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Things to do in Columbus June 6-8

Things to do in Columbus June 6-8

Slick Slides, Art Festival Magic, and Faith-Forward Development in Cbus...

Gagan Timsina
June 05, 2025

Hey, it's Gagan. Yep, the only Gagan Timsina in the world.

And here are the BIGGEST CHANGES happening in Columbus in 2025

In today's newsletter:

Slick City Action Park Opens at Polaris: Indoor waterless slides debut in first Ohio location
Columbus Arts Festival Returns: 63rd year brings 250+ artists to Scioto Mile
WorldFire Church Eyes Fort Rapids Revival: Faith-based partnership could transform east side property
Alchemy Expands to Hilliard: Nutrition-forward café grows corporate wellness footprint

SPONSORED BY: GT REAL ESTATE GROUP

SLICK CITY ACTION PARK BRINGS WATERLESS THRILLS TO POLARIS PARKWAY

The innovative indoor entertainment concept has officially opened its first Ohio location, transforming a former big-box retail space into a family destination. [NBC4]

Key Highlights:

Located at 1170 Polaris Parkway in former Bed, Bath and Beyond space
35,000-square-foot facility featuring 15 proprietary waterless slides
$500,000 renovation investment including mezzanine expansion and full buildout
Tickets range from $16.99 (ages 3 and under) to $33.99 (120-minute sessions)

What Makes It Special: Slick City represents a new category of family entertainment that doesn't rely on traditional water park infrastructure. The patent-pending slide surface technology paired with specialized mats creates water slide speeds without the operational complexity of pools and filtration systems.

General Manager Sam Iliff emphasizes the all-ages appeal, with 25-foot slides designed to accommodate both thrill-seekers and cautious first-timers.

For Polaris area property owners and investors, Slick City's arrival signals continued diversification of the entertainment corridor.

COLUMBUS ARTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 63RD YEAR ALONG SCIOTO MILE

The nation's second-ranked art festival returns this weekend, bringing economic impact and cultural vitality to downtown Columbus. [Columbus Dispatch]

Key Highlights:

June 6-8 along Scioto Mile, featuring 250+ artists from 31 states and Canada
Expected attendance near 500,000 visitors over three days
Free general admission with VIP packages available for $150
New sensory-friendly accommodations including downloadable maps and calming tent

Festival Programming: Four stages will showcase all-local entertainment, including the third annual Fashion as Art show curated by Columbus designers Celeste Malvar-Stewart and Tracy Powell.

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance will present "Pulaagam: A Celebration of Fulani Heritage" featuring Columbus griot Habi Gawlo. BalletMet performances and DJ sets by Moxy Martinez round out the diverse programming.

Downtown stakeholders benefit significantly from the Arts Festival's economic impact, with hundreds of thousands of visitors supporting restaurants, parking facilities, and retail establishments throughout the weekend.

The festival's consistent growth and national recognition continue to elevate Columbus's profile as a cultural destination, supporting property values in the urban core and reinforcing downtown's appeal for both residential and commercial investment.

WORLDFIRE CHURCH PARTNERS ON FORT RAPIDS TRANSFORMATION

A faith-based community organization has joined efforts to revitalize the long-vacant water park complex on Columbus's east side. [Columbus Business First]

Key Highlights:

WorldFire Church partnering with Drever Capital Management on comprehensive redevelopment
Church would occupy 60,000-square-foot former water park building
Drever plans 277 workforce housing units in hotel building plus 39 villa units
Project currently in due diligence phase calculating feasibility

Community Vision: WorldFire's Senior Lead Pastor Josh Lawrence envisions the water park space housing a drive-up food bank, daycare facility, and worship services. The holistic approach combines housing, faith, and social services in a single redevelopment project.

The Fort Rapids redevelopment represents a significant opportunity for east side revitalization, particularly given the property's prominent location at 4560 Hilton Corporate Dr.

Successful execution would remove a major vacant eyesore while adding hundreds of workforce housing units in an area where such options remain limited. The faith-community partnership model could inspire similar collaborative approaches to challenging redevelopment projects throughout the region.

ALCHEMY CAFÉ EXPANDS WELLNESS MISSION TO HILLIARD

The nutrition-forward café concept will open its third location this fall, furthering its integration of healthcare and food service. [Columbus Business First]

Key Highlights:

New location opening fall 2025 at The Well community wellness center
110,000-square-foot facility includes 25,000 square feet of OSU Wexner Medical offices
Alchemy will manage all food service operations for entire facility
Expansion supports growing corporate wellness services division

Business Model Evolution: Co-founder Abed Alshahal describes the "day one" vision of operating at the intersection of healthcare and nutrition. The Hilliard location will serve as both a café and comprehensive food service provider, potentially including cooking classes and wellness programming.

The company has quietly grown its corporate services work, providing workplace cafés and employee nutrition programs throughout Columbus.

For Hilliard's development trajectory, Alchemy's presence at The Well reinforces the suburb's positioning as a wellness-focused community. The integration of quality food service with medical and fitness facilities creates a comprehensive lifestyle amenity that supports property values and attracts health-conscious residents.

The corporate services expansion also signals opportunities for other businesses targeting the intersection of workplace wellness and nutrition.

THIS WEEKEND IN COLUMBUS: JUNE 6-8

THIS WEEK'S WRAP-UP

Home owners: The successful repurposing of vacant retail space at Polaris and the potential Fort Rapids transformation demonstrate strong adaptive reuse demand, while Alchemy's expansion shows the value of wellness-focused amenities in driving community appeal.

Home buyers: Consider neighborhoods benefiting from cultural and entertainment investments like downtown (Arts Festival impact) and areas with emerging wellness infrastructure like Hilliard, where integrated lifestyle amenities are reshaping suburban living.

Bottom line: This week's developments highlight Columbus's strength in both preserving cultural traditions (63-year Arts Festival) and embracing innovative concepts (waterless slides, faith-based redevelopment). The diversity of investment—from entertainment to wellness to community services—reflects a mature market with multiple growth drivers.

Thinking about making a move? Let's chat and connect you with our partners!

[Schedule a call]

See you next week,

— Gagan Timsina