What's up in Columbus? Take a look at these 11 things to do this weekend
If you're looking for a good time over the next few days, there's plenty afoot! Weathervane Playhouse will keep audiences on their toes with "Kinky Boots," a stage musical that's a shoo-in — or more fittingly, a "shoe-in" for a successful run that begins Thursday.
"Pop" goes the music on Friday and Saturday, when the Columbus Symphony and the Ohio State marching band will present their traditional two nights of concerts as the coda to the Picnic with the Pops series at Columbus Commons.
As you're free-fallin' through the last day of the weekend, there's still a chance to have some fun by checking out the Sons of Gladys' tribute to Tom Petty on the Worthington Village Green — and it's free!
These are just a few of your weekend entertainment options; you can read about others below. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
Weathervane kicks up heels with 'Kinky Boots'
Journey to the "Land of Lola" and find out "What a Woman Wants" when Weathervane Playhouse, 100 Price Road, Newark, opens the Tony, Grammy and Olivier-winning musical "Kinky Boots" on Thursday. With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, the show follows Charlie Price's quest to save the bankruptcy-bound shoe factory inherited from his father. He joins forces with Lola, an entertainer seeking a pair of stilettos, to turn the business — and people's attitudes — around. While "Kinky Boots" contains adult language and some sexual content, it delivers a powerful message of acceptance, understanding and conquering prejudice. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2-5. Tickets are $15-$37, except on Tuesday, when general admission is $19. (weathervaneplayhouse.org, 740-366-4616)
One-man play examines veterans' experiences
Actor, writer and Ohio State University instructor Kevin McClatchy will bring his one-man play about the aftermath of war through one soldier's eyes to the stage at Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Directed by OSU professor Jeanine Thompson, "Scrap Heap" is a turbulent, darkly funny performance piece using spoken word, verbatim text, movement and sonic immersion as it questions the demands placed on military servicemembers and society’s responsibility to welcome them back to civilian life. The play discusses combat-related trauma and suicide and uses flashing lights and sound effects including gunfire. The shows will be followed by conversations with veterans, and representatives from Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Benefits Administration will be onsite. ASL interpretation will be provided on Friday. Tickets are $12 for members, students and adults 55-older, and $24 for the general public. Access tickets are $6, and access sponsor tickets are $48. Admission is free for military veterans, active-duty personnel and their family members. (wexarts.org)
Symphony and Ohio State band join forces
Break out your scarlet and gray gear to welcome the Columbus Symphony and Ohio State University Marching Band back for their annual closer to Picnic with the Pops at Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St. Billed as the first big tailgate of the year, the concerts will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; gates open at 6 p.m. During the first half, the symphony will play works by Antonín Dvorak, Aaron Copland and John Williams, as well as "Love is All You Need," a tribute to the Beatles. After intermission, the band will join the symphony for a broad repertoire that's sure to include Buckeye fight songs leading up to the fireworks-filled finale! A table-decorating contest on Saturday will award each person at the winning table a $50 gift card from Giant Eagle Market District. Lawn tickets are $35 for adults (ages 13 and older); $10 for children 3-12; and free for children 2 and younger. Table seats on both nights range from $440-$750.48, and rear ring seats are available for $300 on Saturday. (picnicwiththepops.com, cbusarts.com)
Pickleball playoff registration still open
Time's a-wastin' if you're hoping to get in on the action at next week's World Pickleball Tour (WPT) Columbus Challenger tournament! Registration, which is open through Friday, costs $80 plus a per-event fee of $30 for the playoffs coming Aug. 4-6 to Pickle & Chill, 880 W. Henderson Road. More than 500 amateur pickleball players from across the Midwest are expected at the tourney, which will feature skill brackets from 2.5 to 5.0 and age brackets 19+, 30+, 40+, 50+, and 60+, as well as men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles events. All gold medalists will be invited to the 2024 WPT Amateur Invitational Championships in January in Rockwall, Texas, to vie for a share of a $175,000 cash purse. Spectators are welcome to attend free of charge. There will be a beer tent from North High Brewing, and food trucks from Pitabilities and Chilljoy. (pickleandchill.com)
Arboretum to debut Japanese festival
A formal tea service, lantern-making, and other cultural experiences are lined up for Dawes Arboretum's first Japanese Garden Festival from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The celebration, part of a partnership with the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio (JASCO), will be held at the arboretum, located at 7770 Jacksontown Road in Newark. Granville Yoga will lead guided meditation and qigong, which combines movement, breathing and meditation to promote mental, physical and spiritual health. Kona Ice and Chef Shack also will have food available for purchase. After the festival, an Ikebana workshop for those 21 and older will offer flower-arranging lessons and sake-tasting from 4-6 p.m. Festival entry is included with general admission to the arboretum, which is $10 for adults, $5 for children, and free for children 4 and younger; tickets can be purchased online. Registration for the adult workshop is $48 and can be done online as well. (dawesarb.org)
SIP Beerfest to raise awareness and money
A dozen breweries, a distillery and one of Columbus' most unusual bands will gather for to raise glasses and funds at the Summer at SIP Beerfest from 3-7 p.m. Saturday at Somewhere In Particular (SIP) Brewing Company, 5055 Dierker Road. Festivalgoers can enjoy drinks from SIP, Derive, Edison, Nocterra, Wolf's Ridge, Random Precision, Heart State, The Phoenix Brewing Company, Dank House, Olentangy River, Crooked Can, Parson's North and High Bank Distillery. The NACHO Street Band, made up of Nationwide Children's Hospital staff, families and friends, will offer something for every musical taste from classic and pop hits to cartoon songs, New Orleans jazz and funk. The band's nearly 70 members range from 16 to 70 years old. Tickets are $50 plus fees, with $5 from each ticket going to Children's Hospital; proceeds from a raffle also will go to the hospital. Each attendee will get a wristband, 12 drink tickets, and a 5-ounce acrylic mug. Limited parking will be available at the church across from SIP. (eventbrite.com)
Ten big bands tuning up for showcase
Music education and providing instruments for children in need will unite 10 big bands for a common cause at the Central Ohio Big Band Showcase from 1-11 p.m. Saturday at the Valley Dale Ballroom, 1590 Sunbury Road. With proceeds going to Music Loves Ohio, the festival lineup includes Swing’s The Thing, the Schubach Big Band, Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Swing Machine, Arch City Big Band, Z-Sharp Big Band, Emerald City Swing Orchestra, Little Big Band, Westerville Jazz Orchestra and the Rick Brunetto Big Band. Each group will play a 45-minute set. "We wanted to give back to the Columbus community and celebrate this longstanding tradition of Big Band music, its writers and its unique musical arrangements," festival director Rick Brunetto said. Adult beverages, sandwiches and snacks will be available. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 (free for students). (valleydaleballroom.com)
Annual bonsai show to take root at Dawes
Miniature trees will loom large at the Columbus Bonsai Society's 51st annual show, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Dawes Arboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Road, Newark. Club members will demonstrate bonsai care and styling techniques, and welcome questions from attendees. In addition to formal bonsai presentations, a "Trees in Training" section will provide a more casual, interactive way for visitors to learn about the techniques. Vendors will be selling finished trees, plant material, tools and other supplies, as well as leading workshops where attendees can create their own bonsai art. The cost to attend is general admission to Dawes Arboretum, which is $10 for adults, $5 for children and free for children 4 and younger. (dawesarb.org)
Ganthers Place to greet garden gazers
"Parasols and Petunias" is the theme for this weekend's Ganthers Place Garden Tour, taking place for the 18th year in the small community located just south of Downtown. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, beginning at Ganthers Place Park for All People, 566 Reinhard Ave., and will include resident gardens as well as Ganthers Place's three neighborhood pocket parks. The event is sponsored primarily by the resident-owned Community Grounds: Coffee and Meeting House, which will host the welcome table and provide restrooms for the tour. Live music will be provided by Dan Stambaugh and pedicabs will be offered. (weareganthersplace.com)
Sons of Gladys to salute late Tom Petty
The Sons of Gladys, who have paid homage to music legends Elvis Presley and Prince for audiences in central Ohio and beyond for two decades, will present "A Tribute to Tom Petty" as part of the Worthington Parks and Recreation Department's Concerts on the Green series. The free show is set for 7 p.m. Sunday in the northwest quadrant of the Village Green at the corner of High Street and Dublin Granville Road in Worthington. After Petty's death on Oct. 2, 2017, the Sons of Gladys prepared a special program to honor the musician's life and music as a one-off event. However, they were so well-received that they continued performing the tribute featuring Phil Clark as Petty. In the case of inclement weather, the concert will be canceled. (worthington.org)
Columbus African Festival
Visitors can enjoy music, food and arts from the African diaspora during the Columbus African Festival this weekend. The festival, which began in 2019, is taking place on Saturday and Sunday starting at 12 PM each day at Genoa Park, on the western bank of the Scioto River downtown.
Performing musicians will include Olaniyi, The Deal Breakers, Blackdon, Queen Fatou, Neferkau, Quennjojo, Coco, Ma Rayzer and others. Food trucks will be serving Nigerian, Ghanaian, Congolese and Liberian cuisines. Other vendors will be selling clothing, art, skin care products and more.
"This is an opportunity to create a pan-African celebration It's very important for the Africans to come out and celebrate because we've come a long way, and we want the city to recognize us in numbers," said Gachomo Mapis, a member of the festival's board, in an Instagram post.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 11 things to do in Columbus this weekend
