Your version of Internet Explorer is not longer supported. Please upgrade your browser.

Best events in
Columbus

A laid-back night out often means dinner and a show, and there are many events and things to do in Columbus, IN that fit this relaxed vibe. The city's downtown Arts & Entertainment District serves as a hub for community gatherings and performances. Much of the local scene is concentrated in walkable areas, making it easy to move from a meal to live entertainment.

Downtown's walkable 4th Street area creates a natural circuit for an evening out, with pubs like 4th Street Bar & Grill offering live music and karaoke.
Annual festivals celebrate community heritage, including the Columbus Scottish Festival, Fiesta Latina, and the culture-spanning Ethnic Expo.
Comedy nights and independent films find a home at venues like YES Cinema and Forge on 4th, while The Crump Theatre periodically hosts a range of live performances.

autocomplete

autocomplete

Events near Columbus

Explore more events

Wine Wasted - Wine, Whiskey & Moonshine - Halloween Costume Edition 10/31 primary image

Wine Wasted - Wine, Whiskey & Moonshine - Halloween Costume Edition 10/31

Saturday • 8:00 AM

Brown County Winery

Check ticket price on event

Hands On Fall Themed Charcuterie Workshop primary image

Hands On Fall Themed Charcuterie Workshop

Wed, Nov 4 • 6:30 PM

911 Washington St

Check ticket price on event

Indy Chamber's Women in Business Event Series: Franklin College Breakfast primary image

Indy Chamber's Women in Business Event Series: Franklin College Breakfast

Tue, Nov 10 • 8:30 AM

Franklin College; Napolitan Student Center Branigin Room

Check ticket price on event

Until We Split Premiere primary image

Until We Split Premiere

Wed, Nov 11 • 8:00 PM

The Historic Artcraft Theatre

Check ticket price on event

Confederate Railroad @ Jackson Live & Event Center in Seymour, Indiana primary image

Confederate Railroad @ Jackson Live & Event Center in Seymour, Indiana

Sat, Nov 14 • 7:00 PM

981 C Avenue E

Check ticket price on event

Wood Turning Workshop: Ice Cream Scoops primary image

Wood Turning Workshop: Ice Cream Scoops

Sun, Nov 15 • 2:00 PM

Columbus Propeller Inc. MakerSpace

Check ticket price on event

Rock The Legion! primary image

Rock The Legion!

Sat, Nov 21 • 4:00 PM

American Legion Post 24

Check ticket price on event

Li'l Nashville's Bluegrass & Blues Christmas Concert at The Nashville House primary image

Li'l Nashville's Bluegrass & Blues Christmas Concert at The Nashville House

Sat, Dec 12 • 7:00 PM

The Nashville House

Check ticket price on event

Wine Wasted - Wine, Whiskey & Moonshine - Halloween Costume Edition 10/31 primary image

Wine Wasted - Wine, Whiskey & Moonshine - Halloween Costume Edition 10/31

Saturday • 8:00 AM

Brown County Winery

Check ticket price on event

Hands On Fall Themed Charcuterie Workshop primary image

Hands On Fall Themed Charcuterie Workshop

Wed, Nov 4 • 6:30 PM

911 Washington St

Check ticket price on event

Indy Chamber's Women in Business Event Series: Franklin College Breakfast primary image

Indy Chamber's Women in Business Event Series: Franklin College Breakfast

Tue, Nov 10 • 8:30 AM

Franklin College; Napolitan Student Center Branigin Room

Check ticket price on event

Until We Split Premiere primary image

Until We Split Premiere

Wed, Nov 11 • 8:00 PM

The Historic Artcraft Theatre

Check ticket price on event

Confederate Railroad @ Jackson Live & Event Center in Seymour, Indiana primary image

Confederate Railroad @ Jackson Live & Event Center in Seymour, Indiana

Sat, Nov 14 • 7:00 PM

981 C Avenue E

Check ticket price on event

Wood Turning Workshop: Ice Cream Scoops primary image

Wood Turning Workshop: Ice Cream Scoops

Sun, Nov 15 • 2:00 PM

Columbus Propeller Inc. MakerSpace

Check ticket price on event

Rock The Legion! primary image

Rock The Legion!

Sat, Nov 21 • 4:00 PM

American Legion Post 24

Check ticket price on event

Li'l Nashville's Bluegrass & Blues Christmas Concert at The Nashville House primary image

Li'l Nashville's Bluegrass & Blues Christmas Concert at The Nashville House

Sat, Dec 12 • 7:00 PM

The Nashville House

Check ticket price on event

Explore more events

Trending searches

Explore more trends

1. Halloween events

2. Comedy

3. Job fairs

4. Craft classes

5. Singles

6. Dating

7. Columbus indiana

8. The crump theatre

9. Golf scramble

10. Vendor

11. Trickortreat

12. Kids

Explore more trends

Nearby cities

Indianapolis

42 miles away

Bloomington

34 miles away

Danville

47 miles away

Greenwood

30 miles away

Martinsville

31 miles away

Fishers

50 miles away

Seymour

18 miles away

Carmel

50 miles away

Nashville

18 miles away

Franklin

19 miles away

Speedway

42 miles away

Greenfield

40 miles away

McCordsville

48 miles away

Hanover

42 miles away

Plainfield

40 miles away

Scottsburg

38 miles away

Madison

43 miles away

Shelbyville

24 miles away

Batesville

37 miles away

Whiteland

25 miles away

Mooresville

36 miles away

Lawrence

45 miles away

Fortville

48 miles away

Napoleon

31 miles away

Bedford

40 miles away

Hope

9 miles away

Osgood

33 miles away

Greensburg

24 miles away

Rushville

38 miles away

Dillsboro

48 miles away

Indianapolis

42 miles away

Bloomington

34 miles away

Danville

47 miles away

Greenwood

30 miles away

Martinsville

31 miles away

Fishers

50 miles away

Seymour

18 miles away

Carmel

50 miles away

Nashville

18 miles away

Franklin

19 miles away

Speedway

42 miles away

Greenfield

40 miles away

McCordsville

48 miles away

Hanover

42 miles away

Plainfield

40 miles away

Scottsburg

38 miles away

Madison

43 miles away

Shelbyville

24 miles away

Batesville

37 miles away

Whiteland

25 miles away

Mooresville

36 miles away

Lawrence

45 miles away

Fortville

48 miles away

Napoleon

31 miles away

Bedford

40 miles away

Hope

9 miles away

Osgood

33 miles away

Greensburg

24 miles away

Rushville

38 miles away

Dillsboro

48 miles away

Online Events

Explore more events

SAMHAIN SÉANCE: Ancestral Collaboration with Pam Grossman & Janaka Stucky primary image

SAMHAIN SÉANCE: Ancestral Collaboration with Pam Grossman & Janaka Stucky

Sunday • 6:00 PM EST

Check ticket price on event

Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026 primary image

Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026

Check ticket price on event

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

Check ticket price on event

Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

Check ticket price on event

The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America primary image

The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America

Thu, Nov 12 • 7:00 PM EST

Check ticket price on event

REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training primary image

REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training

Fri, Nov 13 • 9:00 AM MST

Check ticket price on event

The MI5 Archive: Official Secrets primary image

The MI5 Archive: Official Secrets

Fri, Nov 27 • 2:00 PM GMT

Check ticket price on event

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

Check ticket price on event

SAMHAIN SÉANCE: Ancestral Collaboration with Pam Grossman & Janaka Stucky primary image

SAMHAIN SÉANCE: Ancestral Collaboration with Pam Grossman & Janaka Stucky

Sunday • 6:00 PM EST

Check ticket price on event

Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026 primary image

Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026

Check ticket price on event

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

Check ticket price on event

Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

Check ticket price on event

The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America primary image

The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America

Thu, Nov 12 • 7:00 PM EST

Check ticket price on event

REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training primary image

REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training

Fri, Nov 13 • 9:00 AM MST

Check ticket price on event

The MI5 Archive: Official Secrets primary image

The MI5 Archive: Official Secrets

Fri, Nov 27 • 2:00 PM GMT

Check ticket price on event

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

Check ticket price on event

Explore more events

Frequently asked questions about Columbus

What are some fun date night ideas in Columbus, IN?

Downtown Columbus offers a classic dinner-and-a-show experience. Start with a meal, then catch an independent film at YES Cinema or see a comedy show at Forge on 4th. Many spots are within walking distance, creating a relaxed evening out.

Where can I find live music events?

Several local pubs feature live music on weekends. The Garage Pub and Grill has a family-friendly setting for its shows, while 4th Street Bar & Grill is a downtown spot for music and karaoke events.

Are there any recurring family-friendly events in Columbus?

The seasonal Columbus Farmer's Market is a popular family outing from May through September. CERAland Park also hosts various recreational activities and community events suitable for all ages throughout the year.

What is nightlife like in downtown Columbus?

The downtown nightlife scene is centered around a social, relaxed atmosphere. The area around 4th Street features bars and pubs with live music, making it ideal for a low-key evening rather than high-energy clubbing.

How can I experience local arts and culture events?

The city's Arts & Entertainment District is a great starting point for cultural events. The Commons hosts public gatherings, and the annual YESFEST celebrates independent film and creativity in the community.

What are some free things to do in the city?

Many annual cultural festivals offer free admission to the public. Events like Ethnic Expo and Fiesta Latina provide a chance to experience international music and food without a ticket, celebrating community diversity.

Is there a good spot for comedy shows?

YES Cinema & Conference Center is a key venue for live comedy nights. Forge on 4th also hosts comedy events in its speakeasy-style space, providing another option for a night of laughs downtown.

Can I find outdoor events in the Columbus area?

CERAland Park is a primary destination for outdoor activities and large-scale events. The park accommodates everything from sports to camping, and the seasonal Columbus Farmer's Market is another popular outdoor gathering.