Community Events Near Me

Celebrating 50 Years of Faith, Love, Unity, Growth, Community Together

Join us for a Special Day on July 18, from 9 am to 5 pm as Unity of Columbus celebrates 50 years of “living” in our current church site at 4211 Maize Road. For our 50th Anniversary, we are planning an array of uplifting activities, including a luncheon, foundational Unity teachings, opportunities to connect over memories while creating new ones, and we will open our beautiful facility to our local Maize-Morse neighbors! There will also be some special surprises in store... You won't want to miss this day of commemoration and celebration!

Kindness Conference 2026

**Kindness Conference 2026** Registration required. Visit [www.kindhelp.org](http://www.kindhelp.org) to register! Imagine a future intentionally shaped by kindness: let's build it together with on **Saturday, July 18th at the Junto Hotel in downtown Columbus!** The function of our conference is to help people develop the skills to build kind community and provide opportunities to increase in-person connection and support in each other’s lives. **This conference is for any of us who are:** · Feeling isolated and lacking community in our current society · Wanting to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of each other · Anyone who is just wishing to create something better! **We will build more kind community by:** · Developing formats for building community-based infrastructure where existing systems are failing that anybody can use · Providing the tools that help people connect in-person and practicing using those tools together · Implementing Universal Design so that no one gets left behind **Opportunities and practical tools we are offering:** · Lunch! · Community-Building Toolkits for people to take home · A chance to build lasting friendships and supportive connections · Opportunities to share referrals, strategies, resources, and the kind of connected support networks many people receive through family, but that those without community and family are often lacking · Ongoing community dinners, free workshops, and other events where people can connect **Participants also have the opportunity to receive CE credits from the Ohio CSWMFT Board.** We are just getting started! This is one of many upcoming events where we can continue making kind community together. **Who else should be here?** Share this opportunity with anyone else who you think might want to build kind community! For more information and to register visit [www.kindhelp.org](http://www.kindhelp.org/). If you would like to help us plan the day, we would love to connect email us at [info@kindhelp.org](mailto:info@kindhelp.org)!

Art & Craft Maker Meetup

**Get your creative flow going with a Saturday Afternoon Maker Meetup!** Whether you are looking to carve out dedicated creative time, wanting to get a lingering project across the finish line, or just looking to chat with fellow local makers—this is the space for you. 🧵 **What to Bring** Bring any art or craft project you are currently working on, as long as it is portable and quiet. Think: * **Yarn & Thread:** Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand-sewing, mending. * **Paper & Sketching:** Sketchbooks, adult coloring books, watercolors, bullet journaling. * **Digital:** Tablets, iPad drawing, laptop writing/design. * *Please note: Because we are meeting in a shared public space, no power tools, sewing machines, or high-odor materials (like strong solvents or spray glues), please!* **📍 Where to Find Us** * We will be meeting at **Columbus Metropolitan Library - Parsons Avenue Branch** in **Meeting Room 1**. Room is reserved under **CBUS Maker Meetup.** **⏱️ Timeline** * **1:00 PM:** Arrive, grab a seat, get settled, and do a quick round of introductions so we can see what everyone is working on. * **1:15 PM - 3:00 PM:** Open maker time! Chat, craft, relax, and swap creative ideas. **⚠️ A Note on RSVPs** Space for this first meetup is strictly limited to 10 spots. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot. We ask that you try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel. *** **We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**

Sunday Brunch

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Free admission to Dawes Arboretum all day- Dawes Homecoming Community Picnic

**Arboretum admission is FREE all day (9a-7p) for this special event!** When: Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 4:00p-7p Where: The Dawes Arboretum Did you know that The Dawes Arboretum's co-founder, Beman Dawes, used to be the chairman of The Pure Oil Company and hosted picnics each year at The Arboretum for his employees and their families? To celebrate America's 250th anniversary and the Year of History at Dawes, join us on Sunday, July 12, from 4 – 7 p.m. for the Dawes Homecoming Community Picnic! Bring your own picnic and blanket. We'll celebrate the summer afternoon by providing free drinks and Velvet Ice Cream (while supplies last). Enjoy live music and games on the lawn. Located approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, The Dawes Arboretum is a nearly 2,000-acre tree museum dedicated to enriching lives through the conservation of trees and nature. We invite you to take part in our fun and informative programs or visit our grounds to experience the extraordinary collection of trees, beautiful gardens and distinctive natural areas.

Columbus Code & Coffee 88 @ Improving

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

Columbus Comedy Improv Meetup at Gresso's!

Westerville Queer Coffee Meetup

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

Speaker: Dr. Ira Helfand

Dr. Ira Helfand, Two-time Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will speak in Columbus on the topic ***“Back from the Brink: Addressing the growing threat of nuclear war.”*** The talk begins at 2 pm, followed by a reception. Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd. in Columbus. More information on Dr. Helfand and his work can be found **[at this link](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xiKwfpZH-QWkpmE9lqGLY7K2kE5W0G9q/edit)**[.](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xiKwfpZH-QWkpmE9lqGLY7K2kE5W0G9q/edit)

Let's Discover the Discovery District

Third Thursday Social: Seventh Son Brewing!💬💛

Pop-up Book Club 5: Rabbit, Run by John Updike

Let’s meet and discuss John Updike's Rabbit, Run, the first in his series of four novels following the life, hopes, and disappointments of former local basketball star, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, as he fitfully confronts and evades adulthood.