Columbus arts, Oct. 16 to Nov. 27: We Are Carver at The Columbus Museum, Covenant at the Springer, the Marine Band, Kristin Chenoweth and the symphony.

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. This page is rebuilt each month and covers the next six weeks. Dates and times come from each venue’s own page, linked below; some listings were first found on the Visit Columbus events calendar. Confirm with the venue before you go.

Updated Oct. 16: past dates removed; added the museum’s Oct. 17 family workshop and Oct. 20 artist talk, and the symphony and Rock Orchestra concerts in late November.

Jessica Ingram’s We Are Carver, six years of photographs and stories from George Washington Carver High School, is now on view at The Columbus Museum. The Springer Opera House stages the Southern Gothic thriller Covenant from Oct. 16 to 24, and the RiverCenter has the free-ticketed U.S. Marine Band on Oct. 23, Kristin Chenoweth on Nov. 6 and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 21.

The short version

  • The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road: free admission, five exhibitions on view. 706-748-2562.
  • Bo Bartlett Center, 921 Front Ave.: two shows to Dec. 5; open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. 706-507-8432.
  • Springer Opera House, 103 10th St.: box office 706-327-3688, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
  • RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway.

Exhibitions now showing

The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road. The museum says admission is free and open to all.

  • Jessica Ingram: We Are Carver, to Feb. 14, 2027. Photographs and stories from Carver High School. Exhibition page.
  • Coulter Fussell: The Proving Ground, to Jan. 3, 2027. Quilt-based works made from donated textiles, clothing and found objects. Fussell talks about the show at a Lifelong Learners session, 12:15 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, with an optional gallery visit from 11:30 a.m. and a catalog signing after; bring lunch or buy it at the museum cafe. Exhibition page and talk listing.
  • Circa 1776: A Celebration of America250, to Jan. 1, 2027. Exhibition page.
  • Columbus at Play, to March 21, 2027. Exhibition page.
  • Eastern Visions: Asian American Art in Focus, to July 25, 2027. Exhibition page.

Bo Bartlett Center, Columbus State University, 921 Front Ave. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday.

  • Southbound: A Survey of New and Previous Works by Y. Malik Jalal, to Dec. 5. Collage and sculpture made from discarded family photographs.
  • The Bennett Prize: Rising Voices 4, to Dec. 5. Work by women figurative realist painters from the fourth round of the prize.
  • Both are listed on the center’s exhibitions page.

Theater and dance

  • “Covenant,” a Southern Gothic thriller about a blues guitarist and a deal with the devil, McClure Theatre at the Springer Opera House. 7 p.m. Oct. 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Recommended for ages 16 and older. Springer page.
  • “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a live shadow cast, 8 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, Emily Woodruff Hall at the Springer. No one under 17 without an adult. Springer page.
  • “The Music Man,” 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, Bill Heard Theatre, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live!,” 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • Actors From the London Stage: “Much Ado About Nothing,” 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Studio Theatre, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • “Curious George and the Golden Meatball,” 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • “Ready, Set, Rocket!,” an interactive show for children up to 8, Springer Opera House. 11 a.m. Nov. 7 and 14; 2 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15. Springer page.
  • “Whose Live Anyway?,” improv comedy, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • “Mystic Pizza,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • Movies Under the Stars: “A Goofy Movie,” a free screening on the Springer’s outdoor patio, 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14; gates open at 7:30 p.m. Springer page.

Concerts and classical

  • The United States Marine Band, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, RiverCenter. The RiverCenter lists it as a free ticketed event, so you still need a ticket. RiverCenter listing.
  • “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” with The WAVE, the silent film with live music, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • Kristin Chenoweth, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Bill Heard Theatre, RiverCenter. RiverCenter listing.
  • Columbus Symphony Orchestra: Wagner and Strauss, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Bill Heard Theatre, RiverCenter: music from Wagner’s Die Meistersinger, Lohengrin and Tristan and Isolde, and Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration. RiverCenter listing and symphony tickets.
  • The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, RiverCenter: 14 classical musicians play rock and metal hits by candlelight. RiverCenter listing.

Classes and workshops

  • Look, Listen and Make Workshop, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, The Columbus Museum: story time, games and gallery activities, then animal-themed artmaking in the studio, for children 4 to 6 with one adult. $40 to $50 a pair. Museum listing.

Museum parties and festivals

  • The Grand Heist: A Roaring ’20s Whodunit Party, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, The Columbus Museum, $75 to $85. Museum listing.
  • Fall Festival: Movie Night Edition, 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, The Columbus Museum: art-making, games and a movie. See our fall festivals page.

Regular events

  • The Columbus Museum runs free drop-in collection tours at 2 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31. Museum calendar.
  • We have not found a regular art walk or open studio night in Columbus that publishes its dates. If you run one, tell us.

More: things to do in Columbus this month, things to do this weekend and live music and nightlife.

Send us your event

Opening a show, staging a play or holding a concert in Columbus? Email hello@fountaincitynews.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo you have the rights to.

Frequently asked questions

What exhibitions are on at The Columbus Museum?

Jessica Ingram: We Are Carver runs to Feb. 14, 2027. Coulter Fussell: The Proving Ground runs to Jan. 3, 2027, Circa 1776 to Jan. 1, 2027, Columbus at Play to March 21, 2027, and Eastern Visions: Asian American Art in Focus to July 25, 2027.

Is The Columbus Museum free?

Yes. The museum says admission is free and open to all. Some workshops and parties charge a fee, such as the $40 to $50 Look, Listen and Make family workshop on Oct. 17.

What is on at the Springer Opera House this fall?

Covenant, a Southern Gothic thriller, runs Oct. 16 to 24 in the McClure Theatre, The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live shadow cast plays at 8 p.m. Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, and Ready, Set, Rocket! for children up to 8 plays Nov. 7 to 15.

When is the next Columbus Symphony Orchestra concert?

Wagner and Strauss on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, according to the orchestra’s ticket page.