Memorial Day marks the start of the summer season, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by simply getting outside. The good news is that’s easy to do in Dublin, where we believe the grass is always greener! With over 60 parks covering 1,500+ acres of unspoiled wilderness nearby, exploring nature is almost effortless. Meanwhile, Dublin’s modern amenities make it the perfect urban-meets-outdoor oasis for your next weekend escape or week-long getaway.
Here are the five best ways to spend Memorial Day outdoors, right here in Dublin.
Go Back in Time with UNEXTINCT at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, May 25 & 26
Get ready for an unforgettable summer night at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's jaw-dropping after-hours event! UNEXTINCT brings 70 extinct and endangered species to life with cutting-edge technology, making it fun and educational for all ages. As you wander through this magical world, you'll learn about the importance of conservation and discover the vital role we all play in helping these incredible creatures survive. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to combine adventure with awareness.
Celebrate summer with the opening of Zoombezi Bay, May 25.
Time to pull that swimsuit out of storage, because Zoombezi Bay is open for the summer! Get ready for a totally tubular summer full of wave pools, waterslides and family fun. Featuring 17 water slides, an authentic watercoaster, a wave pool and an adults only pool you'll be in for a wet and wild summer!
Shop for local art, crafts, and produce at the Dublin Market, every Saturday in Summer
For a quieter, yet equally exciting, stroll through Bridge Park, treat yourself to the fresh fruits and vegetables for sale at the Dublin Market. Open rain or shine, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. every Saturday from May through September, you can feast your eyes on the freshest local produce from Summer’s bounty and shop unique goods from our local farmers, artisans, and craftsmen. This is where you’ll find the perfect mix of food, retail, products, and entertainment. It’s hassle-free fun for friends, families, and anyone looking to savor summer every weekend.
Explore Dublin’s parks and discover art outdoors with your family, whenever you want
The best part about being surrounded by nature is that it’s always right outside your door! And in Dublin, we even bring art into it. Get your family together to experience Art in Public Places, an unexpected way to spend time with your loved ones in some of our most accessible parks. Together you can visit as many as 70 sculptural elements and take a self-guided cell phone tour for an interactive guide to the most popular installations. At the end of the day, you’ll know more about art, nature, and your family!
Wander around untouched nature just outside the city, 6:30 AM to dusk every day
Art isn’t the only adventure you’ll find in Dublin’s parks. You’ll also find extraordinary environments just a short drive away! Just 15 minutes from downtown, the Glacier Ridge Metro Park was named for the debris left behind by glaciers thousands of years ago. Now it’s home to 1,037 acres of untouched nature, including the 150-acre Honda Wetland Area and its education center. Here you can take the whole clan to watch wildlife from the boardwalk, see the view from a 25-foot observation tower, tackle the outdoor obstacle course and zip line, or get close to nature along 11 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback-riding trails.
To recap, these are five outdoor Memorial Day must-dos you can find right here in Dublin:
- UNEXTINCT at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, May 25 & 26
- Zoombezi Bay Summer Season Opener, May 25
- The Dublin Market, every Saturday during the summer
- See Dublin’s Art in Public Places, whenever you want
- Explore nature just outside the city, 6:30 AM to dusk every day
No matter how you like to celebrate summer, Dublin has all the parks, arts, and activities you need to kick off the season with some fun. So find your place among the charming city and vibrant nature, and make it a Memorial Day you’re sure to remember!