Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Ty It! Kayaking
2023-08-15 15:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy Turtle Pond from a kayak! Solo, sit in kayaks available for ages 10+, max weight: 275Ibs. Several tandem kayaks will be available for participants of all ages, with an adult. Equipment and instruction provided. First come/first serve. Come out anytime during the time listed. Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Nature Kids: Birdwatching
2023-08-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Come learn about common Ohio birds and take a half-mile hike to see what birds we can find.

Storytime: Lorax
2023-08-17 10:00 - 22:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Listen to a reading of The Lorax and then create a Lorax-themed craft! Ages 2-5.
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.

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2023-08-17 15:00 - 18:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and try standup paddle boarding and kayaking for free at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Darby Bend Lakes. SUPs and Solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-kayaks have a 275Ibs limit. Meet at Lake 1 at Darby Bend Lakes, 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard OH.
First come/first serve. Equipment and instruction are provided.

50+ Evening Ravine Hike
2023-08-18 18:00 - 19:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Take a 2-mile off-trail hike through the ravines at the Hundred Acre Wood property. Meet at 5220 Cambria Way.

Canoe the Lake
2023-08-18 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-08-19 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-08-19 14:00 - 17:00, 2023-08-20 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-08-20 14:00 - 17:00, 2023-08-26 03:00 - 06:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Stop by and take a canoe out for a ride on the lake. Canoes and life jackets provided. We have size infant through adult life jackets, so feel free to bring the whole family!
Please check in at the tent when you arrive to put your name on the list. Boats will be filled on an ongoing basis based on the order of your arrival. Please note that there may be a wait before we can get you in a canoe, but we will do our best to accommodate everyone within the timeframe of the program.
Program is rain or shine. In the event of thunderstorms, the program will shut down for 30 min from the occurrence of thunder and/or lightning.

Citizen Science Saturday
2023-08-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about all of the exciting ways YOU can contribute to scientific research outdoors. No experience required!

Preschool Storytime: Animals at Night
2023-08-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join us for a storytime about animals in the day and night, meet some of our nighttime educational animals at Highbanks, and take a short exploration walk with a naturalist to see what critters are out in the evening. Wear your PJs if you like!
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.

After Dark In The Park
2023-08-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Join us for an evening full of activities and experience Clear Creek after dark! 7:00pm- Naturalist led evening hike along the Lake Trail (1-mile). 8:00pm-S’mores around the campfire. 8:30pm-The amazing world of moths. Meet at the Barnebey-Hambleton area: 620 Clear Creek Road SW, Lancaster.

Summer Dog Hike
2023-08-20 11:00 - 12:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join the naturalist on a 1.5-mile summer hike along river and field with your canine friend. Treats and water breaks provided. All ages.
Meeting location notes:Highbanks Metro Park. Meet in the Big Meadows Picnic Area area in the back of the park. After you enter the park, take the main road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, a sign will be on the right side saying “Big Meadows picnic area”. After the sign, take the ROAD on the LEFT. Park in the first lot on the left. Meet near the restrooms/bulletin board/playground area.

Fairy & Troll House Building
2023-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Explore the forest and build homes for fairies and trolls! Meet at the Natural Play Area at Cherry Ridge.

Family Tram Rides
2023-08-20 15:00 - 17:00, 2023-08-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hop on board the Metro Parks Tram for an informative ride around the park. Tram Stop is at the Nature Center. Ride lasts about 30 mins. No food or pets, please.

Art in the Park
2023-08-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Join the naturalist for an intro art lesson! All materials will be provided.

Pokémon Adventure
2023-08-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Did you know that many Pokémon are based on real animals? Take a half-mile hike to learn about some of the fun critters that inspired Pokémon.

Bats
2023-08-23 21:00 - 22:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
It’s bats! This is us putting up the bat signal to come learn about our park’s bats on this 1-mile hike. Meet at the Indian Ridge Bulletin Board.

Guided Hike: Identifying Mushrooms
2023-08-24 09:00 - 10:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join the naturalist for a guided hike identifying mushrooms! Meet at the flagpole, located by the shelter house and restrooms.

For Kids: Friday Night Fishing
2023-08-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Drop a line in Schrock Lake and see if you can catch a big one. Bring your own pole or borrow one of ours. Ages 3-16.

Movie Night! Happy Gilmore
2023-08-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Bring a chair and join us for a movie night at your favorite Metro Parks! All events are free and start at dusk.

Night Hike
2023-08-25 21:00 - 22:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a 2-mile interpretive hike through the forests and prairies under the starlight. Meet at the Indian Ridge Picnic Area Bulletin Board.

WAG! Fest (now Bark Bash in 2024)
2023-08-26 10:00 - 16:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Join us for the largest single day dog event in the nation! Bring your pooch for a day of shopping, swimming and exploring.

Canning, Pickling, and Preserving
2023-08-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing between 1-3pm
All ages
The farm ladies will demonstrate how to preserve the garden produce using traditional 19th-century methods.

Poison & Venom Hike
2023-08-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn how to identify the toxic plants and animals you can find on a 1-mile hike.

Adults: Fantastic Fern Off-Trail Hike
2023-08-27 13:30 - 15:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist for an off-trail ravine exploration focusing on ferns and their unique habits and habitats. This hike will involve traversing slippery rocks, climbing over logs, walking rustic footpaths through the woods, and walking in the ravine stream. Please wear close-toed footwear that is able to get wet and long pants for walking through vegetation. Hike will be approximately 2 miles.
Meet in Oak Coves Picnic Area next to Restrooms.

Music in the Gardens: High Street Stompers
2023-08-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join this Dixieland band for a fun, foot stomping concert. Seating is limited. Feel free to bring a blanket or chair.
