Mark Your Calendar: Free Outdoor Concerts Are Coming Back to Central Ohio
ProMusica's Summer Music Series returns next week, with two free concerts at Franklin Park Conservatory on August 13 and 14, followed by a new ticketed show at Headley Park in Gahanna on August 15, all featuring Music Director David Danzmayr.
There's something genuinely nice about a classical concert under an open sky, no dress code, just a blanket, maybe a picnic, and a full orchestra performing a few dozen feet away. ProMusica has built its Summer Music Series into one of the better reasons to get outside in August, and this year's run is worth planning around now rather than realizing after the fact that you missed it.
Here's exactly what's happening and when, so you can pick your night and mark it down before the week sneaks up on you.
When and Where Are the Concerts Happening?
The series opens Thursday, August 13, at 8 p.m. with "A Classical Evening" at Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St. in Columbus. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the program pairs Viet Cuong's "Next Week's Trees" with Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 1, featuring principal flutist Nadine Hur, and closes with Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony.
Friday, August 14, brings "A Little Night Music," also at Franklin Park Conservatory at 8 p.m., this time featuring trumpet soloist Justin Kohan. Both Franklin Park shows are completely free and open to all ages, with music- and garden-inspired children's activities starting an hour before each concert.
The series wraps Saturday, August 15, at 7 p.m. with a new addition this year: ProMusica LIVE at Headley Park in Gahanna. Unlike the Franklin Park shows, this one is ticketed, and the park opens at 4:30 p.m. for check-in.
Do I Need Tickets, and What Should I Bring?
It depends on which night. The two Franklin Park Conservatory concerts are free with general admission seating, no ticket required, just bring your own lawn chair or blanket. A full bar is available for purchase at Franklin Park, but outside alcohol isn't permitted, and bags and coolers are subject to inspection at the gate.
Headley Park is different. Tickets run $15 for adults in advance, $20 at the door, and $5 for students, available through Eventbrite. Food trucks and beer from Edison Brewery will be on-site, and organizers are asking guests to leave outside food and drinks at home to support the vendors instead. If the weather doesn't cooperate, the Headley Park show moves indoors to the Gahanna Lincoln High School Auditorium. Buying in advance through Eventbrite is worth doing if you know you're going, since the $5 price jump at the door adds up quickly for a family of four.
Is This Worth Planning a Family Outing Around?
Yes, especially the Franklin Park Conservatory nights. The children's activities before each show give kids something to do while the adults settle in, and the garden setting, string lights, an orchestra warming up, tends to hold younger kids' attention better than a typical concert hall would. Each program runs about an hour with no intermission, which keeps things manageable even on a school night.
The Headley Park show leans a bit more toward an adult night out, given the food truck and brewery setup, though it's still all-ages and framed as a family-friendly community event.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is ProMusica's Summer Music Series happening this year? The series runs August 13 through 15, 2026. "A Classical Evening" is Thursday, August 13, and "A Little Night Music" is Friday, August 14, both at Franklin Park Conservatory. "LIVE at Headley Park" in Gahanna follows on Saturday, August 15.
Are the Franklin Park Conservatory concerts free? Yes. Both Franklin Park Conservatory shows are free and open to all ages, with general admission seating. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concerts.
How much do tickets cost for the Headley Park concert? Tickets are $15 for adults in advance, $20 at the door, and $5 for students, available through Eventbrite. The park opens at 4:30 p.m. for check-in ahead of the 7 p.m. show.
Can I bring my own food and drinks? At Franklin Park Conservatory, outside alcohol isn't permitted, though other food is generally fine. At Headley Park, guests are asked to leave outside food and drink at home in favor of the on-site food trucks and Edison Brewery beer.
What happens if it rains? If weather forces a change at Headley Park, the concert moves indoors to the Gahanna Lincoln High School Auditorium at 140 S. Hamilton Road in Gahanna.
Whichever night you choose, I hope you get an evening outside with some genuinely great live music next week. And if a week like this makes you curious what it's like to actually live near the Near East Side or Gahanna, I'm always happy to talk it through.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. All real estate services are provided in compliance with Fair Housing laws, RESPA, TCPA, the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, and Ohio Real Estate Commission advertising regulations. Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan, Collins Lassiter Group, Red 1 Realty.
