Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

I-Spy Nature Challenge
2024-05-11 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Who’s ready for a great game of I-Spy? Stop by the Naturalist Office between 12-4pm to pick up your challenge sheet, and see how much wildlife you can spot in the park to win a prize!
Please note the program ends at 4pm. You must return your challenge sheet by this time to earn your prize.

World Migratory Bird Day
2024-05-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Stop by the Nature Center to learn about the wonders of bird migration with games, crafts and activities. Talk to the naturalists and volunteers about bird watching opportunities at Blendon Woods.

Warbler Walk
2024-05-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Look for migrating spring warblers on a 1.5 mile hike . All experience levels welcome. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow. Trail conditions may be muddy.
Meeting Location Notes: Highbanks Nature Center is the first right after entering the park. There is limited parking in the Nature Center lot on busy days. Additional parking is available in the Oak Coves Picnic Area, a 10 minute walk from the Nature Center. Follow the paved trail through Oak Coves toward the Nature Center.

Heritage Breeds Walk
2024-05-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program begins at 10am. Meet in front of the farmhouse.
Join us for a stroll around the farm to learn about our heritage breeds of livestock and their role on an 1880s farm.

Night Hike
2024-05-10 21:00 - 22:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Embark on a 1.5-mile hike as we search for nocturnal animals and explore your senses in the dark.

Mom and Me Archery
2024-05-09 16:00 - 17:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Celebrate Mother’s Day by treating your parent, or parental figure to a free and fun archery program! All equipment and basic instruction provided. Meet at the Scioto Grove Archery range! Ages 8+.

Chalk and S'mores
2024-05-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy a tasty s’more while channeling your inner Bob Ross with chalk at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! Meet at the climbing wall. Free and fun! Chalk and s’more supplies provided.

For Adults 50+: Bird Watching
2024-05-08 09:00 - 10:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy an easy 1-mile walk with plenty of stops to observe and learn about residential and migrating birds. We will have some loaner binoculars available but bring your own if you have them. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Toddler Time: Hide and Seek
2024-05-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Discover the many ways wildlife hides in nature and take a walk to look for camouflaged animals.

Toddler Tuesday - Flower Frenzy!
2024-05-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Celebrate the beautiful spring flowers by reading a story, planting some seeds, and creating blooming flowers!
This program is geared for ages 2-3. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Homeschoolers: Beginning Bird Watching
2024-05-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn how to use binoculars, use ID books and have fun as you look for birds. We have a limited supply of loaner binoculars but bring your own if you have them. Best for kids 6 years and older but younger siblings are welcome to tag along. Meets at Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Invasive Plant Removal
2024-05-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Bring your own gloves or borrow ours to clear invasives and help our native woodland plants. Plan to stay as long or short as you like!

For Adults 50+: Wildflowers and Other Spring Things
2024-05-05 15:30 - 17:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Hike the moderate 1.1- mile Sycamore Plains trail in search of late spring flowers, large sycamores and wildlife in and around Big Darby Creek.
Meet at the Sycamore Plains Area at 2009 Amity Rd., Hilliard

Meet the Artist: Pam Hartford
2024-05-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Meet artist of the month, Pam Hartford, and view her watercolor artwork on display in the Innis House.

Blooming Beauties
2024-05-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.25-mile hike through the Walter Tucker Nature Preserve and search for spring wildflowers still blooming.

Fairy House Building
2024-05-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Calling all fairy homebuilders! The Blendon Woods fairies need you! Gather natural materials to build a fine fairy abode in the woods. * Blendon Woods can neither confirm nor deny the existence of fairies at the park.

5-Mile Hike on the Alum Creek Greenway
2024-05-05 13:30 - 15:30 | OH
Join us for an (almost) 5-mile hike along the Alum Creek Greenway Trail. We won’t stop too often but will enjoy being outdoors and sharing good company. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Meets at the Heron Pond bulletin board, 3400 Williams Rd, Columbus

Afternoon Accessible Bird Hike
2024-05-05 13:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a 1.5 mile hike on the Camp Chase trail to look for migratory birds. Trail is paved and accessible. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow. All skill levels welcome. Ages 18+. Meet at the Indian Ridge Bulletin Board, 2705 Darby Creek Dr.

For Adults 50+: Relaxing Yoga
2024-05-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join a certified yoga instructor for a relaxing yoga practice, focused on breath awareness and simple movements and postures. All levels from beginner to advanced welcome. Bring a mat or towel.
Meet at the Grove Lodge

Central Ohio Folk Festival
2024-05-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-04 11:00 - 17:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Two day event celebrating folk music!
https://www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org/festival.html Saturday May 4
1030-530pm Festival & activities
7-930pm- Arcadian Wild Concert A two day family-friendly festival featuring multiple performing stages presenting an array of upbeat folk/roots/Americana music, kids’ & youth programming, and 30+ music workshops (all levels).
More than 30 hourly concerts on 3 different stages by soloists, duos, and groups, singing and playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, harp, and other instruments. You’ll hear a wide range of folk music — bluegrass, old-time, blues, singer-songwriter, Southern roots, Americana, Celtic, and more….songs that often reflect the struggles of everyday people. A giant 1960’s-style folk music community sing-along to open the festival at 11 am Saturday, plus a poignant song circle to close the fest on Sunday.
More than 30 workshops for beginning and advanced musicians alike. Among the topics: songwriting, jamming, playing for social change, the music business, and how to play autoharp, blues guitar, ukulele, mandolin, and other folk instruments.
An area with special music, stories, workshops, and arts/crafts for children. Plus, a perennial favorite — our “instrument petting zoo” to let youngsters handle folk instruments. Festival mascot Darby Duck will also be on hand for the young and young-at-heart.
2 drum circles where everyone, young and old alike, is invited to pound on a drum or other rhythm instrument to a mesmerizing beat.
Expanded Informal jamming by anyone with an instrument or voice. This year will feature 5 jam tents, each with a different thrust: bluegrass, old-time, folk-mix, voices-only, and one encouraging novice jammers.
Saturday, May 4th at 7 pm, our headliner act, The Arcadian Wild, will create musical magic. The Nashville trio describes themselves as genre-bending, since they had roots in alt-rock and punk, but now mix bluegrass, classical, and other genres with tight 3-part vocal harmonies in original songs that defy categorization.
Produced by –– The Columbus Folk Music Society in cooperation with The Metro Parks. Co-sponsored by WCBE 90.5 FM
Meeting location notes: Big Meadows Picnic Area Big Meadows picnic area is at the back of the park. After you enter the park, take the main road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, take the ROAD on the LEFT. Park in the lot with a playground. Meet near restrooms.

For Adults: Metro Parks Hiking Club
2024-05-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Join like minded individuals as we hike 2 miles along the Spring Creek Trail with limited stops. Meet at the Apple Ridge Bulletin Board.

Migration Mania
2024-05-05 08:00 - 10:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.25-mile hike as we search the forest for migrating songbirds like warblers, vireos, tanagers and more.

Five Senses Hike
2024-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.5-mile hike and explore things in nature that you can touch, see, smell, taste and hear during spring.

Family Creeking
2024-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike about .5 mi to the stream to search for aquatic creatures. Wear shoes that can get wet; crocs and flips not recommended!

Washday Blues
2024-05-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3.
Help the farmwife with the laundry and try the scrub board and wringer. Watch as we make soap from lard and lye.

Star Wars Archery
2024-05-04 10:00 - 11:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
May the 4th be with you! Enjoy Star Wars themed targets at the Scioto Grove Archery range. Equipment and basic instruction provided. Recommended for ages 8+ only.

Birding and Breakfast
2024-05-04 08:00 - 10:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join us for a potluck breakfast at the picnic shelter then go bird watching after. Beginners to experts are welcome to participate and we’ll have some loaner binoculars available. If you are able, please bring a breakfast dish to share with the group. If you’ve never done birding and breakfast before, it’s great fun! Meets at the Three Creeks Confluence Area picnic shelter, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport

Moms Morning Out
2024-05-04 08:00 - 09:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Bring your coffee and join other moms on this half-mile hike while using the Five Common Topics to prompt discussion.

COSI BioBlitz - Be a Citizen Scientist
2024-05-03 17:30 - 19:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join the naturalist for a fun and interactive citizen science program! Using iNaturalist, we’ll observe Glacier Ridge’s biodiversity on a guided hike. We will be partnering with COSI for this experience!
Meet at the shelter house by the flagpole. Please dress for hiking.
