There are so many fun events going on in the Creekside District and around Gahanna all year long! From music to movies to holidays – and so much more!
See what Gahanna has to offer all year with so many outdoor activities and festivals!
Visit the district, grab some food and/or adult beverage, and explore the district and nature of Creekside.
Gahanna Herbal Cocktail Trail
It’s time to enjoy some seasonal cocktails in Gahanna! The Herb Capital of Ohio is Gahanna, and local restaurants, pubs, and distilleries have created some special herbal-based recipes for the Gahanna Herbal Cocktail Trail!
Grab a passport and visit 6 of the establishments during each season to try the featured cocktails. Once you’ve collected 6 passport stamps, you can turn it in for a prize!
Try these seasonal drinks on the Gahanna Herbal Cocktail Trail
CORA in Gahanna
CORA (Creekside Outdoor Refreshment Area, like DORA in other cities in Ohio) is in effect from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.
Visitors in Olde Gahanna can enjoy an alcoholic beverage while walking within designated areas. The boundaries are Big Walnut Creek to the west, High Street to the east, Granville Street to the south and North Street to the north. The designated areas will be clearly marked.
Drinks must be purchased only from participating establishments, and be contained within the CORA-specific cups during the designated hours. You must also have a designated CORA wristband and remain outside.
Follow along with Creekside District Alliance and Visit Gahanna to stay up-to-date on events and ways to support local business!
Annual and Seasonal Events in Gahanna
Gahanna’s Eggs-hilarating Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Thousands of eggs filled with candy or toys hidden throughout Hannah Park, kid-friendly activities, including visits with Mr. Cottontail, face painting, clown entertainment, arts and crafts, and food truck vendors, this will surely be an eggs-iting eggs-perience!
This event is open to participants of all ages, but the event will be sectioned by age group. Sensory-friendly hunt starts at 10:30 am. Register here.
Gahanna Herb Day
May 4, 2024 from 10:00am-3:00pm at Creekside Plaza
Gahanna is the the Herb Capital of Ohio! Celebrate Gahanna’s Herb Capital status and enjoy the plant sale, herb and plant-themed activities, and support local artists and herb-based vendors.
Gahanna Splash Pad at the Pool
Opens May tba. This new amenity to the pool includes over 3,100 square feet of spray area and 41 different features designed for toddlers to teens, as well as shaded picnic areas, additional benches and a year-round restroom that is also accessible to the Big Walnut Trail.
The splash pad at Gahanna Swimming Pool is open daily May – October, weather permitting. During the pool season, the Splash Pad is open from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. for free use by the community. During pool open hours, visitors must access the splash pad through the GSP entry gate and pay regular admission or hold a pool membership.
Gahanna Swimming Pools
Gahanna Swimming Pool and Hunters Ridge Pool
Both pools facilities open annually on Memorial Day weekend.
Pools will be open 12 – 8 p.m. daily during the pool season. Gahanna Swimming Pool will close when Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools resume the school year on August 17, 2023. Hunters Ridge Pool will remain open from 12 – 7 p.m. on the weekends through Labor Day.
Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival
June 14-16, 2024 at Creekside Park (123 Mill St, Gahanna)
The award-winning Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, presented by Visit Gahanna offers the Best Blues & Jazz in Ohio. Located in Gahanna’s Creekside District, the annual Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival returns this year, celebrating over two decades of outstanding blues and jazz music! Find more details here!
More fun in Gahanna
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Past events in Gahanna; tba for 2024
Herb n’ Arts Fair
tba 2024 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park
The GLHS Community Art Class hosts its Herb n’ Arts Fair to showcase the Arts in the Gahanna District. This free event will include performances, art creation stations, activities, and more.
Paddle Gahanna
Paddleboats and kayaking rentals are at Friendship Park and Creekside Park May 28 – Summer. Reservations at PaddleGahanna.com, and are available in 30-minute blocks for $10 per boat. Walk-up based on availability. Rental requires an adult 18+ to be present. No dogs permitted. Life jackets are available, or bring your own.
Creekside Gahanna Paddle 117 Mill St. 614-342-4250
Midweek at the Creek(side)
Wednesdays, Summer, tba. Catch FREE, live music at Creekside Plaza in Gahanna on Wednesday nights from 6-8 PM. Check out the great lineup below to enjoy with local food and drink during CORA hours! Details on website.
Gahanna Creekside Live
Select Fridays during Summer. Family friendly entertainment, dancing and adult beverage sales at Creekside, Gahanna. Live music will be playing throughout Creekside from 5pm to 7pm, headliner starts at 7 p.m.
Those of legal drinking age can enjoy a chilled beverage from one of the wonderful establishments within the CORA limits. No tickets or reservations required. See details on the website. (entertainment tba)
Gahanna Great Outdoors + Cinema Under the Stars
Make it a fun night out with themed outdoor activities before a unique cinematic experience at your local park!
Fun may include yard games, bounce houses and inflatables, craft stations, and petting zoo. Food and drink are available for purchase at food trucks.
Events are 7 pm – 11 pm at Friendship Park. Details tba.
Summer tba
Gahanna Independence Day Celebration and Parade
See full details on Gahanna Parks and Rec websiteonce released
tba 2024
5 pm – 11 pm Celebration with food trucks and live music at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course (220 Olde Ridenour Rd.) Music is headlined by Reaganomics, with fireworks at 10 pm. Event is free.
10 p.m. Fireworks at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course
July 4, 2024
10:30 am Lion’s Club 4th of July Parade. The parade route will commence at Clark Hall (380 Granville St.), will then proceed west on Granville St. and will conclude at Royal Plaza (northwest corner of Agler Rd. and Stygler Rd. intersection).
Red, White and Blues Festival
tba 2024 from 11 am – 4 pm
Celebrate Independence Day on July 4th with music, food, and “Democracy Challenge 2023” at “Red, White and Blues Festival” at La Navona Event Center, located at 154 North Hamilton Road, Gahanna, OH 43230.
RWBlues is all about celebrating American style Independence Day with colors and sounds with live music, delicious food, and fun activities for all ages.
But that’s not all! The Democracy Challenge 2023 will be a highlight of the festival, where you can learn about the importance of voting and how you can make a difference in your community.
Muddy Miler
August tba 2024 from 1pm-4pm at Gahanna Swimming Pool. Gahanna Parks and Recreation Department presents the FREE Muddy Miler Family Adventure. The Muddy Miler is a themed adventure run offering the entire family obstacles, mud and more! WARNING: You will get muddy from head to toe if you want to conquer the Muddy Miler!
Join us to explore the outdoors on our nature trail that winds through the Southwest Flood Plain (near the Gahanna Swimming Pool). Online pre-registration required.
Supporting Gahanna Together Day
August tba 2024. This event brings together community partners, organizations and residents, to support the community by serving, playing and shopping local.
You’ll have the opportunity to serve, shop specials at local businesses, and enjoy music from The Shuman Band, who will perform on the Creekside Rotary Stage from 6-8 pm. Find more details here, including service opportunities, events, and special offers.
Creekside Hops & Vines Festival
tba 2o24 from 6:00 – 11:00pm at Creekside Park (123 Mill St, Gahanna)
Join the Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation (GPRF) for the 7th Annual Creekside Hops & Vines Festival. Sample popular Columbus craft beers, wine, and liquor from Central Ohio breweries, Ohio and National wineries and Ohio distilleries. The event also includes live music and complimentary food from local restaurants.
This annual event raises funds to help sustain city youth programs like the Community Scholarship Program for Camp Friendship and Gahanna’s Youth Sports program.
Sunrise/Moonlight Canoe & Kayak Paddle
Register now for an evening paddling adventure on the Hoover Reservoir! This series was designed to take advantage of the sights of summer’s unique lunar events, including full moons and super moons! Canoes or kayaks (solo or tandem), life vests, and paddles will be provided, and guides will assist participants along the float.
Ages: 8+ (must be 12 years or older to paddle independently). Ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. $20 for residents/$25 for non-residents.
tba 2024
Hoover Reservoir – Oxbow Road Boat Ramp, 8401 Oxbow Rd, Westerville
Basset Fest
September 30, 2023 from 11 AM – 3 PM!
The Ohio Basset Hound Rescue hosts a Basset Fest in Gahanna’s Pizzurro Park (940 Pizzuro Park Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230). The event consists of raffle baskets, auctions, a costume contest, biggest paw and longest ear contests, calendar and T-shirt sales and Basset races. Details.
Campfire at the Park
Wednesdays in October, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Gahanna Parks & Rec is setting up camp in select neighborhood parks for s’more fun! They will provide the campfire, s’mores, and supplies for you and your family to enjoy.
Bring chairs & your neighbors! Please note restrooms are not available at all locations. This is a free event! Details.
Oktoberfest at Edison Brewing Company
October tba at Edison Brewing Company, 785 Science Blvd, Gahanna, OH 43230. Details here.
Spooky Shuffle 5k Fun Run
October tba at 8 am.
The Spooky Shuffle is a family friendly 5K run/walk on the Saturday morning of Halloween Weekend in Gahanna at Creekside. A Monster Mash Dash for kids 10 and younger will occur shortly before the 5K.
Each participant will receive a Spooky Shuffle shirt and post-race refreshments. Details/registration.
Paws for Halloween at Nth Degree
September tba from 10 am – 2 pm.
Nth Degree is hosting a family & pet friendly event to celebrate Halloween. There’s a costume contest, pet supply drive, snacks for pets and humans, CMA Adopt-a-Pet, and pet item vendors.
Great Gahanna Goblin Trail
Friday, October tba Academy Park, 1201 Cherry Bottom Rd. Details here.
This Halloween experience features all-things-Halloween, including a choreographed light show, fire performers, stilt walkers, animated projections, trick-or-treating, and many more surprises along the way!
Gahanna Trick or Treat
Trick or Treat is held in Gahanna on Tuesday, October 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Details.
Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration
Sunday, November 19, 2023 from 3 pm – 6:30 pm
Gahanna’s annual Holiday Lights Celebration promises one magical afternoon of free family fun for all ages! Held in the beautiful Creekside District, the event will feature a Holiday Stage, the Tree Lighting, a parade, AND Santa arriving by Firetruck!
Activities include strolling holiday-themed characters, carriage rides, train rides, live nativity, the light show and more. Details here.
The light display throughout Creekside Park totals 300,000 lights! Accompanied with music, the light show will begin on Sunday, November 19 and run through January 7, 2024.
Creekside Park Lights Display
Creekside Park in Gahanna is lit up for the season each night with a quarter of a million lights through January 7, 2023. The light display plays along to music, and includes a Gingerbread Village.
Creekside Park is within CORA limits, so grab a festive beverage and stroll through the Holiday Wonderland.
Lights are programmed to change with the music from 5pm-8:30pm Sun-Thur and 5p-10p Fri & Sat.
Santa Race 5K and Little Reindeer Dash
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Get some exercise along with holiday cheer at the Santa Race 5K and Little Reindeer Dash in Gahanna. Festive dress is encouraged! Registration is $25-$45 through Race Day if not sold out. Registration is limited to 500 for the 5k, so sign up now to claim your spot and to guarantee a medal, Santa hat, and a t-shirt.
The Little Reindeer Dash will begin at 9 a.m. and is $15-$18. Reindeer Dashers will receive their own colorful youth shirt, a finishers ribbon and a one of a kind gift.
A Victorian Christmas
December 2, 2023 from 12 pm – 4 pm.
Join the Historical Society for the second annual Victorian Christmas event! This year will feature: Victorian Santa in the Log House, old fashioned crafts & tours in the John Clark House, parlor games, mulled cider & gingerbread in the Lily Stone B & B.
$5 donation recommended per attendee. Details here.
101 S. High St, Gahanna, Ohio 43230
Letters to Santa in Gahanna
WHERE: Right in front of the Christmas Tree in the Creekside District
WHEN: Throughout the holiday season
HOW: Drop off Santa letters at the mailbox; we aren’t aware if any responses are sent.
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