Columbus is the fastest growing city in the Midwest which means we have something for every type of group. From exciting events and amazing activities to the perfect venue for your group, our city has places and experiences for all of your attendees’ interests. And, as spring and summer nears, our city and our community is ready to celebrate the return of festivals in 2022 with you and your group.
IN THE SPIRIT OF CELEBRATION: BOOK A DISTILLERY TRAIL EXPERIENCE
Cheers! Columbus distillers are passionate about their proprietary recipes and local ingredients. Hear the stories of these distillers, peek at their process in behind-the-scenes-tours, and have a few sips along the way with your transportation partner safely behind the wheel. While visiting the distilleries, "check in" using your digital pass. After just four stops, you'll earn a Simple
Times Mixer, and after checking in at all stops on the trail, you'll earn a Columbus Distillery Trail T-shirt! Share your experience with #CbusDistilleries.
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Need help planning your group tour? We've created a two-day sample itinerary that incorporates multiple stops along the Columbus Distillery Trail. Feel free to customize to your liking or reach out to our team for further suggestions!
Day One
Morning:
Immerse yourself in nature at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, or peruse amazing art at the Columbus Museum of Art, fascinating exhibits at the Center of Science and Industry, or solemn tributes at the National Veterans Memorial Museum.
Afternoon:
Refuel with lunch at High Bank Distillery and then check out some other Columbus Distillery Trail stops with tours at Watershed Distillery, Echo Spirits, or Endeavor. Afterward, try pouring a spirit-scented—one of 100+ unique scents—candle at Penn and Beech, with options such as bourbon, gin and tonic, or spiced rum (this scented candle will come in a Moscow Mule Mug!). Whether you're a window shopper or you're looking for something special, head down the street to shop in the Short North and make a stop at Jeni’s to taste their Middle West Whiskey and Pecans ice cream flavor.
Evening:
End the night with spectacular views of downtown Columbus while enjoying dinner at the Boat House.
Day Two
Morning:
Head east of downtown to visit the Ohio Herb Center in Gahanna (the Herb Capital of Ohio). You'll learn how to interact with herbs for everything from gardening to daily wellness and are sure to leave feeling inspired.
Afternoon:
Enjoy a group lunch at 94th Aero Squadron or select your own restaurant from one of Easton's many options. Then, stroll through Easton's gorgeous streets and shop among their 200+ best-in-class retailers. After such an eventful day, you'll want to unwind, so we suggest trying a tasting and tour at Noble Cut Distillery.
Evening:
Stop at 451 Spirits to pick up some bottles (and enjoy another tasting!), and then test your culinary skills with a French cooking class at The Seasoned Farmhouse.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: GREG LEHMAN, WATERSHED DISTILLERY
What inspired you to launch the distillery?
Watershed Distillery was inspired by the vision of creating great spirits and shared experiences that bring people together. From day one, we’ve always loved the idea of communities supporting each other and we wanted to take part in that right here in Central Ohio. From our first bottle of Four Peel Gin sold to Lindey’s to creating a chef driven restaurant committed to local sourcing, we’ve been intentional about our contribution to the region. The community continues to overwhelm us with their support and gratitude.
Was it a hard decision to open the Watershed Kitchen & Bar?
As a community, Ohio distillers have been working tirelessly for years to gain parity to be able to offer the same sorts of rich experiences in the state that our beer and wine counterparts could. So for us, when that became a reality legally, we felt compelled to embrace it on behalf of all Ohio distillers, present and future. Since Watershed Kitchen + Bar opened its doors in 2017, it’s served to create a richer experience for distillery patrons, to help us share our story in an even bigger way and, ultimately, to create just one more opportunity to support farmers and other producers/makers in our community.
What is next for you and your team?
Most immediately, we are getting ready (and excited) for Four Peel Summer which will kick-off in early May. We are planning a really special version of our annual Four Peel Fest this July. It will be totally different than any event we’ve thrown in the past and we are very excited to do something unexpected for the community and Watershed fans this summer!
Our team is also floored about the national attention our new bourbon portfolio is getting! It just launched last summer so we are continuing to focus efforts on sharing our Watershed Bourbon and Bottled-in-Bond with consumers and are excited to see the interest and momentum for these two expressions and for Ohio bourbon in general.
TRADESHOW SEASON RECAP
After a year of virtual meetings, we were thrilled to be back in person for tradeshow season! Experience Columbus started by hosting nine tour operators in Columbus ahead of the NTA Travel Exchange in Cleveland. Once in Cleveland, we sponsored a booth on the tradeshow floor and conducted 12 business appointments.
In January, the Experience Columbus team headed down to Grapevine, Texas for ABA’s Marketplace where we met with 24 tour operators and sponsored a tradeshow floor activation highlighting our new Distillery Tour (read more about that above).
Finally, in February we were back in Cleveland for Heartland Travel Showcase with partners from Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus! There we held 34 appointments and got regional tour operators excited to travel again.
BROADWAY SHOWS IN COLUMBUS
This month, Broadway Across America announced its 2022/2023 Columbus shows at the Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, and Southern Theatre. From Wicked, Hamilton and so many more…
WICKED
May 18-June 5, 2022: Ohio Theatre
WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz—but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships—until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story. It will send your spirits soaring to heights you’ll never forget.
HAMILTON
Oct 4-23, 2022: Ohio Theatre
HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.
HAIRSPRAY
Nov 8-13, 2022: Ohio Theatre
You Can’t Stop the Beat! HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, is back on tour! Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960’s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world? Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the 60’s,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” HAIRSPRAY is “fresh, winning, and deliriously tuneful!” (The New York Times).
ELF
Dec 13-18, 2022: Palace Theatre
Elf is an original musical that brings to life the heartwarming and hilarious tale of Buddy, an orphan who mistakenly believes he’s really one of Santa’s elves. Featuring an all-star creative team led by director Sam Scalamoni (Beauty and the Beast), choreographer Conner Gallagher (Beauty and the Beast), Tony-winning book writers Thomas Meehan (The Producers) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and the Tony-nominated songwriting team of Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), Elf is the one present everyone wants this holiday season.
SIX
Jan 24-29, 2023: Ohio Theatre
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over. The New York Times says SIX “TOTALLY RULES!” (Critic’s Pick) and The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for! The Broadway season got supercharged!”
BEETLEJUICE
March 7-12, 2023: Ohio Theatre
It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Nether world, BEETLEJUICE is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!
AIN'T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS
April 18-23, 2023: Ohio Theatre
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations is the electrifying, new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and silky-smooth harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. Nominated for 12 Tony Awards®, AIN’T TOO PROUD tells the thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal, as the group’s personal and political conflicts threatened to tear them apart during a decade of civil unrest in America.
ANNIE
May 12-14, 2023: Palace Theatre
Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theater goers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in a new production–just as you remember it and just when we need it most.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
June 6-11, 2023: Ohio Theatre
All rise for Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is “the most successful American play in Broadway history. It has not played to a single empty seat” (“60 Minutes”). Rolling Stone gives it 5 stars, calling it “an emotionally shattering landmark production of an American classic,” and New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.” With direction by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD — “the greatest novel of all time” (Chicago Tribune) — has quickly become “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).
DISNEY'S FROZEN
July 26-Aug 6, 2023: Ohio Theatre
Critics are calling FROZEN, “A can’t miss Broadway event” (NBC), and now it’s joining Disney’s smash hit musicals The Lion King and Aladdin on tour across North America! FROZEN is an all-new production created for the stage by an award-winning creative team, led by Academy Award® winners Jennifer Lee, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and Tony Award®-winning director Michael Grandage. It features the songs you know and love from the original film plus an expanded score with a dozen new musical numbers.
JOIN US IN COLUMBUS
Experience Columbus’ Destination Experience team is here to help you. If you have any questions or want to make plans for the future, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We will resume our FAM trips in Fall 2022 (more info soon). And, we are always happy to host you on a personalized site visit as well. Please let us know if you are interested in booking these or a virtual coffee or happy hour to catch up. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
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Marie Kuess |
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