Cultural Activities

Our inaugural walk takes on a unique, two-part route using the **Walking Trails @ CDC** \- Bedok and Tampines Trails\. This "phygital" experience combines scenic walking with fun digital gamification—think of it as a structured\, localized Pokémon GO\! As we complete checkpoints along each trial\, we will be embarking on a side quest to track down and catch virtual Ollies hiding along the route\. Finding all six of these elusive Ollies can earn you RedeemSG rewards \(details at https://www\.crowdtask\.gov\.sg/quest/walking\-trails\-cdc\)\. We will begin the first half of the walk soaking in the neighborhood charm of the Bedok trail. The trial ends at the iconic Simpang Bedok where we will have our dinner before embarking on the second half of the walk, which is the Tampines trail. We will be taking a short MRT train hop from Simpang Bedok to the starting point of the Tampines trail. ### Event Details: * **Meeting Point:** **Siglap MRT Station Exit 3** * **1st Half Drop-off Point:** Simpang Bedok * **Ending Point:** Tampines Central Park * **Distance:** Total of \~10km (Comfortable, conversational pace) ### What to Bring: * Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. * An EZ-Link card or mobile payment for the quick MRT transit between trails. * A water bottle to stay hydrated. * An umbrella or rain coat. * A smart phone if you want to participate in the Ollies hunt. * An appetite for dinner and good conversation! ### Disclaimer: * Evening Walks is a casual social group run entirely by volunteer hosts. It is not a professional guiding or fitness service. By participating in this event, you acknowledge and agree that you are choosing to attend at your own risk. You are solely responsible for your own safety, health, physical fitness, and personal belongings during the walk. The organizers, hosts, and event helpers accept no liability for any injury, loss, damage, accident, or inconvenience incurred before, during, or after the event.

**Mao Shan Wang 猫山王 Buffet Lunch +Melaka马六甲** **Shopping & Sightseeing Tour + 1 Group Dinner** **Date: 5 July 2026 (Sun 7am-10pm)** **Event Detail:** **Cost: $150/person** **3 persons or more payment together is $140 person** **The Durians are Calling, Are you ready to join in the durian feast?** **{NON HIKING EVENT, JUST SIMPLY EAT & RELAX!!}** **{SLOTS ARE AVAILABLLE!!!}** **INTERESTED: WHATAPP 94884478 Wilfred or RSVP via Meetup:** [https://www.meetup.com/lets-go-travelling-hiking/events/314351515/](https://www.meetup.com/lets-go-travelling-hiking/events/314351515/) **\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-** **❈❈The Popular Mao Shan Wang 猫山王 Buffet Lunch is back in July!!** **❈❈4 DEPARTURE DATES ARE AVAILABLE:** **❈❈28Jun(Sun) & 11July(Sat) to Muar Attractions,** **5July(Sun) to Melaka Attractions & 18July(Sat) to Kluang Attractions** **\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-** **Event Detail:** **Cost: $150/person** **3 persons or more payment together is $140 person** **PAYMENT:** Please Paynow $xxx/person to UEN 201727764C Wilfred Go Travelling & Hiking Pte or Bank Transfer to DBS Current Account 0029069789 and Text 94884478 with Print-screen Receipt **TA License No 03066** **TA NAME: WILFRED GO TRAVELLING & HIKING PTE LTD**

**You’re warmly invited to an outdoor free mini musical, *“5 Minutes*”** **📅 When & Where:** * **Date:** Saturday, July 4th * **Location:** 46 Stirling Road (The lawn right opposite the Queenstown Polyclinic) * **Setting:** Casual and outdoors—bring a picnic mat or just your morning energy! **🕒 Schedule:** * **9:00 AM:** Community Kampung Breakfast ☕🇸🇬 * **10:00 AM:** First Performance * **11:00 AM:** Second Performance **🎵 What the Show is About:** **The Setting:** Set right there in Stirling Road, Queenstown, **"5 Minutes"** follows a character named Denise as she revisits her childhood home. **The Vibe:** A mix of high-energy rock songs and heartfelt ballads composed by homegrown talent **Carrie Chan**. It explores themes of first love, mother-daughter bonds, and the universal longing for just "five minutes" more with the ones we love. Would love to have you there ❤️ See you soon. Cheers :)) *Wayne K.*

Join us for another easy-peasy community run this coming Saturday, 4 July 2026. Whether you're looking for a relaxed jog or just want to skip straight to the food, everyone is welcome to join in! 📅 Saturday, 4 July 2026 6:00pm: Meet at The Rail Mall (No Bag Drop) 6:10pm: Warm-up 6:20pm: 4-8KM Rail Corridor Loop 7:00pm: Dinner at Springleaf Bring your friends, your family, or just yourself! Drop us a DM to let us know you're coming, and hop into our Motive Run Club WhatsApp chat (https://chat.whatsapp.com/C5yEu8sQWSLBGxKcDtXZIL) to stay in the loop. See you there! 👟

A relaxed Saturday night for people who enjoy light, easy-to-learn board games — nothing too serious, just fun gameplay and good company. \> **Beginner-Friendly**; host will introduce & teach games \> Expect a mix of **light strategy, social deduction** and **party games** \> More than 100 *Games: Azul, Splendor, Citadels, Hanabi, Scout, Nana, Codenames, Taboo, Coup, Avalon, Secret Hitler, Werewords & more!* \> Welcome to bring your own game\! \(Any genre\) 🎫 Entry: **$12/pax** *\> Inclusive of boardgaming and 2 drinks* \> Food available at venue if dinner required 👥 Participants: Expected attendance is larger than rsvp list as there will be attendees from the afternoon session joining 🏠 Venue: **The Noodle Place** **15A Circular Road (2nd Floor)** Nearest MRT: Clark Quay / Raffles Place ⌚ Duration: **7.15pm-10.30pm** \> Last game at 10pm \> Join the afternoon session if you are early\! **Do Whatsapp 8337-0678 to confirm your attendance** and share about your game genre preference, if any, so we can put you on a suitable table! \>\>\>\>\> By signing up for the event, you agree to the following: 🪑 Be mindful of your RSVP! Update 4 hours prior to the event if something else comes up and you can’t attend so someone else can join the fun! 📸 Photos will be taken during the event for publicity purposes. Please sound out if uncomfortable. 🚫 No soliciting, MLM, investment pitches or harassment. Let's keep it friendly! No outside food please! For inclusivity, gameplay will be in English and may be less accessible if you’re not fluent. **‼️ No refunds for sudden unavailability. In the event of cancellation, a full refund will be provided promptly.** For more information, please feel free to whatsapp 8337-0678

**Come, let me show you the magic why my meetups always have such good turn out…** **From Clarke Quay MRT, we’ll walk the quiet path to one of the oldest temple in Singapore. There, you can test out if you can feel any divine intervention 💫🤩 if not, let’s walk some more - all the way to another famous temple in Raffles Place - where miracles can happen 🥳🧧It is believed the Yue Lao here connects the right dots to the right person, so come prepared with your list of criteria, for life always has its way to show you - never say never! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🤗** **Now, this is a slow walk, chit chat, get sweaty, wait for one another to pray, walk some more, talk some more, pray some more, walk walk walk again, then finally eat something meetup session.** **Come with an open heart, mind, soul, and free spirit plus the following:** * **Umbrella** * **Shades** * **Good walking shoes** * **Tissue paper** * **Fan** * **Water** **No pressure** **No judgement** **No networking** **No sales** **No work** **No insult to religion** **Just a good day where I’m pretty sure you’ve never had before, heh… just come and make things better! 🌤️🌈😁**

🏛️ **WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 19:00-19:15 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 19:15-19:25 - Meeting introduction, explanation of Practical Philosophy and the topic for the week, read the guidelines and the overview so attendees know what to expect in terms of timelines. * 19:25-20:45 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 20:45-21:00 - Bring everyone back together to discuss conclusions of the topic - each group gives a short 1-minute summary. Organizer concludes the meeting and everyone takes a group photo. * 21:00 - The official meeting is over but it’s a great opportunity to get to know people in a non-structured environment, so we often stick around, chat, and get to know each other. **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend! We just ask that if we are meeting in a café, buy a beverage! Some chapters rent a space for us to meet, and they may ask for donations to help contribute to the cost of rent. Donations will always be 100% voluntary though! 💛 **WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * ​What will we talk about? What's the topic? ​The topic for the week is shared every Sunday in the Whatsapp group. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow of the conversation. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in over 20 countries, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/) 👈

Get ready for an energising guided walk at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve — a great opportunity to reconnect with nature, improve your fitness, and prepare for future outdoor adventures. Whether you’re gearing up for an overseas expedition or simply looking for a meaningful weekend activity, this session is designed to enhance endurance, strengthen your legs, and build confidence on challenging terrain Set amidst lush rainforest scenery and scenic trails, the walk offers both physical challenge and enjoyment. Train alongside fellow outdoor enthusiasts in a supportive environment as you tackle stairs, slopes, and uneven paths — a rewarding way to begin your journey toward bigger mountain goals 🥾 Event Detail 📍 Location: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve 📅 Date: Sunday, 5 July 2026 ⏰ Meeting Time: 2:45 PM (sharp departure) 🚇 Meeting Point: Beauty World MRT – Passenger Service Counter ⏱️ Walk Duration: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM 🗺️ Route Overvie 🚶 Start: Bukit Timah Nature Park ⬆️ Climb: Bukit Timah Summit – Loop 🌿 Continue Along: Wallace Trail 🏕️ Stopover: Dairy Farm Hut ⬆️ Return Climb: Bukit Timah Summit – Loop 🧍 Finish: Bukit Timah Nature Park This route includes stairways, inclines, and natural uneven terrain, making it excellent preparation for hiking and mountain trekking ⚠️ Important Information / What to Brin Arrive on time as the group will depart promptl Wear comfortable hiking or sports footwea Carry enough drinking wate Be prepared for physical activity on uneven surface Optional items: snacks, sunblock, insect repellen 🌍 Upcoming International Expedition 🏔️Mount Fuji, Japan (July 2026) ⛰️Yushan (Mount Jade), Taiwan (Dec 2026) 🏞️Mount Rinjani, Indonesia (2027) 🏞️ Mount Kinabalu, Panalaban basecamp Malaysia (2027) 🏞️Mount Kinabalu, Ferrata, Malaysia (2027) ️🏔️Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), Nepal (2027) 📝 Disclaimer Participation is voluntary and entirely at your own discretion. Each participant is responsible for their own safety and well-being throughout the activity. Please remain mindful of your surroundings, follow the organizer’s instructions, and notify the organizer immediately if you feel unwell or need assistance As with all outdoor activities, there are inherent risks including slips, falls, and physical fatigue. The organizer will not be responsible for any injuries, accidents, losses, or incidents arising from participation ✨ Take the First Step Toward Greater Adventure Build stamina, strengthen your mindset, and prepare yourself for future mountain expeditions — starting right here at Bukit Timah 📝 Reserve your place today — limited slots available

Come and play some card or boardgames! \> **Beginner-Friendly**; host will introduce & teach games \> **Light strategy, party games and social deduction** if there is enough demand \> *Games: Azul, Carcassone, Citadels, Hanabi, Scout, Codenames, Taboo, Coup, Avalon, Deception, Chameleon, Werewolves & more!* \> Welcome to **bring your own game!** (Any genre) 🎫 **Entry: $15/pax** \> *Inclusive of boardgaming & 2 drinks* \> Food available at venue if dinner required \>\> **Welcome to stay for subsequent boardgame event from 7pm-10pm for free!** (subject to availability, do inform us early) 🏠 Venue: **The Noodle Place** **15A Circular Road (2nd Floor)** *Nearest MRT: Clark Quay / Raffles Place* Do Whatsapp 8337-0678 to confirm your attendance and share about your game genre preference, if any, so we can put you on a suitable table! -- By signing up for the event, you agree to the following: 🪑 Be mindful of your RSVP! Update 4 hours prior to the event if something else comes up and you can’t attend so someone else can join the fun! 📸 Photos will be taken during the event for publicity purposes. Please sound out if uncomfortable. 🚫 No soliciting, MLM, investment pitches or harassment. Let's keep it friendly! For more information, please feel free to whatsapp 8337-0678

English-Japanese Language Exchange while exercising! 運動しながらの英語と日本語の言語交流！ Meet at Redhill MRT station ( I will be wearing a happi/haori looking thing for visibility) 待ち合わせ： Redhill MRT (Green Line) Things to bring・持参物: \- Umbrella\!\!\! 日傘！！！ \- Bottled Water・水 \- Towel・タオル \- Insect Repellents・虫よけ \- Medication if any・自分の薬（必要であれば） \- It will be hot\, short sleeve and pants recommended \- 暑いので運動用の軽装がおすすめです。 ルールと注意事項： * コミュニケーションは親切で適切に行ってください。 * 相手が希望しない場合は連絡先の交換をしつこくせずにください。 * 参加は自己責任で行ってください。活動中のプライバシーや健康問題は自己管理が必要です。 * グループの管理者は、不適切な参加者をブロックおよび禁止する権利を有します。 * グループの活動中やその後のいかなる形の嫌がらせも許容されません。 * いかなる種類の勧誘も禁止されています * このグループの活動に参加することで、グループ写真などのマーケティング目的で使用される写真や動画に同意するものとします。活動中の写真撮影から離れていただいても構いません。写真や動画から自分を削除・隠したい場合は、ご連絡いただければ、プライバシー保護のために笑顔の絵文字を貼り付けますので、お知らせください。 * Rules and notes: \- Be kind and proper in your communication\. \- Do not pester for the exchange of contact information if the other party wishes not to\. \- Join at your own risk\. You are responsible for your own privacy and health issues during activities\. \- Group admins reserve the right to block and ban any unruly participants \- Any form of harassment during or after the group's activities will not be tolerated \- No recruitment or soliciting of any kind is allowed \- By participating in this group's activities\, you consent to be in any pictures or video used for marketing purposes\, such as group photos\. If you feel uncomfortable\, you are free to step away from any photo\-taking\. If you wish to remove/hide yourself from any media\, kindly let us know\, and we will paste a smiley face over you to protect your privacy\.

Hi all, On 5 July Sunday. we will have leisure table tennis at OCBC Arena Level 2. Pingpongs will be provided. Venue is OCBC Arena near Stadium mrt Exit B. *Please be reminded to change rsvp status at least 24hours before meetup, otherwise will be penalised for the tabletennis fees. Fees: ＄5 (paynow/cash)

Want to learn pickleball in a fun, low-pressure setting? I’m hosting a free beginner-friendly meetup at Olentangy Parklands to help new players learn the basics and get comfortable on the court. I’m a pretty skilled player and will walk everyone through the essentials, including rules, scoring, serving, basic strategy, and how to start playing real games. No experience needed. We’ll meet on the upper courts. Bring a pickleball paddle if you have one. If not, no problem, I’ll have some extras available for people to use. This event is meant for beginners and anyone curious about trying pickleball for the first time. Come ready to move, learn, and have fun.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

The only Metro Park with a fire tower! **History** [Scioto Grove Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/scioto-grove/) officially became the 19th park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system when it opened to the public on May 6, 2016. Located along a scenic bend of the Scioto River in Grove City, just south of Columbus, the 620-acre park was designed to blend preservation with modern recreation. Long before it became a park, this river corridor served as a vital footpath and trade route for Indigenous communities. Decades later, the mature forests and dramatic river bluffs caught the eye of conservationists looking to expand regional green spaces. The grand opening was a major milestone, drawing over 19,000 visitors in its very first weekend. The creation of the park was made possible through a sequence of land acquisitions and strong community partnerships. In October 2009, Franklin County voters approved a critical property tax levy that funded the initial purchase of 66 acres. Shortly after, the City of Grove City generously donated nearly 193 acres of land, previously known as Talbot Park, to anchor the project. Additional parcels were acquired using state grants from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, successfully closing the gap between properties by December 2012. This collaborative funding model ensured that pristine wilderness areas remained completely protected from commercial development. From its inception, the park aimed to introduce innovative amenities to the regional park system, most notably the concept of "urban backpacking". Through a key partnership with the outdoor gear retailer REI Co-op, the park established the scenic REI River Trail. This trail features five rustic, reservation-only campsites along the river, specifically designed to give newcomers a safe place to practice backpacking close to home. Additionally, planners prioritized making the park fully pet-friendly, allowing leashed dogs across all trails and areas. This open-pet policy uniquely distinguished Scioto Grove from many other traditional Columbus Metro Parks. As the park grew in popularity, community members established special commemorative landmarks to honor local lives. In June 2019, a dedicated memorial garden was unveiled near the park entrance in memory of Reagan Tokes, an Ohio State University student. The serene space features a central pond bordered by bright blue flowers, representing her favorite color. A primary buckeye tree stands alongside a dedicated plaque, surrounded by four additional buckeye trees to represent her immediate family members. This addition transformed a portion of the park into a meaningful place for community reflection, healing, and peace. The historical depth of the park took a significant leap forward with the relocation of a massive piece of Ohio history. In August 2023, Metro Parks officially unveiled the Keystone Forest Lookout Tower, which had been carefully moved from Jackson County, Ohio. Originally constructed in 1942 by the Aermotor Windmill Company, the 82-foot-tall metal structure spent decades guarding southern Ohio’s vast forests from devastating wildfires. Workers painstakingly disassembled, re-galvanized, and reassembled the historic landmark at Scioto Grove. Today, visitors can climb its 111 steep steps to experience a panoramic view stretching all the way to the downtown Columbus skyline. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Scioto Grove](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SGR-map_1980px_2026.jpg). **Summary** We will hike around 5 miles on the Overlook, REI River, Mingo, and Arrowhead Trails. While the configuration of the trails can lead us to occasionally taking longer hikes than at other parks, Scioto Grove is not generally a very strenuous place to hike. If you use hiking poles and inadvertently forget them, this is not a park where you're likely to end up caring that much. That said, Scioto Grove is one of the better Metro Parks for hiking as well as other things. They are the only Metro Park with five camping areas where you can literally pitch a tent and sleep for the night. You must contact the park and reserve these in advance; they are however free. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area, near the restrooms and playground. Arrowhead is the main picnic and parking area of the park, and it also has the only water fountain at Scioto Grove. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Grove City Brewing](https://www.grovecitybrewery.com/) for [drinks and food](https://www.grovecitybrewery.com/menu). They have pretty good hamburgers. I was mortified to discover that I've never had their [Grove City Hooyah](https://www.beermenus.com/beers/486553-grove-city-hooyah) before, but I will correct that during this event. The actual address of the brewery is [3946 Broadway, Grove City, OH 43123](https://www.google.com/maps/place/3946+Broadway,+Grove+City,+OH+43123/@39.8836912,-83.0919635,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88389b3a28d0f4ad:0x3d85c41f608406c6!8m2!3d39.8836912!4d-83.0919635!16s%2Fg%2F11g8dh6h1_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

**Summary** The [Ohio State Fair](https://www.ohiostatefair.com/) is consistently ranked as one of the [best](https://www.realpropertymgt.com/expert-tips/top-5-state-fairs) ... [state](https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-state-fair/) ... [fairs](https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/local/2025/08/06/ohio-state-fair-named-top-fair-nation-usa-today/85527343007/) ... [in](https://www.blueribbongroup.net/blue-ribbon-foodies/tag/what-are-the-best-state-fairs-in-the-united-states/) ... [America](https://614now.com/2025/explore-columbus/usa-today-names-the-ohio-state-fair-as-one-of-the-countrys-best-find-out-where-it-ranked-here). By [acreage](https://www.google.com/search?q=largest+state+fairs+in+us+by+acreage&client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=5a1ec5f7868eb06c&prmd=ivns&sxsrf=AE3TifOrRyB0UF_zcJxuzJ2blALpROCfFA:1763485805100&source=lnms&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZPH5QghoXViUOqdFyhkUfHhA90f6RZnLvcDKUWyhDavFJHvqNnhR_vnElk0C8uWstYqkR_Pamh3VQhx9plk87wYYnFhXCtQ6JPByPAvG0_LeyIQszFojQ7tWAfAvDzo6MwRJuWxS0jrzFWBkVvjkxbHuA6PTQnwEl88m-YBBItnTFmNlR9xZ9YLttetzKJB1GAWacLg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiX3-rHmPyQAxU6_8kDHcKPH1gQ0pQJegQIBRAF&biw=1735&bih=926&dpr=1), it's one of the five largest fairs in the country. And a million people [visit](https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2025-08-06/attendance-off-slightly-at-2025-ohio-state-fair-but-sales-of-champions-was-up-big) it each year. Last year's [attendees](https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/nearly-1-million-visitors-2025-ohio-state-fair-fun-facts-statistics/530-e6c7db59-e9ca-469b-9d3e-ef39011aca00) came from each of Ohio's 88 counties, from all 50 states, and from as far away as 26 other countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, and others, according to Ticketmaster sales data. **Map of the Fair** Here is a [map of the grounds](https://cdn.saffire.com/images.ashx?t=ig&rid=OhioStateFair&i=map2025.jpg&cb=0508a2a3). **Directions, Parking, Tickets, Timing** Take exit 111 (17th Avenue) off of I-71. Turn west (toward the McDonald's). [Parking is $10](https://www.ohiostatefair.com/p/visit/pricing-hours) whether you pay in advance or on-site. It's generally not too bad getting in and out of the fair. You generally get an excellent spot, too, early in the mornings. There are cops everywhere and they will let you know where to park. [Tickets will be $13](https://www.ohiostatefair.com/p/visit/pricing-hours), but through July 26, you can buy them online for $9. You can also buy 3- and 12-day admission tickets in advance for $24 and $84, respectively. I've scheduled this meetup from 9 to 3, but you can obviously come late or leave early if you want. They will also stamp your hand for free same-day re-admission if you want. The fair is a big place. You will get plenty of steps in at this event, so be prepared to do some walking! **Outside Items** From the [FAQ](https://www.ohiostatefair.com/p/visit/faqs): * *Bags* "Purses, backpacks, book bags, coolers, strollers, etc. are permitted, but are subject to search. Bag searches will also be conducted for guests entering concerts and events in the WCOL Celeste Center." * *Outside Food and Beverage* "You may bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Glass bottles and containers are not permitted on grounds." I like to bring a disposable plastic bottle of water with me and refill it on the grounds as I go. **What's New at the Fair** They've spent the last couple years doing major construction at the fair, and most if not all of it should be completed by the start of this year's fair. They've been massively overhauling what's located at the heart of the fairgrounds just north of Kiddleland and just west of the Midway, they're supposed to also have completed improvements to the Dairy Building. In the center of the fairgrounds, there's supposed to be a new food hall, which I would consider to be the centerpiece of the whole shebang. It's supposed to [include](https://www.ohioexpocenter.com/p/about/expo-2050-master-plan) "multi-purpose dining and event space and incubator kitchens on the first floor, and additional dining and event space on the second story." Furthermore, "both levels [will] include outdoor dining on a patio or balcony." A new "Town Square" and surrounding area will also feature a permanent "Ohio-themed carousel" that will also be "complete with ample shade and seating." The new Dairy Building will be air-conditioned and add public restrooms, a universal changing table, and other new amenities. Four hundred and sixty million dollars have been spent on these improvements and renovations, and I expect they will be very cool! **Where We'll Meet** At no later than 9 a.m., I'll be standing by the giant cardinal just inside Cardinal Gate 1, then we'll wander down to Tracey's (see below). If you come late, Tracey's is where you'll find us (DM me or drop a note in the comments if you need help finding us after you arrive). *Note: There's a smaller Tracey's booth near the main entrance. This is not the Tracey's location we'll be meeting at. You will have to walk down to the Bricker Marketplace to get to the correct Tracey's. There's more information on this, below, in the "What We'll Do" section.* If you want to come later in the day, drop me a note and I'll help you navigate to us or I'll come find you if that's feasible. **What We'll Do** This will be sort of a soft itinerary, depending on the interests of the group. The following is based on last year's [fair schedule](https://www.ohiostatefair.com/events), and might need to be changed depending on this year's schedule. But the overall fair schedule doesn't normally change that radically year-over-year. * 9:00 a.m. - *Tracey's* Tracey's is located at the northernmost part of the "WNCI Food Highway," just south of Brown Arena and at the northern corner of the Bricker Marketplace. They have a covered area with picnic tables where you can sit. They have one of the most varied food selections at the fair. They serve breakfast in the mornings, including eggs, bacon, and pancakes. We'll meet here and start our day by socializing over coffee and, if you want, breakfast. Last year, the pancakes with bacon was $7. You got two pancakes that I would describe as average-sized, and a couple strips of bacon. They gave me extra syrup for free. Both the pancakes and the bacon were actually pretty good. Their coffee is generally good, too. They also serve their coffee in Styrofoam cups, which I like because good coffee is more important to me than the environment. I've posted pics, below, of last year's Tracey's menu, as well as a picture of the venue itself relative to the main entrance of the Bricker Marketplace (this entrance faces the Celeste Center). * 10:00 a.m. - *Kasich Hall* Here they have the Ohio State Fair history exhibit, which is very cool. This building also hosts the creative exhibits, including quilts, cakes and pastries, and fair posters. Finally, events like girls' baton competitions, girls' cheerleading, youth choir, and youth boxing (my favorite) are held here. * 11:00 a.m. - *Lausche Youth Exploration Space* This building features 4-H exhibits, Boy and Girl Scout exhibits, and various science exhibits, with the latter including exhibits from COSI and the Ohio State Physics Department. You can also buy Girl Scout cookies here! * 12:00 a.m. - *Bricker Marketplace* Bricker Marketplace is the fair's main flea market. It's a huge indoor shopping area with a food court at its center. The [ODOT](https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/) booth is here, and I always like to check and see if they have any maps I want. Because Bricker is air-conditioned, it's a good place to stop for lunch. There are booths here with burgers, pizza, chicken, Asian food, and alcoholic beverages. * 1:00 p.m. - *Cox Fine Arts* There are art displays here -- paintings, drawings, sculptures, and such. I always like going through here, and people usually like the displays here. * 2:00 p.m. - *Natural Resources Park* The Natural Resources Park is next to Kiddieland, and I think it's the best area of the fair. It's certainly a very popular area. The Timber Show is popular, though I confess to finding it slightly overrated. This area also includes youth fishing, a kayak pond, archery range, butterfly house, aviary, and animal exhibits -- and these are all free. You can also get free chap stick and pens in the [Oil & Gas building](https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/oil-gas/oil-gas). The chap stick is functional, though perhaps a bit mediocre, but the pens are absolutely the best possible pens you can get anywhere, and I'm being completely serious about this. These are seriously my all-time favorite pens, so I encourage you to grab a few. **Other Things Along the Way** Again, the Ohio State Fair is a big place! So here are some of the other things we might check out along the way: * *The* *Cincinnati Circus Company, The Nerveless Nocks, Lady Houdini, or some other "death-defying" act* These typically start at 1:30 and run once every two hours in the afternoon. The show is generally decent and worth catching, whatever it happens to be. These used to run at the south end of the fair by the south gate on 11th Avenue, but a couple years ago they moved them to the south end of the Midway and next to Natural Resources Park. My guess is that this is where they will be again this year. * *Main Street Stage / Gazebo Stage* These stages are at opposite ends of the "WNCI Food Highway." They'll have shows like live music, magic, hypnosis, juggling, and the like. I usually end up seeing most of the shows, almost by accident, during my annual trips to the fair. If there's music at the Gazebo, though, it can be a little loud if the performer is using a big amp. But otherwise the shows are generally entertaining, if not spectacular. If [The Beach Geeks](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1440916777197254) are playing again this year, we are absolutely dropping everything to check them out. I'll fight people on this. * *The Midway* I'm not a big *riding*-the-rides person, and I doubt we will go through here though unless there's interest. However, I do really enjoy *watching* people ride rides, so I never have a problem taking a stroll down the Midway. I do like doing bumper cars, though, as well as some of the various haunted or fun houses. If you think there's a snowball's chance in hell I'm doing the [Defender](https://talleyamusements.com/attraction/defender/), though, then please put the bong down and slowly back away. * *The Dairy Building* This is where the famous Butter Cow is, and the exhibit is always popular. You can also get fairly overpriced ice cream and milkshakes here. Unless something changes here because of their renovations, there are cheaper places at the fair where you can get dairy desserts, and I can show you where they are. * *Taft Coliseum* An indoor arena where they have rodeo- or cowboy/cowgirl-type shows. Sometimes these shows are very good and entertaining and worth checking out. Note that, while you're out of the sun here and the seating is generally good, the arena is not air-conditioned. If trick riders [Tracie Spitznogle](https://www.tiktok.com/discover/tracie-lee-spitzongle) and [Carlie Hale](https://www.facebook.com/trickriderCarlie/) are here, you are likely to enjoy their show, and it will be free (and well-attended). * *The Petting Zoo* & *Pig Races* These used to be in Kiddieland, but in 2025 they were moved to "The Barnyard," next to the Gazebo Stage and the Celeste Center. I suspect they'll have moved again in 2026, but that they will otherwise be back. They're both free and generally popular, with the Pig Races being *extremely* popular. The woman who does the announcing for the Races always delivers the exact same script year after year, but she has so much charisma you won't care, even if you've seen it many times before. * *Central Park* Sometimes I like to just sit here, people-watch, and listen to the sounds of the fair. There are typically several beer vendors right next to Central Park if you want to relax and nurse a beverage while you do so, and the Dairy Building is also very close by. This area may end up being superseded in desirability by the new "Town Square." The Park does suffer from a paucity of shade, and the Square is supposed to rectify some of this. We will see! * *Live Music* There is likely to be some sort of band performing classic rock from something like 2p-5p either in the Taste of Ohio Pavilion next to the Natural Resources Park, or in the Pavilion's replacement/renovated area near the new Town Square. The show will be free and highly likely to be quite good. You should be able to get drinks and food here, too (wherever the ultimate location is), while you check out the band. * *Zultar - Fortune Teller* I saw this guy for the first time last year. He's one of the fair's "strolling entertainers," meaning he takes his act all over the fair and you never know where he will show up next. He's got a "booth" and he wears a costume and face paint that make him look exactly like one of those fortune-telling-booth mannequins. He is completely hilarious (particularly when dealing with children), and if we see him, we will stop and watch him. Don't make me fight you on this, too, people. * *Ohio History Center* Buying a ticket to enter the Ohio State Fair will automatically get you free admission to the [Ohio History Center](https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/ohio-history-center/) and [Ohio Village](https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/ohio-village/), which are located just outside the fairgrounds but otherwise are just next door. They've been doing major renovations of the Village, but these are supposed to be completed by the time the State Fair opens this year. You can walk from the fair to the History Center and the Village, or they have a free shuttle you can take. It's not a short walk, but it's also eminently doable. The History Center is a museum that's really not too terribly big, but is very interesting. And the Village is a living simulation of life in a small 19th-century Ohio town. I suspect most of the people who come out this Meetup would probably enjoy both the Center and the Village. Just keep in mind, though, that if we go, we'll probably be up there for at least a couple hours, which means less time at the fair. However, you won't have to twist my arm to get me to go up, because the whole History complex is actually pretty cool. **Conclusion** Come on out to the Ohio State Fair! 🥳 🎉 😄

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