Looking for weekend fun? Check out these 10 things to do in Columbus

Get your weekend started early with a bang — or more aptly, a BAM — by visiting the Columbus Museum of Art, where BAM Thursdays will take place through Sept. 14. Each week, BAM (which stands for "Bar, Art and Music") events offer visitors an evening of live music, food and drinks, exhibit viewings, and more.

You can also see big-name stars, from concerts featuring pianist Ben Folds with the Columbus Symphony and drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer to special big-screen showings of "Oklahoma!" starring Hugh Jackman in one of his earliest stage roles.

Read on for additional details about these and other events coming up in Columbus. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.

Museum of Art hosts BAM Thursdays

Each week through Sept. 14, BAM (Bar, Art, and Music) Thursdays will bring art, delicious bites and beverages, live music, and vendors to the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 East Broad St. This Thursday will feature music by Titonton Duvante and vendors from Mystic Market. While tickets or reservations are not required to attend BAM Thursdays, a $5 discounted special exhibition admission ticket applies to view the exhibits "Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth" and "Lesley Vance: always circled whirling." The event lasts from 5-11 p.m.; the museum and galleries will close at 9 p.m. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis for dining. Limited seating is also available in Schokko Café. In the event of inclement weather, BAM Thursdays will move inside to the atrium. A menu, other exhibits on view, and more details are available on the website. (columbusmuseum.org)

Evolution Theater Company to present two-fer

Enjoy a double feature for a single price during Evolution Theatre Company's run of "One Show/Two Plays," which begins with a preview performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the theater located in the Dublin Community Recreation Center, 5600 Post Road, Dublin. The plays, penned by local playwrights, will be "The 5,000 Challenge" by Douglas Whale and "The Body Politic" by Cory Skurdal. In addition to Thursday's show, performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. July 26-27, and 8 p.m. July 28-29. Tickets prices are $33 general admission, $28 seniors, and $15 students. (evolutiontheatre.org, 614-233-1124)

'TownHall Takeover' to offer drink specials

Columbus-based, ready-to-shake brand XXI Martinis will stage a "takeover" at the Short North's TownHall from 8-11 p.m. Thursday. The non-GMO restaurant, cafe, and juice/espresso/craft beer bar at 792 N. High St. will welcome guests 21 and older to a free event featuring a martini cocktail menu created especially for the celebration, plus music by DJ Pastel and decorations from Young + Wild Balloon Co. and Alpha-Lit. In addition, a videographer and photographer will be on-site capturing memorable moments for guests to post on their own social media platforms. (614-639-8600)

Actors' Theatre to stage Shakespeare comedy

Actor's Theatre of Columbus will present William Shakespeare's pun-filled love letter to the English language, "Love's Labour's Lost," at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Aug. 13 in Schiller Park Amphitheater, 1000 City Park Ave. One of The Bard's early, lesser-known works, this comedy revolves around the King of Navarre, his two friends and their vow to abstain from romance to study, only to fall in love with a French princess and her ladies. All performances are free; donations will be accepted at intermission. Bring your own chair or blanket or donate $20-$25 in advance to have a chair or blanket set up and waiting when you arrive. (theactorstheatre.org, 614-444-6888)

Picnic with the Pops to feature Ben Folds

Singer-songwriter and pianist Ben Folds, who has performed in Columbus numerous times, will team up with the Columbus Symphony for a Picnic with the Pops concert at Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., at 8 p.m. Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. Folds is on his "What Matters Most" tour in support of his new album by the same name. In addition to his solo work, he's also well-known as the former frontman for the Ben Folds Five, whose hits include "Brick" and "Army."  Folds received a star on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville in 2018 and serves as the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Limited tickets are available, including general admission lawn seats ranging from $10-$35. (cbusarts.com)

Four Peel Fest coming back to Watershed

The annual Four Peel Fest block party and summer celebration will return for its fifth year to Watershed Distillery, 1145 Chesapeake Ave., from 5-10 p.m. Saturday. Partygoers can cool off with a featured cocktail made with this season's limited-release Four Peel Strawberry Gin, as well as other refreshing drinks containing Watershed gins, vodka, and bourbon. The fest also will include live music from Doc Robinson, food trucks, product sampling and more. Limited admission tickets are available for $25, which includes two drink tickets. A portion of Chesapeake Avenue will be closed to through traffic at 3 p.m. and limited on-site parking will be available. Carpooling and ride-share transportation is encouraged. (watersheddistillery.com)

Iris Society to hold annual plant sale

Everything's coming up irises on Saturday at the annual Columbus Iris Society Rhizome Sale, where flower fanatics can purchase iris rhizomes of various sizes and colors below retail and catalog prices. The sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oakland Nurseries' Columbus Garden Center location at 1156 Oakland Park Ave. Educational handouts will be available and Iris Society members will be on hand to answer questions about irises or other garden-related matters. Admission is free. (614-256-4255)

Theaters to celebrate 'Oklahoma!' anniversary

If the name Hugh Jackman instantly conjures his razor-clawed alter ego Wolverine, you'll be surprised to learn the Aussie actor is also quite the theater veteran. Jackman, whose resume includes Broadway shows like "Carousel," "The Boy from Oz," and "The Music Man," can be seen this weekend in a big-screen showing of one of his earliest stage works, the Royal National Theatre’s "Oklahoma!" The Olivier Award-winning Rodgers and Hammerstein musical starring Jackman as Curly is celebrating its 80th anniversary with limited showings in 840-plus movie theaters nationwide. It can be seen at the AMC Easton Town Center 30, 275 Easton Town Center, at 1 p.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. July 19; and Marcus Crosswoods Cinema, 200 Hutchinson Ave., at 3 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. July 19. Times and prices may vary, so check theater websites or box offices in advance. (amctheatres.com, marcustheatres.com)

Technology to reunite Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Carl Palmer, sole surviving member of English prog-rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer, known for songs like "From the Beginning," "Lucky Man," and "Still … You Turn Me On," has reunited the band via modern technology. He will bring his summer tour to the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The show will feature concert footage of Keith Emerson and Greg Lake (who passed away nine months apart in 2016) on video walls alongside Palmer and his band, as well as the late musicians' voices and instruments blended with Palmer's drumming. Ticket prices start at $53, with a limit of eight tickets per person/household. For an additional fee, add a VIP ticket for access to the pre-show sound check and a Q&A with Palmer. (cbusarts.com)

Senior volleyballers to face off in tourney

Some 200 senior participants and fans of all ages are expected to turn out for the City of Groveport Senior Center's second annual chair volleyball tournament at 1 p.m. July 26. The event has grown from five teams last year to 16 teams representing senior centers from Groveport, Canal Winchester, Pickerington, Obetz, Grandview Heights, Blendon Township, and Grove City. Rounds 1, 2, and 3 will feature four simultaneous matches. The semi-final matches also will take place simultaneously, culminating in a winner-takes-all championship at center court. The Groveport Senior Center is located at 7370 Groveport Road. The public is invited to attend. (614-836-4599)

bpaschal@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do this weekend in Columbus