Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

First Day of Summer Party!
2025-06-20 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
It’s officially summer! Schools out and there’s lots to do at the parks. Join us for an afternoon full of sun, animal encounters, games, and lots more as we celebrate the turn of the season!
Kona Ice will be serving up some delicious snow cones, so don’t miss out!
This program is for all ages. Meet at the Lakeside Pavilion, rain or shine!

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-06-19 15:00 - 18:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out and try stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking for free at Quarry Trails Metro Park! First come, first served. All equipment provided. SUPs and solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-in kayaks have a 275Ibs limit.
*Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances, the closest parking lot to the paddling launch area is off of Trabue Road.*
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Backcountry Hike
2025-06-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take a 5-mile backcountry hike to Winnowing Rock. Terrain at Clear Creek is rugged and steep. Bring water and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Meet at the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster (39.594057, -82.622219).

Learn to Fish!
2025-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Learn the basics of fishing with this free program at Scioto Grove Metro Park! All equipment provided – registration required to borrow a pole. Meet at Hickory Pond.

If you need to borrow equipment, register here.

For Adults: Mysterious Slime Molds
2025-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.25-mile hike and learn about slime molds and their role in the forest.

For Kids: All About Bats
2025-06-18 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn about the world’s wonderful bats through activities and stories. Suitable for pre-school and school-age children. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Adaptive Adventures: Daddy & Me Playdate & Popsicles
2025-06-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Come celebrate Father’s Day week with a Daddy & Me Playdate at the Inclusive Playground! We will have popsicles and rock painting in the shelter house! Blendon Woods Metro Park
*Our Adaptive Adventures Programs are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families!

Summer Children’s Programs: Buckeyes
2025-06-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Nuts for buckeyes? Join us to learn more about Ohio’s beloved state tree.

Metro Parks Hiking Club: Adult Fitness Hike
2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike 2 or 4 mi. on grave and natural surface trails. Moderate pace. Stairs and hills.

Evening Bird Hike
2025-06-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take an easy 1-mile hike along Big Darby Creek to look for summer birds. Trail is crushed gravel with a few small hills. All experience levels welcome, limited supply of binoculars available to borrow.

Paracord Survival Bracelets
2025-06-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn to make your own paracord survival bracelet. Materials provided.

Concert: Honey and Blue
2025-06-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Enjoy a mix of pop, blues and soul with singer/songwriters Adam Darling and Stephanie Amber. Honey and Blue combines Darling’s sultry bluesy sounds with Amber’s syrupy and raw take on lyrics and harmony. Limited seating provided or bring a chair.

Father's Day Fishing
2025-06-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Celebrate the father in your life with this free fishing program at Scioto Grove Metro Park! All equipment provided – registration required to borrow a fishing pole. Meet at Hickory Pond.

Register here to borrow equipment.

Geocaching 100 Acre Wood
2025-06-15 14:00 - 15:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Find several geocaches while exploring the forest. Sign up for a free account on geocaching.com before the program. Be prepared for mud. Meet at 5220 Cambria Way.

Summer Sunday Splash
2025-06-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Stop by anytime between 1-4pm for some drop-by creeking. Join the Naturalists as we search for crawdads, fish, and aquatic bugs. Closed-toed shoes recommended. Creeking supplies provided. Follow signs from Ranger Station. 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Click Clack Moo
2025-06-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program on-going from 10am-4pm
Enjoy the Click, Clack, Moo Story Walk and try to find the stuffed animals hidden around the house. Afterwards, visit with the real animals.

Family Tram Rides
2025-06-15 10:00 - 15:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Happy Fathers’ Day! To celebrate dad, and all the adults we adore, we will be hosting a free family tram ride! Hop aboard as we drive around and get to know the history of the park and look for the hidden wildlife we host!
We will have rides at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. The tram seats approximately 18-20 bodies, so it will be first come first served!
This program is for all ages. We will meet at the second parking lot beside the flag pole. If there is heavy rain, we will reschedule the program!

Morning Hike
2025-06-15 08:00 - 09:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Wake up feeling refreshed with a nature hike through the beautiful Scioto Grove Metro Park! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Shelter.

2-mile Sunset Hike
2025-06-14 20:30 - 22:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist for a 2-mile evening hike along the Overlook Trail. Enjoy watching the forest change from day to night. Trail is crushed gravel and expect hills. Meet at Oak Coves Picnic Area. Age 5+
Meeting Location Oak Coves 3rd parking lot: The Oak Coves picnic area is your first LEFT after entering the park. Once you turn left into the Oak Coves picnic area, we will be in the third parking lot. Meet the naturalist at the bulletin board. Follow the orange program signs. If the parking lot is full, the Oak Coves picnic area has 4 other parking lots within 5-8 minutes walking time of the meeting location.

Family Creeking
2025-06-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Explore the stream with the naturalist to look for aquatic creatures. Wear closed toe shoes that can get wet. Creek is 1/2 mi walk from the Nature Center on gravel surface trail.

Kayak the Lake
2025-06-14 10:00 - 15:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Come out to Sharon Woods Metro Park Schrock lake and try out a kayak! Solo, sit in kayaks will be available with a max weight of 275 lbs, and are open to ages 10+. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for all ages with an adult present. Equipment and instruction provided. First come, first served.

Wellness: Tai Chi
2025-06-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join the members of the Taoist Tai Chi Society for a demonstration and ‘try-it’ class. This program is geared for adults, children may participate with adult supervision.

Blacklick Adult Hikers
2025-06-14 09:00 - 10:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist for a 2-mile, moderately-paced hike on the boardwalk and crushed limestone trails through the Walter Tucker Nature Preserve.

Friday Night Fishing
2025-06-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for some evening fishing at Schrock Lake. Use our poles or bring your own. No fishing license required.

Crochet Club: Friday the 13th!
2025-06-13 17:30 - 20:30 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Crochet in the evening beside a fire and recount some spooky tales! We will have a FREE spooky crochet pattern for our guests to try out and will offer guidance for those who are beginners!
This program is for all ages. Meet at the shelter house, rain or shine!
