Columbus Moms Blog Guide to July 2017

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How is it July, already?!  Summer, you need to slow down! They always say that July 4th is the halfway point of summer, but we have lots of fun activities left to do!

Get ready for fireworks, parades, picnics and lots of family fun. Be sure to check out our guide for fireworks  to see where your city is having them. There is still a lot of berry picking left to do in July too, find locations in our Berry Picking post! You can also check out our list of Movies Under the Stars for a fun family night out.  The Ultimate Guide to Summer is filled with ideas. Be sure to check out the event calendar for even more activities happening each day.

July: Activities and Events

July 1: The Great Inflatable Race: 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in Hilliard | The Great Inflatable Race is a fun run with inflatable obstacles spread throughout the running course!

July 1: Home Depot Kids DIY Workshop: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Join this hands-on workshop and you and your child can celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Kids Workshops by building a bug house you can use to get a closer look at some many-legged friends in your own backyard. Once the project is complete, your child can personalize their bug house with paint. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.

July 1: Feathery Peacock Craft: 11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. at Franklin Park Conservatory | Peacocks are known for their amazing feathers. View the Conservatory’s topiary peacock with its impressive flower tail and make a peacock craft with colorful feathers.

July 1-July 2: Columbus Children’s Theater Lion King: Show times are at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the McConnell Center for the Arts in Worthington | Check their website for ticket sales. It is a 30-minute show with no intermission, perfect for little ones! (Shows also take place on June 29 and June 30).

July 1: Tie Dye in the Park: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Goodale Park | Create your own tie-dye masterpiece while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Goodale Park! $15 for registration and materials.

July 1: Olentangy Summer Bash: 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. at Olentangy High School | Live entertainment, food trucks, and fireworks! 

July 1-July 4: Granville 4th of July Celebration: Begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in Granville | a 4-day festival that includes rides, entertainment, fireworks and their parade. See their website for exact time of events! 

July 1: Patriotic Pops: 8:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m. at the Columbus Commons | The Harmony Project joins the Columbus Symphony’s grand summer tradition celebrating the Fourth of July. Topped off with a brilliant display of fireworks! 

July 1-July 7: Military Family Free Dayz: Free zoo admission to any active, retired or veteran military personnel and their immediate family.

July 2: Virtual Treasure Hunt: 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. in  Hilliard | Bring your smartphone and enjoy an electronic treasure hunt. Discover and collect your prize at the end.Ages 6-12.

July 2: Live Fire: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at Franklin Park Conservatory | Check out the Live Fire Cooking Theater and sample food hot off the flames in these casual cooking demonstrations. First Sundays of the month. In July, try fish tacos prepared using the Big Green Egg.

July 2: Mommy and Me Painting: 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at Goodale Park | Join us July 2nd at Goodale Park for a mother and child painting extravaganza! This session’s epic theme: Foxes!

July 2: Worthington Concerts on the Green: 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in Worthington | Ohio 122nd Army Band: Patriotic/Armed Forces 

July 3: Red, White and Boom: 12:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. in Downtown Columbus | Come out and enjoy the most recognized fireworks display in the Midwest! 

For a list of all other events on July 3 and 4, see Fireworks and Parade Locations in Columbus

July 4: Doo Dah Parade: 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. on Buttle Avenue | You’ve got to experience it, to believe it! This freedom of speech parade is sure to make you laugh! The block party runs from 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

July 5: Food Truck Wednesday: 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m at Polaris Mall | Located at the Polaris Lifestyle Center, near Barnes & Noble and the Cheesecake Factory. Enjoy lunch and then hit up the splash pad with your little ones! 

July 5: Summer Scavenger Hunt: 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. | Stop by the nature center to pick up your scavenger hunt. Find signs of animals that live here in the summer. Ages 3-10. Meet at Barn Shelter/Nature Center.

July 5: Family Concerts at Alum Creek: 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Alum Creek | This is one you won’t want to miss with Matt Jergens, the Juggler!

July 6-16: Shrek The Musical Jr: Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at The Columbus Children’s Theater | A 70-minute show with no intermission, see their website for more information!  

July 7: Fun Fridays: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Westerville | Ride through an obstacle course and make bike safety fun. Bring a bike and wear a helmet.
Ages 6 years and under with a parent.

July 7: Summer Carnival at Skate Zone: 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Skate Zone 71 | Bounce house, balloon twisting, face painting, and more! 

July 7: Delaware First Friday: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. in Delaware | Turn the sidewalks into art! Afterward, celebrate Christmas in July with a showing of Home Alone.

July 8: Family Farm Chores: 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. at Stratford Ecological Center |  Expose your family to where their food really comes from by joining Stratford’s Farmer during morning chores.  Take a turn feeding the goats and sheep, put your hand under a hen while collecting eggs and pacify the hungry hogs with homegrown grains and more! $15 per family, limit 6 families per month – Advanced registration required.

July 8-9: Westerville Music and Arts Festival10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Sunday at Heritage Park | Artists, food and music. $1 admission and 16 and under are free.

July 8: Summer Jam West: 11:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. at Westgate Park | Summer Jam West is a grassroots, free arts and music festival held annually in Westgate Park. Our Mission is to bring joy, music and art to the Hilltop, bringing family, friends and neighbors together. You’ll find live bands all day, local food trucks, local art for sale, local craft artisans and plenty of free activities to keep the kids busy.

July 8: Tissue Paper Craft at FPC: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Franklin Park Conservatory | Make a topiary inspired craft! 

July 8: PBJ and Jazz at Topiary Park: 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. at Topiary Park |PBJ & Jazz concerts are 1-hour long interactive concerts designed to introduce jazz and American music to young children and their families. It begins with a 30 minute story hour, followed by a concert and art activity. 

July 9: Princess Portraits: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Capital University | You and your little one are welcome to come take portraits with two princesses! Get a special 20 minute one on one-time meet and greet with either Rapunzel or Elena, plus memories and photos to last a lifetime! $120 for 20-minute session.

July 9: WOSU Kids at Columbus Clippers Game1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at Huntington Park | Come see Daniel Tiger in right field at the Clippers Game! 

July 10: Shazzbots at Delaware Library: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Powell Branch Library | Rocking and rocketing through the space-ways in their interstellar Winnebago, The Shazzbots are bringing cool quirky kids rock music to all the children of the cosmos!

July 11: Rock Hoppers: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Westerville | Come meet Naturalist Kim Chapman and explore the wetlands with her! Wade in the water, play in the reeds and stomp in the mud during the exciting, nature-filled morning. Please dress appropriately and expect to get dirty!

July 11: I Mom so Hard: 8:00 p.m. at The Southern Theater |  Grab your mom friends for a night of good laughs! 

July 11: Movies by Moonlight: 8:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. at Easton| Showing Annie on the big screen tonight! 

July 12: Meet and Greet Smurfs: 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Skate Zone 71 | Meet Papa Smurf and Smurfette and enjoy skating too! 

July 12: Northam Park Celebration: 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Northam Park | As we head into the midst of summer, the new playground and reading garden at Northam Park will be complete. To celebrate these final components of the Phase II improvements, come join the community for an evening of celebration.

July 13: Celebration at the Station: 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. in Hilliard | Spend your Thursday evenings at HSP for their summer concert series sponsored by Credit Union of Ohio featuring live bands and food trucks!

July 13- 16: Madagascar: A Musical Adventure: Showtimes begin at 7:30 p.m. in New Albany | Presented by the award-winning Rose Run Players youth theatre troupe, come enjoy this musical adventure extraordinaire with Alex, Marty, Gloria and all their friends! Tickets are $15. 

July 14: Flicks on the Bricks: 6:30 p.m. -10:00 p.m. at Hilliard Station Park | Showing Christmas Vacation

July 14: Arts in Uptown6:30 p.m. in Uptown Westerville | Local businesses and artists will have stations set up.

July 14: Floating Flicks: 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. at The Worthington Pools | Come enjoy Finding Dory while relaxing on a raft or sitting by the pool. Free for Members. 

July 15: 10 TV & Metro Park Outdoor Adventure: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at High Banks Metropark | Bring your family for a free celebration of summer, help your kids connect with nature and put smiles on their faces. Enjoy playing in the creek, climbing a rock wall, sack races, face painting, archery, live animals and lots of other outdoor activities. Channel 10 news anchors will be on hand throughout the day. Big Meadows Picnic Area.

July 15:  The Turtle Lady at Franklin Park: 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Franklin Park Conservatory | Visit with the Turtle Lady, Nancy Lockhard, and her turtle friends. Make a turtle craft out of recycled materials.

July 15: Game of Pools: 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Highlands Aquatic Center in Westerville | Enjoy a day of fun at HPAC. This will be the biggest event all summer, with activities every hour. Includes face painting, water games, relay races, water balloons and the WIBIT obstacle course.

July 15: Concert in the Park: 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. at Ridgewood Park | Columbus favorite, Chris Logsdon will be playing music rain or shine. There will be some free food and drinks available and a food truck onsite to purchase food.

July 15- July 22: Franklin Country Fair: Times vary at the Franklin County Fairgrounds | Demolition Derby, Made Local Marketplace, Car Show, Harness racing are some the events to see! Be sure to check their websites for events and times as each day varies. Come out and enjoy the fun! 

July 16: Photo Nature Scavenger Hunt: 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Homestead Park | Drop by the nature center between noon and 2 p.m. Pick-up a scavenger hunt to try your luck at capturing the perfect photo. Ages 8-12.

July 21: Westerville Touch a Truck: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at The Westerville Sports Complex | Hands-on fire trucks, police cruisers, larger-than-life construction equipment and more!

July 21: For Kids: Go Fish: 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at Homestead ParkLearn the basics of fishing including casting, how to properly handle a fish and properly carrying the pole. Metro Parks has a limited number of poles. Bait provided. Feel free to bring your own poles. 

July 21: Taste of Worthington: 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. in Worthington | Great tastes and family fun at this annual event!

July 21-23: Jazz and Ribs Fest: Begins July 21 at 11:00 a.m. through July 23 at 8:30 p.m. in Downtown Columbus | Presented by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, this highly anticipated summertime tradition in downtown Columbus offers both jazz and rib connoisseurs the finest in music and barbeque. Located along the Scioto River, the festival offers three days of continuous jazz by renowned international and local musicians while barbeque pit masters serve up sizzling ribs!

July 22: Touch a Truck: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Berlin Township Fire Department

July 23: WOSU Kids at CMA: 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at The Columbus Museum of Art | Come meet a special character at the Museum! Stay tuned for details. 

July 23: Kids Try- Athalon: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Highland Park Aquatic Center | Race includes 100-meter swim, one-mile bike ride and quarter-mile run. Divisions are ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and parent/child division, where adults and their children race together.

July 25: For Kids: Bug Hunt: 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at Homestead ParkExplore the fascinating world of our creepy crawlies. Take a hike and catch insects. Ages 6-10. 

July 25- August 6: The Ohio State Fair: 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. at The Ohio Expo Center | Rides, Concerts, Unique Food and Vendors, a tradition you won’t want to miss! Be sure to check their website for an exact time of events. 

July 27: KidzBop Concert: 6:30 at the Celeste Center | Performing the Ohio State Fair! 

July 28: 4th Friday Westerville: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. in Uptown Westerville | The theme for this month is World Bazaar! 100 plus street vendors, food carts, kids activities and extended hours for shops. 

July 28: Floating Flick: 9:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. at Worthington Pools | Showing Pete’s Dragon! 

July 27-July 30: Annie: Begins July 27 at 7:00 p.m. with showtimes each day at Westerville Central High School | Tickets are $15 and go on sale June 19. 

July 29-30: Dino Weekend: 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at The Columbus Zoo | Buddy the Dinosaur will be present in honor of Dinosaur Island returning to the Zoo this year. Meet the Flintstones and take a dinosaur island boat ride! 

July 29: Grandview Hop: 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | A half-mile stretch of Grandview Avenue buzzing with live music, local shopping, awesome art, delicious food and fun activities.

It is a jammed pack month! We hope you live it up and soak up the sunshine! Happy 4th of July! 

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Maureen Ingham
Maureen Ingham has enjoyed living in the great city of Columbus for nearly 13 years! Originally from Canton, Ohio, Maureen attended Ohio University and will always be a bobcat at heart! After completing her education degree in Athens, she made her way to The Ohio State University to obtain a Masters degree in Special Education. She fell in love with Columbus then and convinced her now husband to join her in this awesome city! She taught 5th grade for 6 years, before deciding to stay home to raise two beautiful girls. Their family has recently moved to Worthington with their two girls and are excited to plant their roots here! Their first daughter, Maeve is 6 and her sister, Reese will soon be 5 years old. They welcomed a son, Miles in March 2020. Maureen has been with The Columbus Moms Blog since the beginning and now enjoys working on editing and events for the blog. She also works as a Postpartum Doula with her sister at a company called Together Wee Grow. They provide night nursing services, as well as daytime support to local families and babies in Columbus. It is a wonderful job to work along her sister and help families with their precious little ones in a vulnerable time period. In between the night shifts, sweeping up crumbs, exploring Columbus, and getting kids to where they need to be, Maureen enjoys working out, trying new recipes and restaurants, traveling, spending time with family, being crafty and trying to help others whenever she can! Maureen has many Columbus favorites. Her go-to restaurant is Third and Hollywood, she enjoys a sweet treat at Sassafrass Bakery or Fox in the Snow, a slice of pizza at Dewey's Pizza and a warm cup of joe at Highline Coffee. A perfect Saturday involves an outdoor activity with her family and trying a new restaurant when they can! She is excited to be a part of an excellent team here at Columbus Moms blog and hopes to be able to inspire mothers that small acts of kindness go a long way in raising their kids and the city they live in!