It’s Friday afternoon, you have no plans, and you don’t want to spend a dime to have a good time. Good news: Central Ohio is packed with free outdoor concerts all summer long, and you don’t need to pay for a single ticket to enjoy live music under the stars.
From a stacked lineup at the Scioto Mile to a 40th anniversary celebration in Grandview Heights, here’s your full rundown of free outdoor concerts happening across Columbus right now through the end of summer.
Pro Tip: Be sure to verify that each concert is still happening before heading to the venues by checking their social medias and websites!
Outdoor Concerts in Central Ohio This Summer
Columbus Commons Goes Big With One Free Headliner
160 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Columbus Commons isn’t running a weekly concert series this year. Instead, the park is putting all its energy into one massive free show through its Common Ground Concert Series, a partnership between Downtown Columbus, Inc. and CAPA that’s previously brought names like Sheryl Crow, Nelly, and The Beach Boys to the Commons stage.
This year’s headliner is Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, playing Columbus Commons on Saturday, August 15. Gates and food trucks open at 6 p.m., with Hornsby taking the stage at 8:30 p.m.
Admission is free, but you’ll need a ticket to get in. Columbus Commons newsletter subscribers get early access to tickets starting Tuesday, July 14 at 10 a.m., and tickets open to the general public on Wednesday, July 15 at 10 a.m. Both releases are first come, first served, so set a reminder if you want in.
Scioto Mile Concert Series: Free Shows With a Skyline View
233 S Civic Center Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
The Scioto Mile Concert Series brings live music to the Bicentennial Park stage all summer, and there’s still plenty left on the calendar. Every show starts at 7 p.m. and is completely free.
Here’s what’s left this season:
- July 10: Ruthie Foster
- August 14: Dumpstaphunk
- September 18: Columbus Jazz Orchestra
- September 25: Dan Tyminski Band
If you’re around the Scioto Mile the weekend of July 24 through 26, don’t miss Jazz & Rib Fest at West Bank Park and Bicentennial Park. It’s a separate event from the concert series, but it’s free, it’s massive, and this year’s lineup includes Keiko Matsui, Jonathan Butler, and Jeffrey Osborne, plus a new Brass Band Stage.
Music on the Lawn in Grandview Heights is Officially Middle-Aged
1685 W 1st Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
Grandview Heights Public Library is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Music on the Lawn this year, and the series still has a few Tuesday nights left. Shows run 7 to 8 p.m. on the library lawn at 1685 W. First Ave, with food trucks and the GHPL PopUp Library on site each week.
Remaining 2026 dates:
- July 14: Topher James and Biscuit Brigade (R&B/Soul), with Fetty’s Street Food
- July 21: The High Definitions (Blues/Rock), with OH Yum Food Truck
- July 28: Blue Cats (Blues), with Tacomania
Parking is limited around the library, so plan to arrive early or walk over if you’re nearby.
Worthington Concerts on the Green: A Sunday Night Tradition
Corners of SR-161 and High St, Worthington, OH 43085
Worthington’s long-running series wraps up its 2026 season on the Northwest Village Green at High Street and Dublin-Granville Road. Shows start at 7 p.m. and are free for the whole family. Bring your own chairs or a blanket.
Here’s what’s left:
- July 12: John Schwab Duo
- July 19: No concert scheduled this week
- July 26: Hadden Sayers
- August 2: OSU Alumni Marching Band
- August 9: Conspiracy (season finale)
Parking is available at Kilbourne Middle School, the Griswold Center, Worthington Library, Huntington Bank, and Worthington Presbyterian Church.
More Free Concerts Around Central Ohio
If you’re willing to drive a little further, several Columbus suburbs are running their own free concert series this summer…
New Albany’s Free Summer Concerts
170 E Dublin Granville Rd, New Albany, OH 43054
New Albany’s Free Summer Concert Series plays at the Hinson Amphitheater (170 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.) every other Thursday, 7 to 8:30 p.m., no tickets required. Remaining dates:
- July 9: Catalina Wine Mixer Band (yacht rock covers)
- July 23: Big Bad Stache (’90s to today rock and pop)
- August 6: Mystery Concert (the headliner stays a surprise until showtime)
Celebration at the Station in Hilliard Brings the Vibes
4021 Main St, Hilliard, OH 43026
Hilliard’s Celebration at the Station runs Thursdays through August 13 at Station Park in Old Hilliard, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Station Park is a designated outdoor refreshment area, so you can grab a drink and walk around with it. Remaining dates:
- July 9: Long Live, a Taylor Swift tribute
- July 16: Lt. Dan’s New Legs
- July 23: RockHouse
- July 30: Gravy
- August 6: Conspiracy
- August 13: Fleetwood Gold
Bexley’s Jazz in the Park
2425 Havenwood Dr S, Bexley, OH 43209
Bexley’s Jazz in the Park happens at Havenwood Park with food trucks on-site. Remaining dates:
- July 19 (Sunday): Andy Woodson & the Paw Paw Orchestra
- August 16 (Sunday): Arch City Big Band
Music in the Park in Canal
36 S High St, Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Canal Winchester’s Music in the Park takes over Stradley Place on the third Friday of the month, 6 to 9 p.m. Remaining dates:
- July 17: The Treble Catz, paired with a Cruise-In Car Show
- August 21: BAD/STAD
- September 18: Three10
Sundays at Scioto in Dublin
7377 Riverside Dr, Dublin, OH 43017
Dublin Arts Council’s Sundays at Scioto returns to the Scioto Park amphitheater in September, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- September 13: Spikedrivers and Will Freed
- September 20: Andy Shaw and Dublin Scioto’s Fiddle Frenzy
- September 27: Mojoflo and Paul Valdiviez
- October 4: Joey Aich and N’Shai Iman
A Few Tips Before You Go
All of these concerts are free, but a few of them come with catches worth knowing. The Bruce Hornsby show at Columbus Commons requires a free ticket, so mark your calendar for the July 14 and July 15 release dates if you want to go. Most other series don’t provide seating, so bring a blanket or a low-back chair.
Weather can also shift plans quickly. Grandview Heights cancels for rain with no rain location, so call ahead if the forecast looks rough. Worthington follows a similar rain-cancellation policy.
Your Summer Soundtrack Is Ready
With free concerts happening almost every week between now and September across Columbus Commons, the Scioto Mile, Grandview Heights, and Worthington, there’s no excuse to stay in this summer. Grab your friends, pack a chair, and make the most of Central Ohio’s free live music scene while it lasts.
Stop Googling “things to do this weekend.”
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