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Community Days

On the first Sunday of every month, residents of Columbus and Franklin County receive free General Admission with proper identification.

Community Days include access to the entirety of the gardens, collections and current daytime exhibitions. Admission to evening Special Engagements or events is not included.

Many Community Days have themed programming that included additional activities, performances and access to local resources & organizations.

Please see the FAQ for more information about ticketing, accessibility, parking and more.

2024 Community Days

Community Days regularly feature community partners, local resources and additional programming. Click a date to learn more!

January 7 Yoga Day

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February 4 Black History Month

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March 3 Alexis Jacobs Community Day
Theme: Community & Music

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April 7 Japanese Culture & Cherry Blossoms

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May 5 Building Community

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June 2 National Garden Week

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July 7 Community Jam Session

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August 4 VegFest

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September 1 Regenerative & Local Agriculture

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October 6 STEAM Celebration

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November 3 Health and Wellness

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holiday blooms visitors December 1 More info to be announced!

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Special Thanks to our 2024 Community Day Sponsors!

Cardinal Health Foundation

Community Support & Sponsorship

Community Days are made possible thanks to generous support from sponsors. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Naomi Merino, Corporate and Foundation Relations Specialist, at [email protected] or 614.715.8041.

Become a sponsor


Frequently Asked Questions

Please be sure to review all of our visitation and safety policies before visiting on Community Day. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Accessibility

Wheelchairs and motorized scooters are available for free on a first-come-first-served basis.

Designated parking spaces are available near the Main Entrance. Guests can be dropped off in front of the Main Entrance if necessary.

Service Animals are the only animals permitted at the Conservatory.

Please contact us at [email protected] with any specific accessibility concerns.

Ticketing

Tickets cannot be reserved for Community Days. Please proceed to the Main Entrance to check in.

Proof of Columbus or Franklin County residency is required to receive free admission. Non-residents can still visit the Conservatory on Community Days but they will be required to purchase tickets.

The Conservatory can still reach capacity, at which point admission will be restricted. Guest levels will be kept to an enjoyable and safe level. Community Days rarely reach capacity but you can contact our staff with capacity questions.

We ask those who have the means to support the Conservatory through admission to consider visiting another day so Community Days stay true to their purpose of increasing access to the gardens.

Who receives free admission on Community Day?

The mission of Community Days is to improve access to the Conservatory’s immediate community, so admission is waived specifically for residents of the City of Columbus and Franklin County on Community Days. Please bring proof of residency to receive waived admission.

Non-residents can still visit and admission rates remain the same.

What's included in Community Day?

Everything included in General Admission* is included in Community Days. You can learn more about the Conservatory’s daily offerings:

Many Community Days also feature additional programming, performances and partnerships with local organizations. Please see the listings for each specific Community Day to learn more.

*General Admission and Community Days do not include Special Engagements (Chihuly Nights, Pumpkins Aglow, Conservatory, etc.)

What hours are Community Days?

Community Days occur during standard General Admission hours which are typically 10am-5pm and 10am-4pm in December and January.

Special Engagements or evening events that happen to fall on the same date as Community Days are not included in admission.

Are these events weather dependent?

No, Community Days are not weather dependent. The entire Conservatory is open and guests can move inside during inclement weather.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden may be closed during inclement weather.

Is parking available?

Yes, the Conservatory has a free parking lot for guests located off East Broad Street. Guests can also be dropped off or picked up in front of the Main Entrance. Please see our map.

If necessary, additional parking is available at the Franklin Park Adventure Center. This parking may be utilized on Community Days with additional programming as these events can be quite popular.

What if I can't visit on Community Day but need waived admission?

Residents of the City of Columbus and Franklin County can check out temporary memberships (which grant waived admission) from several local libraries. Learn more about Library Memberships.

Museums for All tickets are available for $3 (including General Admission and Special Engagements) for qualifying individuals and their immediate families. These tickets are available to everyone who qualifies, regardless of residency.

Several Admission Discounts are available.

Other Access Offerings are available.

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