Memorial Day Weekend seems to be the kick-off weekend for summertime fun, and Columbus Commons is doing it up. The festivities start on Friday with their first Commons for Kids event from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Saturday is an All-Day Family Fun Day with a puppet show, visit from the Columbus Zoo and The Shazzbots will be performing; and on Sunday, experience Woodstock in 1969 with Shadowbox Live’s performance of Back to the Garden. I’ve listed a run down below of daily events so you can decide when to go.
The Commons has lots of fun stuff going on this summer; but also, it is awesome to just throw down a blanket and play. We recently attended an event held at the Commons, and we played table tennis, rode the carousel, played on the lawn, and had yummy sandwiches provided by the Commons cafe. Parking garages and meters made parking a breeze, and we were sure to slather on the sunscreen. They have tables under umbrellas, but the park is in full sun. Be prepared with hats, sunscreen, and lots of water. Directions and hours, click HERE.
Enjoy this Memorial Day Weekend at Columbus Commons…just look what is going on:
Friday, May 25, 2012:
Children of all ages are invited for the first Commons for Kids of the season on Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Enjoy free carousel rides, inflatables, face 
painting and balloon animals. The Columbus Metropolitan Library Bookmobile will join the fun and host an engaging story time in the Reading Room at 10:30am.
Friday night kicks off the Columbus Alive Summer Concert Series from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. Sponsored by Middle West Spirits, Friday’s performances will feature local bands The Spikedrivers, Nick Tolford & Company, and Lionel the Jailbird. Don’t miss Columbus foodtrucks Veggielicious, Short North Bagel, Tato Heads and The Burrito Bus Steve Stone all on site Friday.
Saturday, May 26, 2012:
Columbus Commons will host an All-Day Family Fun Day with rides, games and entertainment. Kick the day off with a performance from the OSU Pep Band, Cheerleaders and Brutus. There will be a petting zoo, COSI interactive exhibits, a public art wall, puppet shows, a visit from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a mascot chase, and so much more! The evening will conclude with a showing of E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and fireworks courtesy of Pepsi. $5 wristband to ride all day.
Schedule of Events for Saturday, May 26, 2012:
Noon – OSU Pep Band, Cheerleaders and Brutus
1:00 pm – Columbus Metropolitan Library Puppet Show
2:00 pm – COSI Demonstration
3:00 pm – Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
4:00 pm – Mascot Race
6:00 pm – Doctah X
7:00 pm – The Shazzbots
9:00 pm – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
11:00 pm – Fireworks
Sunday, May 27, 2012:
It’s time to go Back to the Garden at Columbus Commons, with Shadowbox Live’s original musical documentary about the Woodstock Festival. Get into the spirit with henna tattooing, face painting, crowd dancing, live music and more beginning at noon. See Country Joe McDonald live at 7:30pm, followed by Back to the Garden at 8:30pm. Country Joe was the lead singer of the rock group Country Joe & the Fish and a performer at the original Woodstock 1969 festival.
Schedule of Events for Sunday, May 27, 2012:
12:00 – 3:00 Lawn Festival: Henna tattoos, wandering musicians, face painting, and more!
3:10 – 4:00 Yoga with Yoga on High (Gail Larned)
4:15 – 5:05 Lambert and Lilley acoustic 60’s duo
5:05 – 5:20 Crowd dancing with Mimi Chenfeld
5:20 – 6:10 Soulshine acoustic 60’s trio
6:25 – 7:15 Dr. Simple acoustic 60’s duo
7:30 – 8:20 Country Joe McDonald (with Shadowbox Live Band)
8:30 – 10:30 Back to the Garden Musical
General Information:
Feel welcome to bring the following:
Lawn or folding chairs
Breathable blankets
Coolers (we reserve the right to search coolers)
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (food and beverages will be sold at the event as well)
Bicycles, providing they are locked up at appropriate bike racks throughout the park.
The following items will not be permitted:
Alcoholic beverages (alcohol will be sold at the event)
Plastic tarps
Tents
For more information about performance times and activities please visit www.columbuscommons.org or check us out on Facebook and Twitter.
About Columbus Commons:
Columbus Commons is a premier 9-acre urban park, created to simultaneously enliven the downtown neighborhood and offer a green, urban oasis with a Grand Lawn, walking paths and a Bosque of Trees. The landscape features more than 45,000 plants including annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees throughout the 12 gardens of Columbus Commons. Other amenities including a hand crafted carousel, an Outdoor Reading Room, BDF Cafe, Lola’s Pizza Shack, restrooms, and moveable table and chairs.
Columbus Commons was created where City Center Mall once stood. Capitol South strategically demolished the entire mall from October 2009 into mid-2010, at which time construction began to create the community park with one-third of the entire site reserved for market-driven development. By December 2010 park construction was completed and the park’s grand opening was May 26, 2011.
