On this page, you'll find information on six prominent Central Ohio communities: Dublin, Hilliard, Powell, Upper Arlington, Westerville, and Worthington. Browse information about events, parks and recreation, and schools to get a glimpse of each community.
Events
· Memorial Golf Tournament. This tournament is a major PGA Tour event that features the best golfers in the world.
· Dublin Irish Festival. This annual music and cultural festival features several stages of entertainment and many cultural exhibits (from geneology booths to Irish vendors and kids activities). It's one of America's biggest Irish festivals.
Parks and Recreation
· Dublin has been recognized nationally as one of the best places to live.
· The Dublin Community Recreation Center offers pools, day camps, the abbey theater, educational opportunites for youth & teens, a teen after school lounge, sports leagues, a gym & fitness center, and programs for adults and senior citizens.
· Dublin is home to 56 parks and more than 100 miles of bikepaths. Scioto Park hosts free summer concerts seriers ("Sundays at Scioto"), a Chief Leatherlips Monument, and sledding in the winter. Avery Park features many soccer feilds, while Ballantrae has a community splash fountain kids can play in.
· Downtown Dublin features many places to eat, shop, and grab happy hour or ice cream.
· Columbus Zoo&Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay (a waterpark) are conveniently located next to each other, in between Dublin and Powell.
Schools
· Dublin city schools is one of the largest and fastest-growing districts in the state, and one of the most highly regarded school districts in the nation. It consists of three high schools, four middle schools, and 12 elementary schools. The district has received the state of Ohio’s highest rating, Excellent with Distinction, on the Ohio Local Report Card for eight consecutive years. Honors and advanced placement classes, as well as International Baccalaureate Programs, are offered at Dublin high schools.
Additional links
· History
· Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau
Hilliard
Events
· Tidd Family Camp-Out and Fishing Derby (at Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park). This is an overnight event that includes a movie, scavenger hunt, and horse-drawn hay ride, among other activities.
· Fall Festival in Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park. This festival includes pumpkin carving, pony rides, lazer tag, a petting zoo, COSI On Wheels, inflatables, and wagon rides.
· Annual Hollyfest Arts & Crafts Show. Over 100 crafters from Ohio and surrounding states showcase their homemade crafts.
· Taste of Hilliard and Business Expo: taste food from area resturants at this exposition.
Parks & Recreation
· 23 developed park areas range from natural settings to larger, athletic complexes that are home to baseball, softball and soccer leagues. Homestead Park features multiple children’s play areas, a fishing pond, paved and gravel trails, many picnic pavilions that can be reserved, and basketball and volleyball courts.
· Hilliard has two municipal swimming pools, the largest of which features a lazy river, water slides, competition pool, and large children’s play area.
· Phyllis A. Ernst Senior Center offers programs and classes for those 55+.
Schools
· As the 9th largest school district in the state of Ohio, the Hilliard City School District serves more than 15,500 students in grades K-12, throughout three high schools, three middle schools, two sixth-grade schools, and 14 elementary schools.
Additional Links
· Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce
Powell
Events
· Annual Powell Festival. This festival consists of two days of live music, food, and family fun, capped by a festive and colorful fireworks display.
· The Powell Chamber Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday.
Parks & Recreation
· More than eight miles of trails and approximately 85 acres of park land offers numerous opportunities for walking, wildlife viewing, jogging or simply enjoying the outdoors. There are more than 200 diverse year-round recreational, leisure, and education programs and activities throughout the city’s eight park sites and facilities.
· Village Green Park is complete with an amphitheater, pond with a fountain, playground splash pad, bike trails, and green space.
· Downtown Powell hosts occasional street markets and is outfitted with charming shops, antique stores, and diners.
Schools
· Olentangy Local Schools has earned the state’s highest ranking of Excellent with Distnction. For the ninth straight year, Olentangy has been rated "excellent" or better by the Ohio Department of Education. It's been the fastest growing district in the state for the last ten years and consists of 15 elemtary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools.
Additional Links
· Delaware County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Upper Arlington (U.A.)
Events
· The U.A. Farmers Market is held on Wednesdays at the Senior Center.
· Seasonal festivals occur four times per year: U.A. hosts a summer celebration, fall fest, winter festival, and spring fling. These are big events not to be missed by families!
· Annual Labor Day Arts Festival. This consists of art show and interactive performances and activities.
Parks & Recreation
· 28 parks cover 170 acres of land, three seasonal outdoor pools, Northam Park Tennis Courts, a senior center for adults 50+, and additional recreation and cultural arts divisions.
· Movie in the Park. Movie nights are held at Thompson Park and drive-in movies are held at Mountview Baptist Church. These events are family friendly.
· Music in the Parks is a free summer concert series on selected Thursdays.
Schools
· Upper Arlington City Schools. This district has identified six focus skills that are integrated within all content areas at every grade level: collaboration, communication, complex thinking, creativity and innovation, global citizenship, and self-direction. It consists of four mainstream elementary schoos, two middle schools, and one high school.
Additional Links
· FAQs
· U.A. Area Chamber of Commerce
Westerville
Events
· Uptown Westerville hosts a Farmer’s Market each Wednesday from May to October.
· Annual Creative Strings Workshop and Festival. This event is expected to attract players and luminaries from across the globe, providing over twenty live musical performances throughout the Greater Columbus area, including more than eighty musicians.
· The Annual Right Stuff Open House and Car Show raises money for the Arthritis Foundation and offers free food to guests.
· Annual Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music and Arts Festival. This is Westerville's largest family-friendly event of the year and features over 160 fine artists and craftspeople, live entertainment, youth art exhibits and entertainment, a silent auction, and food.
Parks & Recreation
· The parks and recreational facilities in Westerville, including the community center, senior center, Everal Barn and Homestead, Highlands Park Aquatic Facility, almost 30 miles of bike paths, and nearly 600 acres of parkland, continue to gain state and national recognition for providing great service to the community.
· Alum Creek State Park offers boating, fishing, a swimming beach, campgrounds, hiking trails, picnicking and dog parks. Cabins are avaiable to rent.
· The "sounds of summer" concert series shows on Sunday evenings and the family concert series plays on Wednesday evenings. Both are free.
Schools
· Westerville City Schools educates approximately 15,000 students, is the 11th-largest district in Ohio and earned a rating of "Excellent with Distinction" from the Ohio Department of Education on the most recent State Report Card. All three district high schools (streaming from 14 elementary and four middle schools) recently were identified by Newsweek magazine as being among the best high schools in America. On average, more than 80 percent of Westerville School District graduates pursue a post-secondary education at colleges and universities around the world.
Additional Links
· Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce
· Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau
Worthington
Events
· Residents can enjoy the Olde Worthington Farmers Market on Saturdays from May to October.
· The Worthington Art Festival takes place annually on the Village Green and hosts over 150 select artists and fine craftsmen.
· Annual Treasures on the Green" is an event showcasing antique vendors and great flea market finds and garage sale deals.
· Fall festival and Holiday open house. The first features an artts and craft show, folk music, and inflatables; the second features entertainment, refreshments, carriage rides, shops, and a visit from Santa Clause
Parks & Recreation
· Worthington's Community center has programs, camps, free special events, two gymnasiums, an art room, a pottery studio, public meeting rooms, pools and an indoor track and fitness floor.
· The Grisworld Center offers programs in arts, drama, sports, fitness and education, along with a variety of trips! It's dedicated to adults 55+
· 21 Worthington Parks and facilities feature more than 221 acres of developed and natural public areas.
· Olde Worthington was founded in 1803 and now hosts businesses, events, shops, restaurants, and the farmers market
Schools
· Worthington City Schools is one of the top school districts in the Columbus, Ohio area. 90% of its students move on to higher education; 80% of its teachers have a masters degree or more. It is the second largest employer within its district and contains 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools.
Additional Links
· Chamber of Commerce
· Events Calendar
