The Chilly Open is a Central Ohio fundraising event, organized and run by the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club and its numerous volunteers. The event, celebrating its 21st anniversary, will take place on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Guests enjoy local cuisine from over 25 restaurants in heated tents and pavilions, serving foods ranging from fish and chips, buffalo chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches, prime rib sandwiches, to pizza, cookies, gourmet soups, and roasted pork tenderloin, just to name a few. The event is hosted by local celebrities Dom Tiberi of WBNS 10TV and Woody Johnson of 92.3 WCOL.

This family-oriented event has helped raise over $2.5 million for Central Ohio children’s charities such as The Children’s Hunger Alliance, Buckeye Ranch, Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, The Ohio Troopers Caring, W.A.R.M. (Westerville Area Resource Ministry), Nationwide Children's Hospital, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, the Maria Tiberi Foundation, and numerous other children’s betterment programs.

The event is sponsored by leading local companies such as Kroger, Papa John’s, The Ohio Troopers Coalition, Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, and receives a tremendous amount of media publicity throughout Central Ohio which is donated by WBNS 10TV, The Columbus Dispatch, WCOL 92.3, ClearChannel Outdoor, and This Week Community Newspapers.

Throughout the day, guests enjoy raffles, live music by The Debits, live and silent auctions, which include gift cards for groceries from Kroger, sports collectibles, memorabilia, and numerous other items for all tastes. Numerous activities for children will take place throughout the day in a specially designated area of the Zoo, known as the Children's Open, centered in the Activity Pavilion. Any child aged 5-12 may stay in this secured and guarded area while the parents enjoy the event activities in the main tent at Water's Edge.

NOTE - Tickets purchased here can be picked up the day of the event at the Will Call window at the Columbus Zoo anytime after 10:00 a.m. on the day of the event. There are no refunds and there is no rain date - all proceeds go to the charities listed above. All children 12 and under attend free and will be given a ticket at the gate on the day of the event. Ticket purchase entitles bearer access to all Zoo exhibits on event day at no additional charge. All paid admissions will receive a coupon for a free large Papa John's Pizza. After ticket sales close on the Friday before the event, tickets can still be purchased on Saturday, the day of the event, at the ticket window at the main entrance of the Zoo.

DONATIONS - If you can't attend and would like to make a donation that will benefit the children's charities, you can do so right here on this site. Just fill out the Donation ticket type and enter the amount you wish to contribute. Thank you!