5 free things to do in Columbus, Ohio with kids

Columbus, Ohio is a great city for young families because it has to cater to its own demographics!  Kids under 18 years make up 21.9% of the population (US Census, 2020), so there are plenty of things to keep kids busy.

Columbus boasts diverse neighborhoods, great festivals, and a love for the arts.  However, concerts and festivals are expensive for large families, which is why you usually don’t see the Yoder Toter traveling to them!  Instead, I’ve compiled a list of 5 FREE things to enjoy in Columbus, Ohio with your kids.  No need to spend any of your hard-earned cash.

#1  Take a Walk Through the Historic German Village

German Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Largely settled by German immigrants, this area of Columbus became heavily populated between 1840 and 1914- It was a place where German was spoken and streets and landmarks were named after Germany and its people.  

After a long period of decline, brought on by anti-German sentiment during the First World War and the closing of local breweries during Prohibition, restoration began in the 1960s.

German Village is full of brick, tree-lined streets, and small cafes and restaurants (and also, a Starbucks!).  

If your children are older, this may be a great place to take them when they’re learning about WWI.  For our young children, we focused on enjoying the quaint streets and feeling like we’d stepped into Europe when we were only 40 minutes from home.

#2  Enjoy the beautiful Columbus parks

An ever-popular free activity in Columbus is a visit to one of its parks! Columbus has many grassy spaces reserved for playing, picnicking, or taking a leisurely wander. Topiary Park is just east of downtown, yet you’ll feel miles away from the city like you stepped into a life-sized Monet painting. The park is great for reading a book while the baby sleeps or watching the older ones throw a frisbee.

Schiller Park, in the aforementioned German Village, has a nice playground to keep little and big kids busy while you enjoy the architecture of the stately brick homes that surround the park.

Columbus also has plenty of free Metro Parks spread throughout the many suburbs of the city.  The closest one to downtown is Scioto Audubon.  Located on the banks of the Scioto River, older children and teenagers will enjoy the obstacle course or outdoor rock climbing wall.

We recently visited Highbanks Metro Park near Lewis Center. The kids enjoyed climbing on the new playground equipment. This Metro Park also offers numerous hiking trails just 10 minutes from Polaris Mall.

#3  Tour Ohio’s Statehouse

Ohio’s Capitol is a Greek Revival building consisting mostly of Columbus limestone. Construction began ceremoniously on July 4, 1839, but the building was not open to legislators until 1857. The rotunda reaches 120 feet from the floor to the skylight.

 Free tours are offered daily beginning at 10 am. The last tour is at 3 pm, and each tour leaves on the hour. Weekend tours are available from noon- 3. If time doesn’t allow for a guided tour, self-guided tours are available during opening hours.

Make sure you leave time to visit the Museum! Here, families can learn more about our state budget, the Ohio Constitution, the different government agencies serving Ohio.

#4  Enjoy the Columbus Commons on a Friday during the summer

The Columbus Commons is a green space created after the City Center Mall was torn down. This 6-acre area not only hosts concerts, but also provides a free place to spend your summer Friday lunch hour. Each Friday from 10-1 is Commons for Kids. Whirl around on the Carousel, jump in the bounce house, or do craft and art projects provided by local vendors. If you’re lucky, you may catch a visit from the traveling van of the Columbus Zoo.

#5  Take a sensory-loving stroll through the North Market

Fresh flowers, aged cheese, and savory sweets.  Ok, so it’s free in theory but you may end up spending a few bucks after you decide you MUST take home that bag of coffee (and maybe a few chocolates for your Mom stash).

Check out the events calendar before leaving home. The Farmer’s Market is currently closed while construction takes place on the pavilion.

After exploring the North Market, how about some window shopping throughout the Short North Arts District?

I hope these 5 free things help you to explore more of Columbus.  Have you been to any?  Maybe you have more to add to the list?

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