A guide to Uptown Columbus, Georgia: Broadway, the RiverWalk and whitewater, the Springer and RiverCenter, Market Days, free parking decks and events.
Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Details come from Uptown Columbus, the city, Visit Columbus and each venue’s own site, linked below.
Uptown is what Columbus calls its downtown, along the Chattahoochee River. Visit Columbus describes it as the city’s arts and entertainment hub, with locally owned restaurants, shops, pubs, galleries and public art (Visit Columbus). Uptown Columbus Inc., which manages the Business Improvement District the City Council created in 1999, runs the street events (Uptown Columbus).
Who to call
- Uptown Columbus: 706-596-0111, 25 W. 10th St., Suite 4
- Columbus METRA parking division: 706-225-4584
- Visit Columbus visitor center: 800-999-1613, 118 W. 11th St.
- Emergency: 911
Getting there and parking
Uptown Columbus lists these free parking decks (parking page):
| Deck | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RiverCenter Deck | 919 Broadway | Around the clock |
| Front Avenue Deck | 1028 Front Ave. | Around the clock, first floor only |
| Bay Avenue Deck | Bay Avenue and 12th Street | 5 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday |
| First Avenue Deck | First Avenue and 11th Street | Around the clock |
| Riverfront Place | 1300 Front Ave. | Around the clock, levels P3 to P5 |
Street parking has a two-hour limit.
The river
- The Chattahoochee RiverWalk runs through Uptown on its 22-mile route, with access at Bay Avenue and 11th Street and Front Avenue and Eighth Street (city RiverWalk page).
- RushSouth Whitewater Park: Uptown Columbus says the dam-controlled course runs low-flow family rafting in the morning and class III to V high-flow trips in the afternoon, with guided kayak tours, a treetop zipline course, disc golf and a free summer splash pad and playground (RushSouth page). Whitewater Express, 1000 Bay Ave., runs rafting trips (Whitewater Express).
- Kadie the Cow, a 20-foot fiberglass cow and local landmark since 1967, stands on Bay Avenue near Woodruff Park (Visit Columbus).
Stages and museums
- Springer Opera House, 103 10th St.: the State Theatre of Georgia, open since 1871 and a National Historic Landmark, with mainstage, children’s and studio series, historical tours by appointment and late-night No Shame Theatre on some Fridays (18 and up). Box office 706-327-3688 (Visit Columbus).
- RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway: three theaters under one roof, including the 2,000-seat Bill Heard Theatre, home of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Box office 706-256-3612 (Visit Columbus).
- Coca-Cola Space Science Center, 701 Front Ave. (center site).
- Bo Bartlett Center, 921 Front Ave., second floor: Columbus State University’s free gallery, open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday (Visit Columbus).
- Synovus Park, 100 Fourth St.: the 5,000-seat riverfront ballpark of the Columbus Clingstones, the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A team, formerly Golden Park (Visit Columbus).
Eating and drinking
Uptown Columbus keeps a directory of restaurants and bars on its Dine and Nightlife pages. A few anchors:
- Banks Food Hall, 1002 Bay Ave.: several vendors and a bar under one roof, open daily (Banks Food Hall).
- Highside Market, 13th Street: home of Flying Biscuit Café and a Friday night concert series (Highside Market).
- Brunch and evening picks are in our brunch guide, date night guide and live music and nightlife guide.
Street events
All from Uptown Columbus’ signature events list:
- Market Days on Broadway: every Saturday, April to August, 9 a.m. to noon, then Fall Market Days on the first Saturday of September, October and November.
- Friday Night Concert Series: free, 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Broadway, in spring (April 3 to May 29 in 2026) and fall (Sept. 4 to Oct. 23 in 2026) (concert series page).
- Columbus PorchFest (May 2 in 2026) and the Columbus Cup whitewater event (April 10-12 in 2026).
- Fall: the Scarecrow Trail all October, Broadway’s Boo Bash and Scream on the Green. See Halloween events.
- Holidays: the Broadway Holiday Parade and tree lighting, the Holly Jolly Market on Small Business Saturday and Merry Movie Night. See holiday lights and Christmas events.
Frequently asked questions
Is parking free in Uptown Columbus? Yes. Uptown Columbus lists free decks: the RiverCenter Deck at 919 Broadway (around the clock), the Front Avenue Deck at 1028 Front Ave. (first floor, around the clock) and the Bay Avenue Deck at Bay Avenue and 12th Street (5 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday). Street parking has a two-hour limit.
When is Market Days on Broadway? In 2026 Market Days ran every Saturday from April 4 to Aug. 29, 9 a.m. to noon, then on the first Saturday of September, October and November, with more than 200 vendors on the 1000 to 1200 blocks of Broadway.
Can you go whitewater rafting in Uptown Columbus? Yes. Uptown Columbus says the RushSouth whitewater course offers family-friendly low-flow rafting in the morning and class III to V high-flow trips in the afternoon. Whitewater Express at 1000 Bay Ave. runs trips.
Are the Uptown Friday night concerts free? Yes. Uptown’s spring and fall Friday Night Concert Series are free, on Broadway from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Coolers, tents, outside alcohol and glass are not allowed.
What this means for you
- Park once in a free deck and walk.
- Concert nights and Boo Bash close blocks of Broadway to traffic.
Related: walking and biking trails, free things to do in Columbus and things to do this weekend.
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