Community

Saturday, July 14, 7-8:30pm, Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave.

The Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative, and joyous circle dances that celebrate the variety of spiritual paths on Earth. If you like folk dancing, you’ll be right at home here. No previous experience is needed — just an open and willing attitude. Participation, not presentation, is the focus.

Contact: 614-441-9773 or 614-429-4009

Saturday, July 14, 6:30-11pm, 1021 E. Broad St. [east side door]

Join progressive friends for food, drink, and great music.

Contact: colsfreepress@gmail.com or 614-253-2571

Saturday, July 14, 11am-7pm, Westgate Park, 455 S. Westgate Ave.

Summer Jam West is a grassroots, free, arts and music festival that is held annually in Westgate Park. We commit to bringing music and permanent public art to the Hilltop.

At our festival, you’ll find live bands all day, local food trucks, local art for sale, local craft artisans, and plenty of free activities to keep the kids busy. Look for our public art installations throughout the Hilltop community.

Wednesday, July 4, 1pm, beginning at Goodale Park [Park St. side], 120 W. Goodale St.

Celebrate Liberty and Lunacy and the freedom of speech, through humor with a range of off-the-wall mischiefs, grounded super-heroes, political debacles, homegrown satirists, and the other bohemian frolickers winding through the Short North. Political Satire at Its Worst!

See you on July 4. The Parade will start immediately after everyone stands and belts out the National Anthem at 1pm. Set your clock’s reminders now.

Sunday, July 1 to Monday, July 9, near Chauncey, Ohio [which is near Athens, Ohio]

This event will be held on occupied land shared by the Seneca, Shawnee and Tsalagi at the time of contact with colonizers, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Check back for location coordinates; the site is near Chauncey, Ohio; the closest airport is in Columbus, Ohio.

Saturday June 16, 5pm, Columbus Square Bowling Palace, 5705 Forest Hills Blvd.

The Faith Thomas Foundation is hosting its fourth Annual Sickle Cell Bowling Fundraiser on Saturday, June 16, Father Day’s Weekend, at the Bowling Palace at Columbus Square. We invite you, your father, family, and friends to come bowl with us [in addition to supporting a good cause!].

The Faith Thomas Foundation is dedicated to providing support to individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease and aiding in a smooth transition of care from childhood to adulthood.

Thursday, July 5, 7-8:30pm, Compassionate Communication Center of Ohio [inside of Maynard Ave. United Methodist Church], 2350 Indianola Ave.

Join us for an engaging and fun introduction to Compassionate-Nonviolent Communication (NVC), the Language of the Heart, led by Susanna Warren.

People of all experience levels, ranging from beginners to experienced practitioners, are welcome to this gathering. We will have a short explanation, a demonstration, and then we will give everyone a chance to practice giving and/or receiving empathy.

Saturday, June 30, 5-7pm, MCL Kingsdale, 3154 Kingsdale Center, Upper Arlington, Ohio

Come out and join us for dinner and conversation! We’ll be in the back room unless there’s a special event going on in that room.

Saturday, June 30, 4pm, Savor Pint, 4440 Indianola Ave.

Here’s to Health! Your $10 donation to Single Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio) is good for one beer and snacks.

We will have information about the Single Payer Action Network available and a short presentation.

Saturday, June 30, 10am-5pm, Westgate Park, 455 S. Westgate Ave.

The Hilltop Bean Festival is an 80-year-old tradition that is held every June in Columbus’ Westgate Park. Despite the name, we don’t sit around a table eating beans! This event is a family-friendly festival remembering the history that made the Columbus west side what it is today.

During the Civil War, the area now known as Westgate Park had been a Civil War prison camp called “Camp Chase.”