairfield Union
Liberty Union at Logan Elm (Saturday)

Ohio Capital Conference Buckeye:
Groveport Madison at Teays Valley
Newark at Canal Winchester
Logan at Reynoldsburg
Pickerington Central at Lancaster

Ohio Capital Conference Capital:
Delaware Hayes at Worthington Kilbourne
Dublin Scioto at Westland
Big Walnut at Franklin Heights
Westerville South at Westerville North

Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal:
Olentangy at Thomas Worthington
Olentangy Berlin at Hilliard Darby
Dublin Jerome at Marysville

The Weekend Warrior for September 18, 2024

B*ckeye Football is back after an early Bye Week, plus Weekend Arts and Concerts, and so much more!

The New Americans Book Fair is Saturday September 21 from 11AM to 5PM at the Karl Road Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 5590 Karl Road in the Forest Park neighborhood of Northland. For more information, go to http://www.newamericansbookfair.com, or call (614) 726-0917.

The Big Table is September 25. For more information, go to https://columbusfoundation.org/the-big-table.

High School Football - Week 5
Link: https://joeeitel.com/hsfoot/scoreboard/2024/week-5

THURSDAY 9/19
(City League North)
Columbus East at Mifflin
Centennial at Linden McKinley
Whetstone at Beechcroft
KIPP Columbus at Northland

The rest of the Games are on Friday September 20, unless noted otherwise.
(City League South)
Columbus South at Walnut Ridge
Marion-Franklin at Independence
Africentric at Briggs
Columbus West at Eastmoor Academy

(Ohio Capital Conference - Capital Division)
"The Battle of Hard Road", Chapter 30: Dublin Scioto at Worthington Kilbourne
Westerville North at Delaware Hayes
Big Walnut at Westerville South
Westland at Franklin Heights

(Ohio Capital Conference - B*ckeye Division)
Canal Winchester at Pickerington Central
Groveport Madison at Lancaster
Teays Valley at Reynoldsburg
Logan at Newark

(Ohio Capital Conference - Non-Conference)
Gahanna Lincoln at Dublin Coffman
Upper Arlington at Central Crossing
Olentangy at Westerville Central
Pickerington North at Thomas Worthington
Grove City at Hilliard Darby
Hilliard Bradley at New Albany
Olentangy Berlin at Olentangy Orange
Dublin Jerome at Olentangy Liberty
Hilliard Davidson at Marysville

(Mid-State League)
Bloom-Carroll at Liberty Union
Circleville at Amanda-Clearcreek
Fairfield Union at Logan Elm

(Central Catholic League, Non-Conference)
St. Francis DeSales at Bishop Ready (at Fortress Obetz)