RiverFest and Clingstones Lead Big Week in Columbus!

Good morning, Columbus! The week ahead is a busy one. We’ve got a packed Clingstones promotion calendar, RiverFest, Summer Markets opening and more. There’s no shortage of fun events going on in town, so let’s get right to the good stuff.

Events

🎉 1. RiverFest 2025

This fun event will be two days of live music, food vendors, beverages (alcoholic and non), a kids’ zone, and arts & crafts along the river! Kids and pets are welcome and encouraged!

• Dates: Friday, May 2 & Saturday, May 3

• Location: Woodruff Park, 1003 Bay Ave

• Friday: Frankie Mincey (5:30 PM) and DSOS (7:30 PM)

• Saturday: Relative Sound (5:30 PM) and Departure: Journey Tribute Band (8:00 PM)

• Admission: $6/day or $10 for both days; kids 12 & under free.

• Details: https://www.alwaysuptown.com/riverfest

⚾ 2. Columbus Clingstones

The Clingstones were a runaway success in their first home stand. They announced 24,734 fans in attendance during opening week! That’s fantastic for a minor league team. They’re improving the traffic and parking situations, but outside that I’ve heard rave reviews from everybody I’ve talked to. The food, the experience, the stadium, people have loved it all.

If you missed them during the opening week, they’re back in town! This is a big week for the Clingstones with home games every single day from Thursday-Sunday, then again from Tuesday-Sunday next week. Look at all these events, and don’t miss the free replica jersey giveaway on Saturday!

• Events:

  • 05/01: Thirsty Thursday, $3 beers

  • 05/02: Fireworks Friday with post-game fireworks

  • 05/03: Rock N’ Roll Night, first 1,000 fans get a free replica jersey, and kids run the bases post-game

  • 05/04: Sunday Funday - Kids run the bases post-game and free entry for kids with Fuzzy’s Kid’s Club (free Chick-Fil-A program)

• Location: Synovus Park, Columbus, GA

• Tickets: Clingstones Tickets

🎭 3. Xanadu – The Musical

This is a roller-disco musical comedy based on a cult-classic film. Opening night is May 1 and it runs through May 11.

• Dates: May 1–11

• Location: Springer Opera House

• Details: Springer Opera House

🎭 4. Strut the Hooch Parade

Strut the Hooch is an annual event, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. The tagline here is “Weird, Wacky and Wild” so it’s sure to offer fun. There will be costumes, music and performances along with the parade.

• Date: Saturday, May 3

• Time: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

• Location: Broadway, Uptown Columbus

• Details: Strut the Hooch

🛍️ 5. Bluebelle’s Summer Outdoor Market

Bluebelle Mercantile’s Summer Outdoor Market is a local favorite, and it kicks off this weekend! They will have dozens of outdoor & indoor vendors, over 250 combined! This is the ultimate shopping small & local experience.

• Date: Saturday, May 3

• Location: 2301 Airport Thruway

• Details: Summer Outdoor Market

Food Scene

With all the Clingstones action over the coming two weeks, a common question I’ve seen is “what downtown restaurants are good for before or after games?” Below is a quick list of options as recommended by other locals. All of these are downtown and within a mile or two of the stadium. The “after” list is a shorter one because a lot of these places close at 10pm and that’s around the time the games end.

Before Games

1. The Black Cow

2. The Loft

3. Animal Farm

4. 11th and Bay Southern Table

5. Saltcellar

6. Mabella

7. Nonic

8. Mix Market

9. Gabagool

10. Moe’s Original BBQ

After Games

1. The Pizza Place - open until midnight every day, and until 2am Friday-Saturday

2. Eighteen 85 Rooftop - open until Midnight (Friday and Saturday only)

3. Waffle House - come on now, you know the WaHo never closes.

4. Houlihan’s - open til 11 weekdays, til midnight Friday and Saturday

5. Krystal - maybe not the sit-down restaurant you’re looking for, but it’s 24 hours

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