Kin · The Weekender
OTE Jazz Fest, Ohio State at Noon & Saturday Storms
The Olde Towne East Jazz Festival takes over Blackburn Park all weekend, free. Ohio State hosts Kent State at noon Saturday while storms roll in after 4. Here's what matters, what to know before you pull up, and where to spend on purpose while you're outside.
Fri, Sep 18 – Sun, Sep 20
From the newsroom
Real talk: this one's a day late. The Weekender usually lands Thursday afternoon. This one got built Friday night, so let's not pretend. Friday's first acts already played. What's still in front of you is the whole point. Here's the weekend in one breath: the Olde Towne East Jazz Festival is running all weekend at Blackburn Park on the Near East Side, and it's free. That alone could be your whole Saturday. The Buckeyes kick off against Kent State at noon Saturday, so campus will be a beautiful mess until about 4. And then the sky gets interesting — storms are expected after 4 Saturday, some of them rough, with flooding possible overnight. So the play is simple: front-load your weekend. Saturday morning and early afternoon are yours. Evening needs a roof over it or a backup plan. Sunday is the reset — partly sunny, with another round of storms possible after 2. Elsewhere: Black Poets Fest holds Saturday down on Mt. Vernon, and Young Black Voices takes Sunday on Parsons. The Clippers play their last home games of the season. The Zoo's Lantern Festival lights up Saturday and Sunday nights. Arts in the Alley is doing its 47th year in Grove City. And Jagged Little Pill opens at the Riffe — pay what you want at the door for the preview and make a $68 ticket whatever you want it to be. We did the digging. Now go outside — and spend on purpose while you're out there. Pick the move. Check the weather. Spend on purpose. Welcome home.
The 2026 edition runs on the theme "HER STORY — Celebrating Women's Impact," with headliners Demetrius Nabors (Friday), Althea Rene (Saturday) and Dr. Jazmin Ghent (Sunday).
THE MAIN EVENT
It spans the entire weekend, so it survives the late build. It's free. It sits on the Near East Side in Kin's backyard. And it pairs Black cultural programming — jazz, spoken word, Black-owned vendors — with a family-friendly footprint. Ohio State is the biggest crowd in the city Saturday; OTE Jazz is the best Kin event. The editorial reason is independently defensible. Free with registration at otejazz.com. Blackburn Community Park, 263 Carpenter St, 43205. Food vendors, family-friendly.
4th Annual Olde Towne East Jazz Festival — HER STORY
The 4th Annual Olde Towne East Jazz Festival returns to Blackburn Park for three days of free live jazz, community celebration and this year’s “HER STORY: Celebrating Women’s Impact” tribute.
- Sat, Sep 19, 5:00 PM
- Blackburn Park and Recreation Center, Columbus
- Free
Fri 5–10pm · Sat & Sun 1–9:30pm
The move: go Saturday afternoon, 1 to 4 — eat from the vendors, catch the music, clear out before the storms roll in after 4.
WHAT TO KNOW
ACCOUNTABILITY
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The Sept 14 Board of Elections hearing ended without a ruling after Mohamed changed his registration address, and the challenger plans to refile. Kin's accountability story is still developing.
ACCOUNTABILITY
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Sept 5 accountability follow: the federal guilty plea in the deadly 2021 Columbus explosion, while all 7 federal chemical-safety recommendations remain open.
ACCOUNTABILITY
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The original Sept 12 Kin investigation with the on-the-record interview of former Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent.
Fri, Sep 18 – Sun, Sep 20
FEATURED EVENTS
Ohio State vs. Kent State
Sat 9/19, 12:00 PM ET (FOX) — Ohio Stadium, 1810 Cannon Dr, OSU campus — tickets from ~$93 — Final non-conference game and Helmet Stripe Game; roughly 100,000 people in and around campus. Best for: sports. Source: https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/buckeyes/football/2026/07/17/ohio-state-buckeyes-football-tickets-schedule/90946979007/
- Sat, Sep 19, 4:00 PM
- Ohio Stadium, Columbus
- From $93
Black Poets Fest
Sat 9/19 12–7 PM @ Maroon Culture Lab, 867 Mount Vernon Ave (18+, $0–$18); Sun 9/20 12–4 PM @ The Citadel, 1761 Parsons Ave (ages 13–17, free, lunch included) — Anchor Black-cultural programming across the whole weekend, Mt. Vernon to Parsons corridor. Best for: culture. Sources: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-poets-fest-tickets-1997661700923 and https://form.jotform.com/261758903624060
- Sat, Sep 19, 4:00 PM
- Maroon Culture Lab, Columbus
- $0–$18
Young Black Voices
Sun 9/20 12–4 PM @ The Citadel, 1761 Parsons Ave (ages 13–17, free, lunch included). Day 2 of the Black Poets Fest weekend. Best for: culture. Source: https://form.jotform.com/261758903624060
- Sun, Sep 20, 4:00 PM
- The Citadel, Columbus
- Free
Arts in the Alley
Fri 9/18 5–8 PM, Sat 9/19 10 AM–8 PM, Sun 9/20 10 AM–5 PM — Town Center Park, 3359 Park St, Grove City — free — 47th annual: juried art, 100+ vendors, Saturday 9:30 AM community parade, food trucks. Best for: family, free. Source: https://www.gcchamber.org/arts/
- Fri, Sep 18, 9:00 PM
- Town Center Park, Grove City
- Free
Columbus Clippers vs. St. Paul Saints
Sat 9/19 7:05 PM, Sun 9/20 1:05 PM — Huntington Park, 330 Huntington Park Ln, Arena District — $6–$10 — Final homestand of the season; the cheapest sports ticket of the weekend. Best for: sports, family. Source: https://columbus.events/sports/columbus-clippers/
- Sat, Sep 19, 11:05 PM
- Huntington Park, Columbus
- $6–$10
Germania Oktoberfest
Fri 9/18 5:30–11 PM, Sat 9/19 3–11 PM, Sun 9/20 noon–8 PM — Germania Singing & Sport Society, 543 S Front St, Brewery District — $5 for non-members 16+ — 69th annual, America's oldest Oktoberfest. Best for: food, culture. Source: https://germaniacolumbus.org/oktoberfest
- Fri, Sep 18, 9:30 PM
- Germania Singing & Sport Society, Columbus
- $5 for non-members 16+
Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival
Sat 9/19 & Sun 9/20, 7:30–10:30 PM (dark Friday for the zoo gala) — Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell — $25.99 adult / $22.99 child non-members; free parking; 60–70 handcrafted lantern displays, rain or shine. Best for: family, date night. Source: https://columbuszoo.org/blog/what-know-you-go-columbus-zoos-lantern-festival
- Sat, Sep 19, 11:30 PM
- Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Powell
- $25.99 adult / $22.99 child
Jagged Little Pill
Sat 9/19 8 PM (opening night), Sun 9/20 2 PM — Studio One, Riffe Center, 77 S High St, Downtown — $68.55 all-in; pay-what-you-want at the door on previews; $20 student rush; free Riffe Garage parking off Front St. Best for: theatre, date night. Source: https://www.thecontemporaryohio.org/2026-27-season/jagged-little-pill/
- Sun, Sep 20, 12:00 AM
- Studio One, Riffe Center, Columbus
- $68.55
Scioto Fest 2026
Sat 9/19 9 AM–1 PM — Scioto Audubon Metro Park, 400 W Whittier St — free — Climbing wall, kayaking, yoga, Ohio Wildlife Center animals; dog-friendly. Saturday morning is the window before the storms. Best for: outdoors, free. Source: https://www.metroparks.net/scioto-fest-at-scioto-audubon-metro-park/
- Sat, Sep 19, 1:00 PM
- Scioto Audubon Metro Park, Columbus
- Free
Black-owned stops for the weekend
SPEND ON PURPOSE
Soul 2 Go Cafe
Food & Drink · Downtown
Soul food; verified Black-owned. 72 E Lynn St, Downtown. Fri 11:30 AM–12 AM, Sat 12 PM–12 AM, Sun 12 PM–8 PM.
Sunday Main Library route, ~0.7 mi from Bicentennial Park; downtown weekend moves.
Order
Shrimp Lips Seafood
Food & Drink · South Side
Seafood/Cajun-Creole; listed Black-owned via EatOkra. 1622 Parsons Ave, South Side. Hours unverified; call (614) 230-2554.
Young Black Voices at The Citadel, ~0.8 mi.
View business
Guide of the week
Kin Guide · Back to School
Still need school vaccines? Franklin County is keeping the clinic open late Sept. 17
If your child still needs a school vaccine, Franklin County Public Health has an extended-hours clinic in downtown Columbus. Here’s the appointment, parking and cost information to know before you go.
Before you pull up
WEEKEND WEATHER
Saturday: high 81–82°, mostly sunny before 3 PM. Storms likely after 4–5 PM — 60–70% chance through about 2 AM. Some storms could bring damaging winds and heavy rain with a flooding risk. Sunday: partly sunny, high 81–83°, 50% chance of showers and storms after 2 PM. The practical read: umbrella beats sunscreen Saturday. Best outdoor windows are Friday evening and Saturday morning/early afternoon. The noon OSU game should be fine in-stadium; tailgates and anything outdoors Saturday evening are exposed. Sunday afternoon plans need a rain backup. Source: National Weather Service Wilmington OH, Hazardous Weather Outlook issued 1:51 PM Friday. No heat advisory; no watches or warnings posted for Franklin County as of Friday evening.
Source: National Weather Service
What to know before you pull up
Before you head out
Before you go
- I-670 East is down to two lanes from 5th Ave to I-270, 7 PM Friday through 5 AM Monday — budget extra time getting to and from downtown and the airport.
- OSU game day: College Road is closed both directions; CABS buses are rerouted; roughly 100,000 people will be in and around campus Saturday for the noon kickoff.
- Ohio Stadium bag policy: all bags and purses are prohibited except wallets and wristlets 5×8×1" or smaller. No backpacks, coolers, or outside food. Gates open 2 hours before kickoff.
- COTA's missed-trip crisis is ongoing — check the Transit app for canceled buses before depending on it Saturday.
- Anything outdoors Saturday after 4 PM needs a rain plan — storms could bring damaging winds.
- The Crew are away in Montréal Saturday, so there's no Lower.com Field traffic to dodge.
- Free parking at the Riffe Garage (off Front St) if you're catching Jagged Little Pill; free parking at the Zoo for lantern nights.
- The Clippers play Saturday 7:05 PM and Sunday 1:05 PM — last home games of the season, and the Arena District will be busy.
The shortlist
- If you only do one thing: Olde Towne East Jazz Festival — free, all weekend, Blackburn Park.
- Saturday morning: hit a farmers market (Worthington, North Market, Clintonville, Dublin, German Village) before the storms.
- Saturday night: Zoo Lantern Festival — or Jagged Little Pill's opening night.
- Family move: Arts in the Alley in Grove City — free, all weekend.
- Free move: Scioto Fest Saturday morning at Scioto Audubon.
- Black-owned stop: Junior's Sweetpotato Pie on Mt. Vernon after Black Poets Fest.
- Sunday reset: Young Black Voices at The Citadel (ages 13–17, free, lunch included) — and Shrimp Lips on Parsons if they're open (call first).
- Sports: OSU vs Kent State at noon Saturday — or the Clippers' last home games, $6–$10.