5 Things To Do This Football Bye Weekend in Columbus

By Brigid McCuen on October 6, 2014

This upcoming weekend will be the second and final one free of Buckeye football, meaning OSU fans will most likely have an abnormal amount of availability to partake in some other activities.  In case you’re scrounging for ideas of how to spend your time, here are five events during the bye weekend that are sufficient substitutes for a typical football Saturday.

1. Columbus Blue Jackets hockey game

Since you won’t be rooting on the Buckeyes, this option will definitely satisfy your sporting demands.  This Saturday at 7 PM, the Columbus Blue Jackets will be playing the New York Rangers.  The games always have a welcoming atmosphere filled with energized fans, so you’ll enjoy yourself here just as much as you would in the Shoe!  The fun doesn’t just start when the puck drops, either.  The Arena District harbors a lot of great restaurants and bars to go to before, after, and even during the game, if you don’t want to buy a ticket. In my opinion, R Bar, a hockey bar affiliated with the Blue Jackets, is the next-best alternative to actually being in Nationwide Arena.  A night rooting on the Blue Jackets is a night well spent!

2. Studio Movie Grill

Do you love dinner? Do you like seeing movies? Then this is the option for you!  But seriously, you can’t go wrong at the Studio Movie Grill in downtown Columbus.  The SMG is a dual experience of dining and enjoying a first-run flick, complete with waiters who appear at the press of a button as well as a fully stocked bar.  The film selection is as solid as any run-of-the-mill theater, and you can order tickets and reserve seats in advance.  I would suggest participating in SMG’s 2 for $25 deal (one appetizer and two entrees for $25) on this football-less Saturday.

3. Camping in Hocking Hills

This is definitely a suitable option since the upcoming weekend may be the last one with bearable weather.  Hocking Hills is a scenic, mountainous region of Ohio about 60 miles southeast of Columbus.  It’s perfect for a quick getaway from the city, and since you won’t need access to TV or Internet to check up on OSU football scores, you can take a break from electronics with a clear conscience.  You also might be thinking, “it’s way too late to schedule a camping trip only a few days away!” Well, think again, because the Hocking Hills website has a link specifically for that kind of thing.  Their last-minute specials provide discounts for people who make the decision to enjoy HH’s outdoors on the fly.  Whether you’re in the mood to canoe, hunt, fish, hike, zipline, horseback ride, or participate in any other slew of outdoor activities, Hocking Hills is the place for you!

4. Columbus Unscripted

Do you like comedy?  Scratch that, who doesn’t like to laugh?  Wild Goose Creative on Summit Street will host an Improv and comedy festival this Wednesday through Saturday night.  Each evening will feature a different nationally recognized comedian or troupe in addition to local performers.  There will also be professional-level workshops, if you’re interested in learning the tricks of the trade yourself!  More information on this festival can be found here.

5. Columbus Crew soccer game

image via mlssoccer.com

Even though Columbus’ premier soccer team won’t be playing at home this weekend, you can watch them take on the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at 7PM on the TWC SportsChannel.  If you want to hang out with other fans in an exciting atmosphere during the game, you can go to any of the Crew’s pub partners, which are always popular hangouts for Crew supporters.  Two bars that are particularly close to campus are 4th Street Patio Bar and Midway On High, so grab a couple friends and head on over to cheer on the Crew!

 

 

 

Whether you want to relax at a movie, root for another sports team, or laugh at some live comedy, you’ll stay entertained on Saturday without missing Buckeye football too much.

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