Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens is an urban green reserve of more than 30 acres on Ohio State's main campus, with gardens, trees, a labyrinth and spots to picnic, fish or watch birds. It's open year-round from dawn to dusk and there is no admission fee. Parking in the surrounding lots is pay-and-display.
Walk through the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, a 1930s Art Deco landmark, and the Court's Visitor Education Center with exhibits on Ohio's court system. Free self-guided tours are open to the public during Court hours, no appointment needed; call ahead to confirm today's hours. Groups of 5 or more can book a free guided tour at least 2 weeks ahead (4 weeks for student groups) by emailing courttours@sc.ohio.gov. It's a secure building: visitors in 6th grade and up go through security screening, and adults are asked to show photo ID.
Verified Oct 28 · supremecourt.ohio.gov
Catch: Security screening; adults asked to show photo ID
Daily 9am–5pm (Oct–Mar); 9am–7pm (Apr–Sep); 2nd Tuesday opens at noon
Blacklick Woods Metro Park · Columbus
Blacklick Woods Metro Park's Canopy Walk takes you through the tree canopy 40 feet above the ground in one of central Ohio's best beech-maple forests. It's completely free and open every day, 9am–5pm from October through March (9am–7pm April–September). It stays closed until noon on the second Tuesday of each month for cleaning.
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Sullivant Hall · Columbus
Ohio State's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum holds the world's largest collection of cartoon and comics art, with a permanent highlights exhibit and rotating galleries. Admission is free and walk-ins are welcome. Galleries are open Sunday and Tuesday–Friday, 1–5pm (closed Monday and Saturday). They also close for holidays (this fall: Nov 11, Nov 26–27, Dec 24–25), so check the hours page.
Inniswood Metro Gardens sets more than 2,000 plant species and themed gardens (rose, herb, conifer, a woodland rock garden with waterfalls, and the 2.8-acre Sisters' children's garden) inside a wooded nature preserve. Metro Parks lists no entry fee. October–March the gardens are open 6:30am–7pm.
Mon 2–7pm, Tue–Thu 12–7pm, Fri 12–6pm, Sat 10am–2pm
Mid-Ohio Market at Norton Road · Columbus
Mid-Ohio Food Collective's Norton Road market works like a grocery store where everything is free: choose your own fresh food and pantry staples, and ask about help with other needs. Hours: Monday 2–7pm, Tuesday–Thursday 12–7pm, Friday 12–6pm, Saturday 10am–2pm. Save your spot in line online. Ready-to-heat prepared meals from Mid-Ohio Kitchen are also offered here on some days.
Park daily 6:30am–8pm, nature center 9am–6pm (Oct–Mar)
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Nature Center · Columbus
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park covers 7,358 acres of forest, prairie and wetland, and bison have been reintroduced to roam two enclosed pastures; the Darby Creek Greenway trail runs between them. The nature center is open 9am–6pm October–March and the park 6:30am–8pm. Metro Parks lists no entry fee.
Oct–Mar: Tue–Thu and Sun 9am–5pm; Fri–Sat 9am–sunset
Slate Run Living Historical Farm · Columbus
Step back to the 1880s at Metro Parks' Slate Run Living Historical Farm near Canal Winchester. Costumed staff and volunteers do the daily chores, you can tour the restored 1856 farmhouse and barn, and see pigs, geese, turkeys and Percheron horses. Admission is free. October–March hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 9am–5pm; Friday and Saturday 9am to sunset (closed Mondays). From January to March some buildings close and activities are limited.
Mid-Ohio Food Collective's markets work like a regular grocery store, except everything is free: pick your own fresh food and pantry basics, and get help with other needs like healthcare, housing and job training. Gantz Road hours: Monday 3–7pm, Tuesday–Friday 12:30–7pm, Saturday 9:30am–1:30pm. You can save your spot in line online. Can't get there? Send someone you trust with a proxy form.
Since 1984 the Short North has held Gallery Hop on the first Saturday of every month, 4–8pm along High Street: galleries open new exhibitions, open studios show work in progress, and musicians, dancers and chalk artists turn the sidewalks into stages. It's free; shops and restaurants run specials too. The next one is Saturday, November 7.
Columbus Recreation and Parks' Mobile Produce Market comes to Glenwood Community Center on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 2pm. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (for example $62,400 a year for a family of four) can pick up a one-week supply of fresh produce at no cost. No ID is needed and income isn't checked at the market. Distribution runs while supplies last, so arrive at 2pm; walk-up and drive-thru are both available.
Verified Oct 28 · columbusrecparks.com
Catch: Only for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
The City of Hilliard, American Legion Post 614 and VFW Post 4931 host a free Veterans Day luncheon on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 11:30am–1pm, in Alton Hall at The Well. Enjoy lunch, hear from veterans and community leaders in a Veterans Day ceremony, and connect with resources for veterans. Free and open to the community.
Columbus Recreation and Parks' Mobile Produce Market comes to Far East Community Center on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 2pm. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (for example $62,400 a year for a family of four) can pick up a one-week supply of fresh produce at no cost. No ID is needed and income isn't checked at the market. Distribution runs while supplies last, so arrive at 2pm; walk-up and drive-thru are both available.
Verified Oct 28 · columbusrecparks.com
Catch: Only for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
Columbus Recreation and Parks' Mobile Produce Market comes to Linden Community Center on Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 2pm. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (for example $62,400 a year for a family of four) can pick up a one-week supply of fresh produce at no cost. No ID is needed and income isn't checked at the market. Distribution runs while supplies last, so arrive at 2pm; walk-up and drive-thru are both available.
Verified Oct 28 · columbusrecparks.com
Catch: Only for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
Columbus Recreation and Parks kicks off winter with WinterFest on Saturday, November 21, 2026, noon–4pm at Dorrian Green on the Scioto Mile: local music, food trucks and seasonal craft beer and cocktails. Admission is free and open to all; food and drinks are for sale.
Southeast Village Green, Old Worthington · Columbus
Worthington lights its holiday tree on the Southeast Village Green on Sunday, November 29, 2026 at 5:30pm, with hot chocolate and a visit from Santa and his reindeer. Come early for the Worthington Partnership's Holiday Open House in Old Worthington, noon–5pm. Free.
The City of Dublin starts the holiday season with its free Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 3, 2026, 6–8pm in Coffman Park: photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, caroling, a trackless train, stilt walkers, holiday characters, dance performances, letters to Santa, games and a petting zoo. The 1860s Coffman Homestead is open for tours, decorated for the holidays. Hot chocolate, refreshments and dinner items are for sale.
On Saturday, December 5, 2026, noon–8pm, High Street in the Short North (W 2nd Ave. to E Russell St.) becomes a pedestrian-only 'Short North Pole' with a market of 150+ artisan vendors, live performances, free photos with Santa, live ice sculpting, a kids' holiday paint party, paper crafts and a community Hanukkah lighting at 6:30pm. Galleries hold their biggest Gallery Hop of the year.
Hilliard's annual Tree Lighting fills Downtown Hilliard and Weaver Park with free festive fun on Sunday, December 6, 2026, 3:30–6:30pm: horse and carriage rides, stilt walkers, balloon twisters and more. A free trolley runs between Hilliard's Station Park, Main Street and the Historical Village at Weaver Park, and parking is free at the Franklin County Fairgrounds and the Madison and Wayne street lots.
The Worthington Community Center throws a free Holiday Party on Friday, December 11, 2026, 6–8pm: visits and photos with Santa, his reindeer at the front door, carnival games with prizes, a candy craft station, model trains, a photo booth, a dance party and holiday art crafts.
Ohio State's Chadwick Arboretum celebrates the arrival of winter on Thursday, December 17, 2026, 4–7pm in the Lane Ave Gardens: an open fire, roasted chestnuts and hot cocoa, luminary-lit gardens and a meditative labyrinth. From 4pm until dusk, free 30-minute guided tours of the conifer collection leave about every 10 minutes from the trellis area. Free and open to everyone; parking in the Agricultural Administration lot costs $3 an hour.
Verified Oct 28 · chadwickarboretum.osu.edu
No catch
Always free 7 listings
Kids & familyFree (worth about $150)Eligibility applies
Columbus Metropolitan Library's Culture Pass for Franklin Park Conservatory admits two adults and six children once within seven days. Check it out in person with your library card at the Driving Park, Martin Luther King or Shepard branch; passes can't be reserved and supplies are limited.
Verified Oct 28 · columbuslibrary.org
Catch: Columbus Metropolitan Library card required · Limited passes, in person, no reservations
Kids & familyFree (worth about $120)Eligibility applies
Columbus Metropolitan Library (Main Library and 13 branches)
Columbus Metropolitan Library's Culture Pass gets up to six people of any age into the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium free. Check one out in person with your library card at the Main Library or the Barnett, Driving Park, Franklinton, Hilltop, Karl Road, Linden, Marion-Franklin, Martin Luther King, Northern Lights, Northside, Parsons, Shepard or Whitehall branch. Passes can't be reserved and supplies are limited. Use it the day you check it out or the next day. It doesn't cover parking, Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf Club or The Wilds.
Verified Oct 28 · columbuslibrary.org
Catch: Columbus Metropolitan Library card required · Limited passes, in person, no reservations · Parking not included
AttractionsFree (worth about $80)Eligibility applies
Columbus Metropolitan Library's Culture Pass admits eight people of any age to the Ohio History Center, valid for seven days, plus 10% off at the café and gift shop. Check it out in person with your library card at the Driving Park, Franklinton, Hilltop, Karl Road, Linden, Martin Luther King, Northern Lights or Northside branch; passes can't be reserved and supplies are limited.
Verified Oct 28 · columbuslibrary.org
Catch: Columbus Metropolitan Library card required · Limited passes, in person, no reservations
Worthington Libraries lends Culture Passes to the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus: two adults and five children per pass, one visit, expiring three days after pickup (children under 5 are free anyway). Pick one up at the accounts desk of any of the three Worthington libraries. Passes are first-come, first-served and can't be reserved; call, email, text or chat the library to check availability.
Verified Oct 28 · worthingtonlibraries.org
Catch: Pick up in person at a Worthington library; see the library’s pass rules · Limited passes, no reservations
AttractionsFree (worth about $60)Eligibility applies
Delaware County District Library branches · Columbus
Delaware County District Library cardholders can check out a Culture Pass for free admission to the Columbus Museum of Art or CMA at The Pizzuti for two adults or seniors and up to four children under 18, plus $5 parking at the Broad St. museum. Use it within seven days. Passes are in-person only, can't be reserved and supplies are limited. An adult cardholder may borrow one pass at a time.
Verified Oct 28 · delawarelibrary.org
Catch: Delaware County District Library card required · Limited passes, in person, no reservations · One pass at a time per adult cardholder
First Sunday of each month, 10am–4pm (Nov–Jan); 10am–5pm (Feb–Oct)
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens · Columbus
On the first Sunday of every month, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is free for residents of the City of Columbus and Franklin County, with themed programming (November 1 is the Near East Side Celebration, December 6 is Celebrate Winter). Hours are 10am–4pm in November, December and January, 10am–5pm the rest of the year. Bring a photo ID plus proof of residency (an OSU BuckID or a recent utility bill, for example) and check in at the main entrance; tickets can't be reserved. Special engagements such as evening light shows aren't included, and the Palm House is closed for renovation until fall 2027. Regular adult admission is $25.20.
Verified Oct 28 · fpconservatory.org
Catch: Only for City of Columbus and Franklin County residents: photo ID plus proof of residency · Special engagements not included
Worthington Libraries lends day passes to the Worthington Community Center covering the pool, open gym, fitness floor and indoor track. Each pass is for one person, up to four per household, for one day. Pick one up at the accounts desk of any Worthington library; passes are first-come, first-served and can't be reserved. Fitness classes, swim lessons and day camps aren't included.
Verified Oct 28 · worthingtonlibraries.org
Catch: Pick up in person at a Worthington library; see the library’s pass rules · Limit four passes per household · Classes and lessons not included
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