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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out therapy dog events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the therapy dog events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find therapy dog events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Therapy Dog Events Today
Join in-person Therapy Dog events happening right now
Yoga for Men - by Queer Yoga Brussels
š Hello Yogis and Future Yogis! š
Come and join us on the mat for this new series of "Yoga For Men" !
It doesn't matter if you're Gay, Bi, trans, ally, curious ->
if you identify as male and have friendly vibes - come and join us !
Ladies, unfortunately you'll have to skip this one - but you're more than welcome at our Sunday morning sessions !
š§āāļøš§āāļø Class takes place every **Wednesday evening - from 18:30 to 19:45 :) Please arrive a few minutes before class to give you the time to set-up...**
No need to worry if you've never tried Yoga before ā everyone is welcome, beginners included! š Just bring yourself in some comfy clothes and let the magic happen :-).
šæ **Class Details:**
* Classes take place [Merci Wellness - Place Dillens 1, 1060 Saint-Gilles](https://www.merci-wellness.be/plan-acces.php). Very easy to get there, either by bike or metro (Hotel des Monnaies).
* ā° 18:30 to 19:45 (doors will open at 18:15 - **class starts at 18:30 sharp** \- not possible to join after that **as the door will be closed**).
šø **Cost:**
* First class: 10 euros š
* Single class: 15 euros š§āāļø
* 5-class pass: 65 euros (valid for 3 months - a great deal for regular yogis! š)
* 10 class pass: 125 euros - valid for 5 months.
You can pay your class on site either in CASH or through PAYCONIC.
For more info - follow us on [Instagram.com/queeryogabrussels](http://www.instagram.com/queeryogabrussels)
**Come and try it !** Spend a moment in a nice atmosphere and discover the benefits of Yoga, from increased flexibility, better posture, a stronger body to a calmer mind.
See you on the mat! š§āāļøāØ
Edson
P.S. We also have a "mixed gender" class on Sunday mornings from 11:00 to 12:15 - make sure to check it out on Meetup !
Welcome to The Club.
**Welcome to The Club.**
A **curated** social community in Brussels for people who want real connections, memorable experiences, and **better energy than the usual random meetup chaos**.
Most of our events happen in **private homes**, gardens, hidden places around Brussels, or unusual locations outside the city. The goal is simple: create the kind of atmosphere where people actually talk, laugh, connect, and want to come back.
We organize things like:
⢠gourmet lunches & dinners
⢠picnics & roadtrips
⢠cooking nights
⢠walks around Brussels
⢠karaoke & movie nights
⢠debates & discussions
⢠card and social games
⢠occasional āchaperonedā social evenings where people can meet naturally in a safe environment
The difference is that we personally curate and vet new members.
The host actively introduces newcomers, helps people integrate into the group, and keeps the atmosphere respectful and relaxed. We have zero tolerance for creepy behavior, unwanted pressure, spam, random uninvited people, or drama.
*Unfortunately, posting too many details publicly on Meetup or on the internet in general quickly attracts bots, scammers, fake profiles, crypto weirdos, and people who completely ruin the vibe for everyone else.*
Thatās why most of our real coordination happens privately through our ***vetted WhatsApp community***.
To join, simply scan the QR code in the image.
If you are on your phone and cannot scan it directly:
⢠take a screenshot of the image
⢠open the screenshot in your photo gallery
⢠most phones can automatically detect QR codes from photos by long pressing or using Google Lens / iPhone scan feature
Then request access to the group and introduce yourself briefly.
See you soon
Qi Gong, a l'exterieur
Join us for an invigorating Qi Gong class focused on physical exercise to boost your energy levels! Qi Gong is a practice that combines gentle movements, deep breathing, and meditation to cultivate and balance the body's vital energy. In this session, we will guide you through a series of exercises designed to enhance your physical well-being and increase your overall vitality.
Whether you are a beginner or experienced in Qi Gong, this class is suitable for all levels. Come and learn how to harness the power of Qi to promote physical healing, reduce stress, and improve flexibility. Take this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and cultivate your inner strength. Let's flow together and train our energy for a healthier and more balanced life!
š¬ The Club ā Summer Movie Festival (Private Garden)
Small curated movie nights in a hidden garden in Ixelles, next to Place Flagey.
A mix of:
* **cult classics**
* **recent movies**
* **international cinema**
* **comedy nights**
* **karaoke & dubbing chaos nights**
* **comfort food and summer vibes**
**This is not a giant public Meetup** where 40 strangers stand awkwardly around overpriced drinks pretending networking is fun. Humanity already suffered enough.
Our idea is simple:
we gather in a private home and transform the courtyard into a small outdoor cinema.
Sometimes we cook together before the movie:
Italian, Thai, Lebanese, Japanese, Balkan, Greek, Latin American street food etc.
Sometimes people simply grab pizza from the excellent pizzeria next door and join the screening.
Food is intentionally relaxed:
bowls, finger food, street food, popcorn, snacks, comfort food.
**Some nights are more gourmet.**
Some are glorified pizza-and-movie nights.
Both are valid forms of civilization **;-)**
## **What makes this different**
The group is i**ntentionally small**:
usually 6 to 8 people maximum.
**People are introduced properly.**
Nobody gets abandoned in a corner.
The atmosphere stays human, social and safe.
**No heavy drinking.**
**No creepy behavior.**
No random people showing up uninvited.
Smoking is allowed because is outside in the courtyard and occasionally we may have **hookah nights** depending on the movie/theme.
## **Typical evenings**
* Wong Kar-wai + Asian comfort food
* Spaghetti western + Italian street food
* Anime + sushi night
* Greek cinema + mezze
* Balkan chaos cinema + burek
* Cult movie dubbing nights where people voice scenes live karaoke-style
Yes, this is a real thing now apparently.
## **Important**
Because Meetups and public internet are full of bots, spam accounts and socially radioactive individuals, **we do NOT post the exact address publicly.**
To join:
scan the QR code on the image and request access to the private WhatsApp group or send me a DM.
From there:
* we announce movies
* vote on menus
* organize cooking nights
* coordinate places
**If you are new in Brussels, introverted, traveling, recently arrived, or simply tired of giant impersonal events, this may be your thing.**
š 20km Brussels Training ā After Work Runs (All Levels š š£š¢)
šāāļø Sunday Vacations | Train Together, Finish Together
Thinking about joining the **20km of Brussels on May 31st**⦠but donāt want to train alone?
š Join our **after-work training group** and prepare together in a fun, social, and motivating atmosphere.
Whether you're a beginner or already running regularly ā **youāre welcome.**
Navigating Loss and Transition: A Reflective Workshop
Navigating Loss and Transition: A Reflective Workshop
By David Sunderland
Brussels, 27 May 2026
Register here: https://www.imaginationclub.org/brussels/navigating_loss_and_transition.php
We all experience loss ā of roles, relationships, identities, expectations, or direction ā yet we rarely pause to reflect on it. This interactive workshop creates a calm, reflective space to explore how loss shapes our lives and decisions, both personally and professionally. Drawing on a simple but powerful format (including candles, silence, and guided questions), participants are invited to share, listen, and reflect at their own pace.
The session blends elements of ādeath cafĆ©sā with a broader exploration of transition, helping participants better understand endings ā and what they make possible.
Participants will:
\* Explore different types of loss (personal, professional, existential).
\* Reflect on how transitions shape identity, decisions, and growth
\* Practice listening and speaking in a structured, non-judgmental space
\* Gain language and perspective for navigating change and uncertainty
\* Identify insights they can carry into work and everyday life.
Conclusion
You will leave with a deeper understanding of loss as a source of clarity, connection, and possibility.
About David Sunderland
David is British and French since 2019. He also has strong Brazilian sympathies after being married to a Brazilian woman for nearly 20 years. A similar period of time working in the United Nations, along with various other voluntary and civil society work, has reinforced his idealism while granting him more pragmatic perspectives around planning, communication and human relations.
He founded, and continues to be Chair of, www.plenna.org that encourages better preparation for death and dying, whatever one's age or situation. His personal website, including links to his writing (with details on his forthcoming book, āThe Punctuation of Lossā), is www.intermundia.org.
**Practical Information**
**When**
Wednesday, 27 May 2026 from 18h45-21h00
**Where?**
Timesmore
Boulevard St Michel 47, 1040 Brussels
**How much?**
ā¬15 to cover expenses including materials, drinks, snacks, etc. - payable at the door.
**Event web page** https://www.imaginationclub.org/brussels/navigating_loss_and_transition.php
**Please Share**
If you feel your friends, family and/or colleagues may be interested in this workshop, please share it with them. The Imagination Club relies on new participants to cover our operational costs and maintain a diverse, perceptive and intelligent audience (in other words, people like you) for our events.
**Might you be interested to give an experimental workshop at the Imagination Club?**
Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned professional, you are welcome to try out your workshop ideas at the club. We have dates available for this season.
Therapy Dog Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Quiet Forest Walk
Quiet Forest Walk ā The Clear Space
This is a quiet, low-stimulation activity. It may suit people who feel overwhelmed in typical social settings or who prefer a calmer way of being together.
Hi everyone,
On Sunday 31 May, Iām organising a quiet forest walk for The Clear Space. Weāll walk together in silence for about an hour, in a calm and gentle way.
This is not about performance, conversation, or doing anything special. Itās simply a chance to be outdoors together in a quieter way ā with space to breathe, notice, settle, and just be.
Sometimes silence can feel more natural than talking, and walking side by side can feel easier than a usual social setting. That is very much the spirit of this walk.
When: Sunday 31 May
Where: Herrmann-Debroux metro, straight ahead after leaving the platform
Time: We start walking at 14:10 sharp, so please come a little earlier if possible.
Please wear good shoes, especially if the weather has been rainy, as the forest can be muddy.
Afterwards, if people feel like it, we can have a drink at Rouge CloĆ®tre. Youāre welcome to join, but there is absolutely no pressure.
If youād like to come, or if you have any questions, you can message me at 0474 60 83 70.
You are very welcome.
Forest Play: Movement and Reconnection in Nature
FOREST PLAY (10h-12h)
The Forest Play - sessions are inclusive, nurturing and natural reconnecting events, focussing on restoring or replenishing energy, the sense of joy and personal perspective by interacting (and playing) with nature's healing elements.
Combining tension-releasing stretches, easy flow-restoring exercises (using trees, branches, logs, stones, hills...), doing silent or touch meditations and playful authentic relating games, we're able to get in touch with our inner-child and start to feel free, open-hearted, unassuming and adventurous again, bringing back the joy and vitality we all carry deeply within, but often believed to have been lost. Our hearts gradually open and start reconnecting again.
The 2h-sessions focus on gradually increasing physical resilience, but include emotional and energetic aspects as well to restore general holistic balance in body, mind and spirit. There is no competitive stake to it, there are no extremes or high-intensity actions involved. But we do play gently with our personal comfort zones, sliding in and out, at times challenging our personal beliefs, convictions and limitations. These edges are where the real learning takes place, so take note.
The sessions have powerful therapeutic value. They are developed, customised and guided by specialised trauma therapist Ken Christiaens. All exercises, while feeling light and fun, have a foundation in trauma and tension-releasing therapies, with elements of inner child work, constellations, reiki, NLP, somatic work, role/game play and meditation. Nature's increased healing potential (forest bathing) is fully being harnessed here.
For more info on the therapeutic practice of Ken, please visit: www.nieuwegrond.be
PRACTICAL
The Forest Play-session starts at 10h sharp and ends at 12h. It costs 18e to participate.
Meeting and end-point is always Parking Forest Playground Everzwijnbad, Weertsedreef 8-10, Oud-Heverlee (please read location description well, Google Maps can be a bit tricky).
You actually might get a bit dirty and sweaty at some point, please prepare for outdoor nature workout: sporty shoes with ribs, sporty clothes, maybe a small towel (feet might get dirty or wet) or anything you feel comfortable with.
Regarding the payment:
You will be asked to transfer 18e to Ken's account beforehand or bring it on the day itself.
Your participation is only confirmed if you have confirmed the payment as well.
The event will be cancelled only when the weather really doesn't allow it.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask via personal message.
We hope to see and connect with you there!
Somatic Movement in Nature
**Somatic Movement** is a powerful method based on principles and wisdom from Eastern movement practices, such as yoga and Tai Chi, as well as Western techniques and insights from neuroscience, trauma therapy, and burnout recovery.
The goal is to activate your body and brain by allowing energy to flow through your system without overloading the nervous system. This is achieved through gentle, intentional movements, stretches and exercises, but also by increasing awareness and sensory perception ā both internally (within ourselves) and externally (of our surroundings).
Combining tension-releasing stretches, easy flow-restoring exercises (using trees, branches, logs, stones, hills...), doing silent or touch meditations and playful authentic relating games, we're able to release a lot of stored tension and start to feel free, open-hearted, unassuming and adventurous again.
The 2h-sessions focus on gradually increasing physical resilience, but include emotional and energetic aspects as well to restore balance in body, mind and spirit. There is no competitive stake, there are no extremes or high-intensity actions involved. But we do sometimes challenge our personal comfort zones a bit, sliding in and out, bumping into some limiting belief or conviction we might carry within. We learn by looking at things from different perspectives.
The sessions are guided by seasoned therapist Ken.
For more info on his practices, please visit: www.nieuwegrond.be
**PRACTICAL**
This is a free introduction session for you.
But since this is a professional practice, where paying people might participate as well, we can only offer this once. If you wish to continue afterwards, you can talk to Ken personally or book through his website mentioned above.
The session starts at 10h sharp and ends at 12h.
Meeting and end-point is always Parking Forest Playground Everzwijnbad, Weertsedreef 16, Oud-Heverlee at the border of Meerdaelwoud. Please read the location description well, Google Maps can be a bit tricky.
Since we're in the forest and will connect with trees, branches, soil etc, please make sure your clothes can handle this. If you wish, you can bring some water and small towel for comfort, but it's not a must. Please be aware that the organizer can not be held responsible for any damage or losses you might suffer. A safe environment is a priority for everyone.
The event will be cancelled only when the weather really doesn't allow it.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask via personal message.
We hope to see and connect with you there!
Ken
Connect to your joy: a full moon cacao & drum ritual
=== [Confirm your your presence](https://hipsy.be/event/213471-connect-to-your-joy-a-full-moon-cacao-drum-ritual) ===
===
When life feels overwhelming or a season of transition leaves you feeling disconnected from your own body, finding your way back to center can feel like a heavy task. But returning to yourself doesn't always have to be hard work.
Anchored by the comforting, rich warmth of ceremonial cacao, we will create a grounding space to help you land safely back in your physical body. From this place of deep, earthy coziness, weāll use gentle rhythm to invite in a sense of lightness and simple, child-like play.
This experience is designed to help you peel back the layers of stress and rediscover your "inner smile"āthat stable, quiet joy that lives beneath the noise. If you are ready to shed some weight, reconnect with who you are, and leave feeling lighter, you belong here.
⨠āThis ritual is an invitation to pause, step out of the daily rush, and simply let yourself *be*.
While cacao is traditionally known as a medicine of the heart and love, in this space, we will lean into its comforting warmth to help us gently relax and open up. It gently expands our capacity for inner listening, creating the perfect earthy foundation for joy to naturally arise.
āSupported by breath, sound, movement, and community, this ritual offers a safe, grounded space to:
* release the physical tension of overwhelm
* reconnect with your body in a gentle, nourishing way
* embody inner joyānot as an abstract idea, but as a lived experience
=== [Confirm your your presence](https://hipsy.be/event/213471-connect-to-your-joy-a-full-moon-cacao-drum-ritual) ===
===
āšæ What to Expect \| Ritual Flow
**š°ļø Timing & Arrival**
* **18:30** ā Doors open (arrive, settle in, and get comfortable)
* **18:55** ā Doors close (to ensure a safe, uninterrupted container, no entry after this time)
* **19:00** ā Ritual begins
āThe experience unfolds in a carefully held and progressive way:
* **āWelcoming & arrival** Grounding into the space and the group
* **āBreathing and somatic practices** To calm the nervous system and prepare the body
* **āGuided cacao ritual** Drinking ritual-grade cacao, prepared with intention accompanied by a gentle guided meditation
* **āConscious dance** Allowing insights and emotions to move through the body while connecting to the joy
* **āDrum meditation** A deep, rhythmic journey to support inner clarity and emotional release
* **āClosing circle** Integration, sharing (optional), and grounding before returning to daily life
āNo previous experience with cacao ceremonies, meditation, or dance is required.
āš¤ About the Cacao
āThe cacao used in this ceremony is:
* ā100% pure, ritual-grade cacao
* āethically sourced
* all ingredients used are vegan
* āprepared slowly and mindfully, with intention for the process and the group
āCacao is not a psychedelic substance. Its effects are subtle, heart-opening, and grounding.
āā ļø Important Health Information (Please Read)
To ensure this space is as supportive as possible for your unique body, please note that cacao is generally safe for most people, but it is important that you inform the host before registering if you have any of the following:
* āserious heart conditions
* āuncontrolled high blood pressure
* āare taking antidepressants (especially MAO inhibitors)
* āare pregnant or breastfeeding
āIf you are unsure, you are warmly invited to contact the host to check whether this experience is suitable for you. This helps ensure the ritual remains safe, respectful, and supportive for everyone.
About your host: I support people in life transition and overwhelmed.
https://livingbloom.life
https://instagram.com/reginadgaia
Join my WhatsApp Group for a 15% discount code:
https://tinyurl.com/livingbloomgroup
=== [Confirm your your presence](https://hipsy.be/app/events/213471/ticketshop) ===
===
Healing sessions - donation-based
Please [register yourself on the website ](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/7QLiiTnqLMxNg6Bdm5Bm)to receive the details of how to join.
This powerful healing technique removes the negative energies and blockages to then nbe replaced by life energy or prana.
Organized by Juliana Cruz, a Pranic Healing practitioner for over 10 years.
These donation-based sessions are in a group session, done by different practitioners who have learned Pranic Healing. The sessions take from 20 to 30 minutes.
* **Sunday**
**From 11:30 to 12:50**
20 - 30 min session per person
First-come, first-served.
This practice comes after a meditation (from 10:30 to 11:30) to receive and share energies of loving-kindness to the entire Earth. You can join by [registering yourself here](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/j5YTbU6YaGLgGOXyvMNn).
With love,
Juliana
How can karma help you + Meditation
Register yourself on the [website to receive the full details](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/j5YTbU6YaGLgGOXyvMNn).
How can you benefit from learning more about karma and YOUR karma?
Join us to learn more about karma and practices that you can use to improve your own life!
The talk will be followed by a guided meditation to bless ourselves and the Earth, called Twin Hearts Meditation.
WE NEED LOVE, THE WORLD NEEDS LOVE
Sunday
10:30 - 11:30
Av Louise 505, Brussel
Donation-based.
There is a box at the entrance to receive your donation
Register yourself on the link a the top to receive all the details
This talk + meditation is followed by a Pranic Healing session, a powerful healing system to bring more inner peace, self-connection, and emotional and physical healing. You can register yourself the [healing session that follows here](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/7QLiiTnqLMxNg6Bdm5Bm).
With love,
Juliana
Queer Yoga Brussels - for LGBTQ+ people & their friends !
š Hello Yogis and Future Yogis! š
š§āāļøš§āāļø Whether you're a seasoned Yogi or a complete beginner, come and join us every **SUNDAY MORNING - from 11:00 to 12:15 - for Queer Yoga in Brussels :)**
No need to worry if you've never tried Yoga before ā everyone is welcome! š Just bring yourself in some comfy clothes (mats are provided) and let the magic happen :-).
šæ **Class Details:**
* This is an "open event" - for everyone, LGBTQ people and their friends no matter their **gender, age, race, sexual orientation or level of fitness / practice**.
* Classes take place [Merci Wellness - Place Dillens 1, 1060 Saint-Gilles](https://www.merci-wellness.be/plan-acces.php). Very easy to get there, either by bike or metro (Hotel des Monnaies).
* Ring bell "MERCI WELLNESS" - third floor !
* ā° 11:00 to 12:15 (doors close at 10:55 as **class starts at 11:00 sharp** \- it is not possible to join late\)\.
šø **Cost:**
* Single class: 15 euros š§āāļø
* 5-class pass: 65 euros (valid for 3 months - a great deal for regular yogis! š)
You can pay your class on site either in CASH or through PAYCONIC.
**Come and this great group of Sunday Morning Yogis** \- to spend a moment in a nice atmosphere and discover the benefits of Yoga\, from increased flexibility\, better posture\, a stronger body to a calmer mind\.
See you on the mat! š§āāļøš§āāļøāØ
Edson
P.S. Also, make sure to check out our new class **"Yoga for Men"** \- every Wednesday at 18:30 in the same location \- you can find the class list on our Meetup main page \!
Therapy Dog Events Near You
Connect with your local Therapy Dog community
Want to Truly Heal from Emotional Trauma?
Why are we unhappy? Where does emotional pain come from? Studies show that people who suffer from long-term emotional pain have painful experiences in their lives that were never fully resolved in their mind. In other words, there were issues in the past that were not completely dealt with. This can include abuse in childhood, breakups, divorce, death of a loved one, to name a few.
How do you know whether you have gotten over something painful? Here is an easy test: Do you still have attention on what had happened to you? For instance, do you still find yourself thinking about something painful that you went through? If you are, then you are not over it. In fact, in severe cases, people find themselves playing a "tape" in their mind over and over again.
So how do you heal from your past? How do you stop the "tape" playing in your mind? In this meeting, you will learn a technique to help you with that.
Come join us! Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there.
This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology life improvement center.
In-Person Event: The Answers to Depression & Anxiety
This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them.
Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation donāt just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance".
Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you.
The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life.
Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life.
Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there.
This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.
Free In-person Meeting: Unwanted Emotions & Loneliness, How to Get Over Them
This is an in-person meeting.
Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation donāt just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance.
Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you.
The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life.
For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues.
So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them?
That is what this meeting will be all about.
Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life.
Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there.
This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.
Trails & Ales! Chestnut Ridge Metro Park / BrewDog DogTap
**History**
[Chestnut Ridge Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/chestnut-ridge/) is historically significant because it sits on a 300-million-year-old outcropping of Blackhand sandstone. Geographically recognized as the very first foothill of the Appalachian Mountains, the ridge rises 1,116 feet above sea level. Long before European settlement, the land served as a sacred site for ancient civilizations. The park contains the Old Maid's Orchard Mound, an eight-foot-tall burial mound constructed by the Adena culture between 1000 B.C. and 100 B.C. This ancient landmark has remained largely intact and is now protected on the National Register of Historic Places.
The documented modern history of the land began with an official survey conducted by Ebenezer Buckingham in 1801. Original land deeds of sale from this period notably bear the signatures of United States Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. In the 1830s, Irish laborers arrived at the ridge to quarry its rich Blackhand sandstone. The blocks they hewed were used to build the crucial locks for the nearby Ohio and Erie Canal. Remnants of this early sandstone quarrying operation can still be spotted by sharp-eyed hikers along the modern trails.
Agricultural transformation defined the ridge throughout the mid-to-late 19th century. Settlers discovered that the high elevation created a natural air flow that prevented late-season frost damage to crops. Extensive fruit orchards were planted across the slopes between 1860 and 1880. One notable orchard was established by John Wagner, a Spanish-American War veteran who chose the ridge specifically for its proximity to the bustling Columbus market. The park's current name pays homage to the massive American chestnut trees that once dominated the ridgeline before a devastating ecological blight wiped them out in the early 20th century.
The conservation story of the modern 486-acre park began in March 1962. The Metro Parks board announced land acquisition plans to block developers from building a residential housing development called Chestnut Heights. Director-Secretary Walter A. Tucker advocated heavily for the purchase, citing the ridge's immense value as a scenic overlook for central Ohio. The district systematically purchased multiple agricultural parcels over the next two decades. After operating strictly as undeveloped farmland through the 1970s, Chestnut Ridge Metro Park officially opened to the public on December 18, 1988.
In recent decades, the park has evolved from a quiet hiking spot into a premier regional destination for outdoor sports. A major turning point occurred in 2010 when the Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization (COMBO) partnered with the park district to develop new infrastructure. Volunteers worked extensively to construct a single-track mountain bike trail, which officially opened in October 2011. An expert gravity and flow trail featuring advanced jumps was later integrated into the loop in 2016. Today, the park successfully balances its deep ancient, industrial, and agricultural history with active recreation.
**Map of the Park**
Here is a [map of Chestnut Ridge](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CHR_map_1980px_2026.jpg).
**Summary**
For this event, we will hike the Ridge, Meadows, and Homesite Trails, and Law's Lane, which is unmarked on some maps. None of these trails is individually very long, so we will hike a few permutations and loops until we get in 4-5 miles. The hike will be moderately strenuous.
**Where We'll Meet**
Drive to the rearmost picnic area at the back of the park. There's a latrine here, but there's no water fountain here or anywhere else at Chestnut Ridge. I strongly recommend you bring some water of your own, at least for after the hike.
Cell service at the park is spotty, although your GPS will get you there just fine. The map pin I've provided here is exactly where we'll be meeting and should be able to be used directly in Google Maps, although Chestnut Ridge isn't big and you're unlikely to get lost here.
**After the Hike**
Afterward, we'll head over to [BrewDog DogTap](https://drink.brewdog.com/usa/brewdog-dogtap-columbus) for [drinks](https://usa.brewdog.com/pages/brewdog-lineup) and [food](https://usa.brewdog.com/cdn/shop/files/DogTap_Menu_2025_65e1ff8b-97d4-4f26-80f1-68321d482025.pdf?v=17356939232910340498). They also have an outdoor area that's extremely popular.
I've had their burgers and their pizza, and I think they're both very good. I also really like their [Cold Beer](https://usa.brewdog.com/products/cold-beer-2024) (that's its actual name), which is their American light lager.
BrewDog's actual address is [96 Gender Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110](https://www.google.com/maps/place/96+Gender+Rd,+Canal+Winchester,+OH+43110/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88387c06afa21a85:0x804c611d373d8c54?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111), and they have a large, free parking lot. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.
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