What's going on in Columbus this weekend? Here are 10 exciting events to check out
A night out enjoying your favorite artist live sounds like a good time, right? Now imagine having the chance to win movie passes and free dinners just for showing up at a club. By signing up for Music Columbus' Live Music Trail, you can check in when you visit various venues in the city and put yourself in the running for a variety of prizes.
In weekend happenings, two local theater troupes are staging productions as different as night and day but both highly acclaimed, plus the cuisine and customs of India will be celebrated at a festival in the Ohio Expo Center.
Saturday is National Honey Bee Day and Easton Town Center will be hosting a variety of related activities, including selling honey harvested at Easton. So, make a beeline to The Yard to take part in the festivities!
Read on for more info about these and other upcoming events. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
Driving competition trucks into Columbus
Watch big rigs showcase their safety skills at the 2023 National Truck Driving & Step Van Driving Championships, which continue through Saturday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St. Dubbed the “Super Bowl of Safety” or “Truck Drivers’ Olympics,” the competition includes weaving around tennis balls and other tightly placed obstacles to show the ability to drive safely during challenging situations. The championships are the culmination of local, state and regional truck-driving championships from across the country. Awards include first, second and third places, the Professional Excellence Award, the Rookie of the Year Award and the Grand Champion Award. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 7-11 a.m. Saturday. Visit the event website for more details and a schedule of events. (ntdc.trucking.org)
Live Music Trail leads to variety of prizes
Whether you love live performances or you're just out for a fun night, Music Columbus has mapped out a Live Music Trail of local venues, where you can soak up the sounds of the city and win prizes in the process. By visiting and checking in at participating venues (listed on the Music Columbus website), you can earn points toward gift cards to Donatos, a Gateway Film Center movie pass, an exclusive T-shirt and other goodies. Plus, every month that you check in, you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card to a local restaurant such as Barrio, The Sycamore, Forty Deuce and others. Visit the Music Columbus website to sign up and learn more. (musiccolumbus.com)
New Herring goes dark with 'Behanding'
A mysterious oddball who's been searching for his missing hand for 27 years, and a pair of bickering lovebirds claiming to have the severed appendage, are at the center of the dark comedy "A Behanding in Spokane," being presented by New Herring Productions this weekend and next at MadLab, 227 N. 3rd St. Set in the fictional town of Tarlington, Ohio, Martin McDonagh's Tony-nominated production is full of clever dialogue and blistering wit. Strongly recommended for mature audiences, the play contains a gunshot and racial, cultural and homophobic epithets. Performance times are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and Aug. 24-26; and 2 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 27. Tickets are $30. (newherring.org)
Actors' Theatre to present timeless drama
Featuring themes still relevant today, Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 drama, "A Raisin in the Sun," will be open at 8 p.m. Thursday in Schiller Park amphitheater, 1069 Jaeger St. Staged by Actors' Theatre of Columbus, the Chicago-set production follows a Black working-class family, the Youngers, as they attempt to improve their lives amid racism and housing discrimination. The play, which takes its title from the Langston Hughes poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred"), was the first play on Broadway to be written and produced by a Black woman. Performances, which are at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Sept. 3, are free. Bring a chair or blanket, or reserve loungers for $20; blankets or chairs with cupholders and headrests for $25. (theactorstheatre.org, 614-444-6888)
'Sister Act' to bring nunsensical fun to park
Dodge the mob with lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier — as she hides in witness protection — in "Sister Act," which will be shown at the Short North Civic Association's Screen on the Green event beginning at 7 p.m. Friday in Goodale Park, 120 Goodale St. The 1992 musical romp starring Whoopi Goldberg, follows the escapades of the irreverent Deloris, who trades in her cocktail dress for a nun's habit and renames herself Sister Mary Clarence after witnessing her gangster boyfriend execute an informant. The movie starts at sunset (approximately 8:30 p.m.) on a big screen in the softball field at the southwest corner of the park, but arrive early to enjoy dinner and dessert from onsite food trucks. (shortnorthcivic.org)
Indian culture to take spotlight at festival
Food, fashion, henna, handicrafts, music and other attractions will be offered at India Festival, which will place from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday in the Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave. Hosted by the Federation of Indian Associations, the daylong celebration aims to create awareness about Indian culture and attracts visitors from around Ohio and surrounding states. The festival also will include a free health fair with medical professionals performing various tests to monitor health. Tickets are $20 at the gate, also available at India Grocers (5839 Sawmill Road, Dublin); Trinethra Indian Supermarket (8481 Saugus Blvd.); Spice9 (8631 Sancus Blvd.). For bulk ticket purchases, call Ardinam Guha (614-787-3579). (indiafestival.org)
Pints & Prints brewing at The Daily Growler
Part art show and part beer tasting, Pints & Prints pairs 12 local artists and breweries to create unique posters promoting the businesses' beers. The signed, limited-edition prints (30 by each artist) will be sold for $25 apiece, and the advertised beers also will be available at the event presented by Upright Press, which will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at The Daily Growler, 702 S. High St. Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet the artists. Pints & Prints is free to attend. (bit.ly/45oaLBh)
Johnny Steiner to headline 'Fortysomething' concerts
With a repertoire including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Burt Bacharach, Billy Joel, and "Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera," longtime local musician Johnny Steiner will bring his "FortySomething" concert series to Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State St., Westerville at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Several Columbus musicians will join Steiner including Collin Richardson (piano), Paul Baker (bass) and Dave Villwock (drums, percussion, and guitar). In addition, oboist Jan Patton will duet with Steiner on George Gershwin’s "Summertime," and Steiner will also show off his own piano skills. General admission is $15 at the door. (johnnysteiner.com)
National Honey Bee Day to be sweet celebration
Got a sweet tooth and a soft spot for bees? The Yard at Easton Town Center will be abuzz from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday during a celebration of National Honey Bee Day. Guest can learn about pollinator and sustainable efforts by Easton and its partners from the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association (COBA), and visit tents at the event to find out more about sustainable and charitable projects including Celebrate Local, Clean Origin, Cyclebar, Capital One Café and Nespresso. Wildflower honey harvested at Easton will be on sale for $15 per jar. The Yard is located north of Macy’s and east of Nordstrom, near The Beeline, Forbidden Root, Crimson and Forty Deuce. (614-337-2200)
Spiritual leader to guide meditational journey
Discover the benefits of meditation, learn techniques to lessen anxiety and stress, and gain insights into discovering inner peace when international humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar comes to Columbus to discuss "The Journey Within" on Wednesday. His appearance will take place from 7-9 p.m. in the Columbus Room at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, 3900 Chagrin Drive. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who regularly meets with world leaders and diplomats all around the globe, was honored by President Biden for the Universal Declaration of Human Values, when it was unveiled at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and speaks regularly at the United Nations. He holds many awards and honorary doctorates, and speaks extensively on a wide variety of topics. Tickets range from $35-$150, plus applicable fees. (eventbrite.com)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus this weekend
