A Columbus Mom’s Guide to the Month of April 2017

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We’ve gathered some of the best activities going on in Columbus for the month of April! It’s a big month with lots of Easter Egg Hunts and Spring Activities. As we find additional events we will update the list, so be sure to check back throughout the month.  If we missed something, comment below. Let’s hope for a month of sunshine too!

Be sure to check out our other Spring Posts: Columbus Easter Egg HuntsBudget Conscious Birthday Parties , 10 Great Parks to Check Out this Spring, and Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle this Spring.

April 1Easter Open House: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Anthony-Thomas Candy (1777 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, 43228) | Take a tour of the factory, see the Easter Bunny, enjoy samples, and go shopping in the gift shop.

April 1: Build a Bunny Basket: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Home Depot | Build a bunny basket, paint it and decorate with stickers.  Register for FREE

April 1: Daniel Tiger Skating Event: 10:00 am. – 12:00 p.m. at Skate Zone 71 | Meet and greet Daniel Tiger during this beginner skating session geared towards ages 2-8. 

April 1: Soap Box Derby: 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Big Run Park, 4201 Clime Road, Columbus, OH | The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program open to any child at least 7 years of age. Children compete by driving their racers in one of three levels of gravity-powered racing cars built from kits purchased from the All-American Soap Box Derby.

April 1: Beauty and the Beast: 11:00 a.m. at Barnes and Noble in Upper Arlington | Participate in a singalong, activities and giveaways.

April 1: Mary Poppins Children’s Tea: 1:00-2:00 p.m. or 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Olentangy Orange High School | Meet and greet with Mary Poppins and Bert, make a craft, sing and dance. Tickets are $10 and include one child and one adult.

April 2: Camp Kesem 5K Run/Walk: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Fred Beekman Park | Various activities including a 5K race, caterpillar crawl, pre-race Zumba, and food. Register online in advance or $25 cash the day of the race.

April 2Underwater Egg Hunt: 10:30 a.m. at Westerville Community Center Watering Hole | Hunt for eggs in the Community Center leisure pool. Eggs can be exchanged for candy and toys! Enjoy carnival games before the hunt! Age groups are divided as follows: 4-5, 6, 7-8, 9-11. 

April 2: Egg Hunt at High Banks Metro Park: 1:00 p.m. at High Banks Metro Park | Learn about eggs and then enjoy a special egg hunt with the Park Rangers. 

April 2: Mommy and Me Painting Class: 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at Goodale Park| Register today to create an Elephant themed painting canvas as mommy and daughter. All supplies provided. 

April 4 : Mom’s Coffee Break: 10:00 a.m. at Coffee Connections Hilliard | Join local moms for a coffee at this great coffee shop. Each month they have an activity for the kids too. Check out their website for more information! 

April 5: Stop, Shop, and Story Time: 10:45 a.m. at GAP at Tuttle Mall | Join moms after a Baby Boot Camp class for a fun story time and snacks for the littles and a little therapy shopping for the moms!

April 6: Taste of Clintonville: 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Mozart’s in Clintonville | Get a taste of what makes Clintonville so special. Hosted by Experience Clintonville, this popular annual event showcases the best of Clintonville’s culinary treasures, from the newest hotspots to their beloved neighborhood institutions.

April 6-9: Mary Poppins: 7:00 p.m (April 6, April 7 and April 8), 2:00 p.m. (April 9) | Tickets are $11.50 for students/seniors/OLSD Staff and $13.50 for adults.

April 6-23: Crash: various days and times at Park Street Theatre | Watch the cast of Columbus Children’s Theatre during this two-act play with an intermission.  Recommended for ages 8 and older.

April 7: Moonlight Egg Madness: 6:30 p.m. at The Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church | Inflatables, prizes, and a petting zoo will begin at 6:30, with the egg hunt taking place at 7:30 p.m. Please bring a canned food item for the HEART food pantry. 

April 7: Spreading Kindness Through Easter Baskets: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at the Hilltop Library Meeting Room| With Easter approaching, Seeds of Caring would like to spread some kindness by gathering items and assembling Easter baskets for children in need. They ask that your family bring items such as small stuffed animals, toys, pre-packaged candy, and anything else appropriate to help fill the baskets. The baskets will be given to children ages 2 to 10.

April 7: Mother & Son Adventure Night: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. hosted by Prairie Township | This event is geared towards age 3-12.  Purchase tickets in advance here: Prairie Township

April 7-9: Seussical: 7:00 p.m. (April 7 & April 8), 2:00 p.m. (April 9) at Hilliard Davidson High School | Purchase tickets at the door or in advance.

April 8-9: Easter Egg Hunts: various times and locations throughout Central Ohio. Be sure to check out our complete list here: COLUMBUS AREA EASTER EGG HUNTS

April 8: Brunch with the Bunny: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m at Polaris Fashion Place| Enjoy activities, arts and crafts, and a special visit from the Easter Bunny at California Pizza Kitchen. Reservations must be made in person. 

April 8: Shrekfast: 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Olentangy High School Commons | In anticipation of Olentangy’s production of Shrek: The Musical, they are hosting a Shrek-themed breakfast and a time to meet the characters. Tickets are $7 each, with a package deal of $22 for 4 people. Use the link to purchase tickets.

April 8: Ohio Made Market Spring Fling: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Creekside Conference and Event Center in Gahanna | The goal is to highlight local vendors and provide a fun way to shop. Don’t forget Mother’s Day and Easter are coming up too so you can find some great gift giving ideas!

April 8: Mommy’s Daddy’s Daughter and Donuts with Belle: 10:00 a.m. in Newark  | Come down dressed to meet Princess Belle and enjoy a donut with your mom or dad! What a delicious start to the morning! 

April 8-9: The Jungle Book: Kids Edition: 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (April 8) and 3:00 p.m. (April 9) at Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center | This play is an adaptation of the classic story. Tickets are $5 for children grades 12 and under, $15 for adults and $12 for seniors.

April 8: Easter Bunny Meet and Greet: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Kingsdale Shopping Center, Upper Arlington | Come by to meet and greet and have a special picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Bring a basket if you would like to find some eggs on the green as well! 

April 8: Ohioana Book Festival: 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel | This FREE event will feature more than 100 authors. Check out the list of authors and a list of the kids and teens activities at the 2017 festival.

April 8: Wonka Day: 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. in uptown Westerville | Join LuLu’s Sweet Shop and Naturally Curious Kids for an afternoon of games, crafts, and treats!

April 8:: Underwater Egg Hunt: 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. at The Worthington Community Pool | This event is split up by age group and is always a blast! This year they will have more prizes and open swim times as well. You pre-register online and bags are provided for the eggs! It sounds like a great event! 

April 8: Marshmallow Drop: 6:45 p.m. at The Groveport Pool |  A helicopter will fly over Groveport Park and drop marshmallows down, while children try to catch and collect them.  Turn in your marshmallows for Easter Candy!  The Marshmallow Drop is free to attend and is a fun way to collect Easter candy! 

April 9: Easter Bunny Brunch: 9:00 a.m. at the American Girl Store at Easton | Have brunch, meet and take a picture with the Easter Bunny.  $25 (make a reservation)

April 9: Annual Doll Party: 1:00- 4:00 p.m. at Golden Hobby Gift Shop | The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is having their annual 18″ Doll Party which includes a style show, shopping for handmade original doll outfits, refreshments, raffles and prizes.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their own American Girl Doll.  Admission is $10 for children and $5 for adults.

April 9: Bunny Bash at Indian Run Methodist Church of Dublin: 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. | Join the family for interactive marshmallow games, crafts, sundaes, and photos with the Easter Bunny. This event will also have 5,000 eggs to hunt for! You won’t want to miss it! 

April 10- April 14: Kids Art Camp: Johnstown: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. each day | Kids will have so much fun crafting with Angie and Amber. This is a great idea for Spring Break and the cost is $100 for the whole week! Sign up today! 

April 10: Let’s Play Mondays: 9:45 a.m.-11:20 a.m. at The Westerville Community Center | Come learn ways to engage with your baby through language, play, and social skills. This class will be split into two sessions for infants and toddlers and will run for 4 weeks by a speech pathologist. 

April 11: Story Time at the Farm: Stratford Farm: 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. | Bring your little ones down to the farm for story time and a hands-on experience at the farm. They suggest bringing a picnic lunch for afterward too! 

April 12: John Mayer at Schottenstein Center: 7:30 p.m. | Call the sitter and enjoy a kid free night with this Grammy Award Winning singer/songwriter! 

April 12: Park and Trail Cleanup: 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at Clinton-Como Park | This event is through Seeds of Caring and will discuss the importance of taking care of our waterways. Kids and parents will then partake in a park clean up to teach kids about the importance of caring for our Earth. 

April 13: Family Food Truck Festival: 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Northwest Library, Worthington, Ohio | Take the family to the library to enjoy family story time, followed by dinner from Street Thyme Truck or Timmy’s Meltdown truck. 

April 14-16: Easter Egg Hunts: various times and locations throughout Central Ohio. Be sure to check out our complete list here: COLUMBUS AREA EASTER EGG HUNTS

April 14-15: Eggs, Paws, and Claws: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at The Columbus Zoo | Photos with the Bunny will be available, along with Bunny Bonanza. You’ll get to meet The Energizer Bunny and Bugs Bunny to name a few! 

April 14: Super Hero Glow Skate: 7:00-10:00 p.m. at Skate Zone 71 | Meet and Greet Batman, Catwoman, Spiderman and Superman.  Wear superhero gear for $2.00 admission.

April 15: Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt: 11:00 a.m. at Whetstone Community Center | This Easter Egg hunt is geared for 6-16-year-olds with special needs. The event will be held inside to accommodate those with wheelchairs. 

April 15: Westerville Bunny Hop 5K: 8:00 a.m. at Westerville Sports Complex | Hop on over to Westerville to complete a 5k before their Easter Egg Hunt! 

April 15: Mommy and Me Painting Class: 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at Goodale Park | Easter Bunnies are the theme this month! All skill levels are welcome and materials will be supplied. Afterward, participants are encouraged to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt! 

April 15: Community Touch a Truck: 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. | This event gives children the opportunity to see wheeled vehicles of all kind including the Columbus Fire Truck, SWAT car, race car, police car and many more! The first 150 people to donate a children’s book will receive a free ticket to Monster Jam! 

April 15: Hilliard KidsFest and Bunny Run: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. at Franklin County Fairgrounds | This event has a lot to offer from breakfast with Belle and the Bunny, an Easter Egg Hunt, and many other family activities!

April 15: OSU Spring Game: 12:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium | Watch the Buckeye Football Team play against each other in the stadium.  Use the link to purchase $5 tickets in advance. 

April 16: Easter Sunday Skate: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Skate Zone 71 | This is the biggest party of the year! $9.00 will get you a slice of pizza, drink, admission, and skate rental. Could be a fun way to celebrate Easter and burn off those brunch calories 🙂 

April 17-April 21: Open Play at Easterseals Central and Southeast Ohio: 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. | Come over your spring break to play at The Easterseals awesome indoor gym! $5 to play in their gym which has a rock climbing wall, ball pit, slides, tire swing and much more! 

April 18: Chase and Marshall, Paw Patrol Meet and Greet Skate Zone 71: 12:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.| 3 family sessions to meet these special friends! Be sure to choose the time from their website that will work best for you to meet these cool characters. 

April 19: The Magic Flute by Opera Columbus: 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. at Columbus Main Library | Seating begins at 10:15 a.m. and is first come, first served.  The performance is geared towards ages PK-6th grade, but all ages are welcome.  Be sure to register for the FREE event.

April 20: Circus Night: 5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. in Lancaster, Ohio | This free event includes free hot dogs, balloon animals, cotton candy and benefits Child Abuse Prevention Month! Come out with the family for a great cause!

April 20: Best Bites Brunch: 7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. at Ohio History Connection | Brunch is a big deal in Columbus. It’s time to come out and explore the many great restaurants Columbus has to offer! Tickets to the event will include bite-sized brunch samples of signature dishes from our restaurant vendors. Admission to the exhibits at the Ohio History Connection and live entertainment are also included! 

April 21: Earth Day Recycling Drive: 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Integrated Building Systems | Drop off your old, unwanted, and broken electronics and they will recycle it for you! A great way to teach your kids about recycling too! 

April 21: Beer and Ballet: 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. at The Columbus Commons| This a free event for all ages and is sure to be an evening full of fun and dance along with happy hour-priced craft beer from Platform Beer Co. This event will also have Columbus food trucks and free popcorn! An event you will want to attend. 

April 21-23: Beauty and the Beast: 7:00 p.m. (April 21 & April 22), 3:00 p.m. (April 23) at Hilliard Bradley High School

April 21-23: Shrek:The Musical: 7:00 p.m. (April 21 & April 22), 2:00 p.m (April 22 & April 23) at Olentangy High School | Online tickets will be $8 for OHS students/staff, seniors, and children, and $12 for adults.  Service fees will apply. At-door ticket sales will be $10 for OHS students/staff, seniors and children, and $15 for adults.

April 22: FlapJack 5K and Pancake Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. at the Golf Club of Dublin | Walkers and runners will tour through the golf course and enjoy a pancake breakfast at the end.  There will be some other kid friendly activities.  Even if you aren’t walking/running, you can still show up and purchase breakfast. Funds go to cancer research and patient care programs.  

April 22-23: Monster Jam: Showtimes are 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on April 22 and 1:00 p.m. on April 23 at The Schottenstein Center | The most action-packed live event on four wheels for your kids to see drivers compete! Tickets start at $15. 

April 22: Kids Crafts in the Park: 11:00-1:30 at Homestead Metro Park, Hilliard, Ohio | Kids Class will kick off on Earth Day and will meet on Saturday afternoons (through October) for all ages. This event will be painting flower pots along with painting rocks to look like garden creatures and plant a flower. There is a great park to play in as well. Looks like a great thing to add to your Saturday schedule! 

April 22: Community Garden Kick-Off to Earth Day: 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. at Hilliard Community Gardens| To celebrate Earth Day, Seeds of Caring will be planting their community garden and they need your help! All of the food harvested will be donated to the Hilliard Senior Center. Be sure to check out Seeds of Caring for lots of volunteer opportunities with your family! 

April 22: Ohio State Drum Major Tryouts: 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at The Ohio State University | Drum major tryouts are open to the public! Each candidate will perform the ramp entrance, a twirling routine and five high aerial tosses. What a unique experience!

April 22: Alphabet Attractions: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m at the Jessing Center | This event is hosted by ABC6/Fox28 newscaster Kurt Ludlow, and includes silent and live auctions, a photo booth, live painting by Studio Cera Marie, an open bar and food catered by Bosc + Brie.

April 22: Introduction to Fairy Gardens: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Rhoads Garden Center, Circleville, Ohio | Buy your tickets to learn all the steps to build your own fairy garden. All materials will be provided- what a fun spring activity! 

April 22: Princess Party: 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at Groveport Town Hall | For only $5 per person, come to the Groveport Town Hall for an afternoon princess party. There will be finger foods, a craft and a simple dance will be taught to your daughters. They will then have a small fashion show too!

April 23: “Beauty and the Beast” Character Breakfast: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the Hilliard Applebee’s | Meet the Hilliard Darby cast of Beauty and the Beast during this breakfast.  Tickets are $8 and must be purchased in advance. 

April 23: Spring Opening at the Orange Johnson House: 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m., Worthington, Ohio | Goats, lambs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and rabbits and a new friend this year! His name is Wilbur, the pig and he will also visit the Johnson House. The cost for this event is $5 for adults and $3 for children aged 3-16. This is a unique way for the farm to come to you! 

April 27-29: The Wonderful Wizard of Neverland: 7:00 p.m. at Westerville North High School | Tickets are $6.

April 28-30: Just Between Friends: at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard – the times vary each day, so be sure to check the link | Shop and sell at this consignment event.

April 28: 4th Friday: 6:00 p.m. in Westerville | This is great fun for the family.  Check out all the details here: What are 4th Fridays?

April 28-30: Grease: 7:00 p.m. (April 28 & April 29), 2:00 p.m. (April 30) at Westerville South High School  

April 28-30: Guys & Dolls: 7:30 p.m. (April 28 & April 29), 1:30 p.m. (April 30) at Westerville Central High School | Tickets are $10.

April 29All Ohio Reptile Show: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Franklin County Fairgrounds | Admission is $5 and kids 10 and under are $1.

April 29Hoot Family Film Series: 10:00 a.m. at Gateway Film Center | The last Saturday of every month is the Hoot Family Film Series.  There are opportunities to make crafts, sing, listen to live music performed by the Shazzbots and see short films from around the world. FREE with a suggested donation of canned food to benefit The Open Shelter. 

April 29: 31st Annual Duckling Day at Whetstone Library: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Starting at 10:30 a.m. is the parade at library.  Then, see live ducks, watch a puppet show and participate in duck related literacy activities. 

April 29Romancing the Grape 2017: 6:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. at Ohio Stadium | Sip on wine and enjoy a fantastic view of the Ohio State Buckeye Field! It will be an evening of fine wines, culinary delights from Columbus’ finest restaurants, silent auction, and entertainment. The event supports the Easterseals and the purpose is to change the way the world views disabilities and by making positive changes in people’s everyday lives. Get your tickets today! 

April 29: Blacklick Woods Family Adventure: 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at Blacklick Woods Metro Park | Open Air trams will be running through the park and you will also be able to meet and greet wild life! Pack a picnic and enjoy a beautiful spring day! 

April 30: Hilliard Author Book Signing: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center | Meet the seven local authors beginning at 1:00 p.m. and the book signing starts at 2:00 p.m. 

April 30: Paint it Forward: Autism Speaks Fundraiser: 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. | This is a great event to connect with people to support the cause and paint a canvas as well. 60% of the ticket price will support Autism Speaks.

Upcoming Events

Columbus Moms Blog is a sponsor for these two upcoming events.

May 6: Mini Market: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Bexley United Methodist Church | Shop 25+ local vendors for handmade baby and kid items.

May 7: MommyMile: 8:00 a.m. – noon at Polaris Fashion Place | This unique race is geared towards celebrating moms.  Be sure to register.

 

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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!