Columbus, Indiana, is a city best known for its incredible modern architecture and public art. It’s a great destination for an overnight trip, weekend getaway, or road trip. Every two years, it becomes an open-air gallery thanks to Exhibit Columbus, a celebration of design, innovation, and community storytelling. For families, this event transforms downtown Columbus into a playground of creativity. Kids can climb, splash, play, and imagine, all while being immersed in thought-provoking art installations. Exhibit Columbus runs daily through November 30, 2025. There is no fee associated with participation. Find a map at the Columbus Area Visitor Center or online.
Columbus is only about 45 minutes south of Indianapolis, making it easy to reach for a day trip. The town is famously filled with world-renowned architecture by designers like I.M. Pei, Eero Saarinen, and Deborah Berke, but what makes Exhibit Columbus extra special is that it brings that design heritage down to kid-level. The exhibits are free, outdoors, and incredibly interactive, perfect for curious children who like to explore with all their senses.
Bring good walking shoes, plenty of water, and an adventurous spirit. The installations are scattered across downtown, so you’ll get to wander through charming streets, see architectural landmarks, and stop for snacks or meals in local cafés as you go.
Kid-Friendly Highlights from Exhibit Columbus 2025
Inside Out – The Dollhouse of Columbus
Located near the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library Plaza, this installation draws on the playful work of designer Alexander Girard. It’s essentially a giant dollhouse of Columbus architecture, reimagined with bright colors, fun textures, and plenty of visual surprises.
Kids will love:
- Peeking into the cut-out windows and rooms, discovering miniatures and colorful interior details.
- Exploring the patterned ground surface filled with symbols and icons, almost like a life-sized board game.
- They imagine themselves as part of the stories represented in the dollhouse.
- Spotting the surrounding buildings represented in the exhibit.
Parents will appreciate how it sparks conversations about Columbus’s design history while still feeling like playtime.
Pool/Side – A Playful Reflection Pool
This installation is a favorite for kids because—yes—they can actually get in the water! Located in front of the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library, Pool/Side is a shallow pool surrounded by striking purple seating platforms.
Kids will love:
- Kicking off their shoes and splashing in the shallow water.
- Perching on the wide ledges and dipping their toes.
- The freedom of play. There’s something magical about a public art piece that lets kids actually climb in.
- An accessible ramp is available for those who need it.
For parents, this space is as much about relaxation as it is play. The seating area encourages families to gather, rest, and watch the city come alive around them. Bring a towel or extra socks for your little ones!
Motions – A Celebration of Movement and Play
Exhibit Columbus 2025 also includes an installation called Motions, which highlights the idea of creativity being constantly in motion, just like kids! With playful graphic wayfinding, signage, and videos, the design itself feels alive.
Kids will love:
- Watching the short, animated videos set to music.
- Following bright colors and shapes that encourage exploration.
- Running, spinning, and experiencing the installation in motion themselves.
This exhibit is particularly appealing for families with kids who are visual learners and love to see art come alive through sound and color.
Lift – Colors in Motion
One of the most eye-catching installations of Exhibit Columbus 2025 is Lift, located in the sunken courtyard of Saarinen’s First Christian Church. Inspired by the church’s strong lines and grids, the design weaves colorful fabric through a series of cube-like frames. The fabric ripples, twists, and even reaches skyward like kites, creating a playful and welcoming space that feels both grounded and soaring at the same time.
Kids will love:
- Running through the cubes and playing hide-and-seek in the fabric.
- Watching the colorful panels dance in the wind, almost like giant kites above their heads.
- Looking up and feeling that sensation of being “lifted” toward the sky.
- There is a playground located adjacent to the installation.
For parents, Lift is a powerful reminder that architecture can connect the earthly and the spiritual, the historic and the playful. While kids are busy weaving between the fabric walls, families can take in the beauty of Saarinen’s iconic church from a fresh perspective. The space feels both contemplative and whimsical, inviting everyone—regardless of age—to pause, look up, and feel welcome.
Ellipsis – Stories of the Past, Space for the Future
One of the most thought-provoking installations at Exhibit Columbus 2025 is Ellipsis, located on the site of the former Irwin Block building that burned down in 2022. Rather than seeing the empty lot as a loss, the designers reimagined it as a place for reflection, storytelling, and gathering. The installation uses a circular earthwork and prairie mound, with a fire-treated timber canopy hovering above. It honors both Black and Indigenous histories in Indiana, while also making space for imagining new futures. Families visiting will notice how the design feels open and unfinished, like an ellipsis (…) at the end of a sentence—inviting everyone to pause and consider what comes next.
Kids will love:
- Walking along the carved path and exploring the mound, which feels a bit like discovering a hidden fort.
- Standing under the large canopy and imagining it as a stage or gathering tent.
- Learning how fire can be seen as both destruction and renewal, an idea reflected in the blackened wood above them.
For parents, Ellipsis is an opportunity to talk with kids about history, memory, and how communities can heal and grow after loss. It’s not just a play space, but also a meaningful reminder that the stories we share—and the ones we leave out—shape the places we live in today.
PUBLIC/SCHOOL/GROUNDS – A Classroom Without Walls
Columbus is famous for its innovative school buildings, but PUBLIC/SCHOOL/GROUNDS takes that creativity a step further by turning learning itself into play. Inspired by the bold rooflines of local schools, this installation uses colorful platforms—some soft, some hard, even some furry—to create a classroom that looks nothing like the ones kids are used to.
Instead of desks and chalkboards, families will find a mix of shapes and surfaces at different heights. The idea is to break away from the “front of the room” model of teaching and instead invite everyone to learn, share, and explore together in new ways.
Kids will love:
- Climbing onto the playful platforms and picking their own favorite “seat.”
- Touching the mix of textures, from smooth and hard to soft and fuzzy.
- Using their imaginations to turn the space into a playground, a fort, or even their own outdoor classroom.
For parents, PUBLIC/SCHOOL/GROUNDS is a reminder that learning doesn’t just happen inside four walls. It encourages curiosity, collaboration, and student-led discovery, values that shine through as kids invent their own games and ways to interact with the space..
Joy Riding – Music, Cars, and Celebration
One of the liveliest stops at Exhibit Columbus 2025 is Joy Riding, a multimedia installation that transforms the Jackson Street Parking Garage into a hub of music, movement, and fun. It celebrates the joy of Black car culture while tying into the sleek, stylish look of Columbus’s mid-century modern architecture.
The centerpiece is a giant Transformer-like sound system, inspired by the clean lines of vintage furniture but powerful enough to send basslines pulsing through the space. It’s a nod to how cars, music, and community have always gone hand-in-hand in creating moments of joy.
Kids will love:
- Feeling the vibrations of the deep music and seeing how the sound system “comes alive.”
- Collecting or spotting the colorful custom keychains designed as part of the exhibit.
- Experiencing the parking garage as more than just a place for cars—it becomes a stage for fun and imagination.
Parents will appreciate how Joy Riding taps into nostalgia, reminding them of cruising around with friends, turning up a favorite album, and savoring the little moments of joy that come with music and community. With free events scheduled throughout the exhibit, families can stop by, dance a little, and soak up the energy of celebration.
Tips for Visiting Exhibit Columbus with Kids
Bring snacks and water. While downtown has great restaurants, kids often need quick refueling between installations.
Pack extra clothes or shoes. With water features like Pool/Side, your kids will probably get wet, and that’s part of the fun!
Use it as a learning opportunity. Exhibit Columbus is a chance to introduce your kids to architecture and design in a hands-on way. Ask them which installation was their favorite, or what they would design if they could.
Don’t rush. The joy of Exhibit Columbus is in wandering and discovering. Let the kids lead the way and set the pace.
Check the event guide. Installations sometimes include performances, guided tours, or workshops that are perfect for families.
Where to Eat in Columbus with Kids
Exploring art makes everyone hungry! Downtown Columbus has plenty of family-friendly spots. Try:
Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor & Museum – A must-visit with kids for its old-fashioned soda fountains and marble-topped tables.
Lucabe Coffee Co. – Great for parents needing a caffeine boost and kids who might enjoy a pastry.
4th Street Bar & Grill – Casual family dining with a variety of menu options.
There are also a number of places where kids eat free in Columbus, Indiana.
Pack a picnic if you’d rather enjoy snacks right at one of the installations. Many of the sites are grassy plazas perfect for sitting down together.
While you’re there, check out the Art Alley Parklet and visit the Kids Commons Columbus Children’s Museum, and make a stop across the way to The Commons indoor playground.
Why Families Will Love Exhibit Columbus
Exhibit Columbus 2025 isn’t just about admiring architecture; it’s about experiencing it together. The installations invite kids to touch, climb, splash, and imagine, making art feel accessible and fun. For parents, it’s a wonderful way to expose children to design thinking, creativity, and the idea that public spaces can be both beautiful and functional.
Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to slow down as a family, wander through a charming Indiana town, and spend the day immersed in discovery.
A trip to Columbus, Indiana, during Exhibit Columbus 2025 is one of the best family outings you can take this year. With interactive installations like the playful dollhouse, the splash-worthy Pool/Side, and fabric playgrounds perfect for climbing, kids will have a blast. Parents will enjoy the chance to explore world-class design and share in the joy of creativity through their children’s eyes.
So load up the car, grab your walking shoes, and head to Columbus for a day filled with art, architecture, and adventure. Exhibit Columbus is proof that design isn’t just something you look at; it’s something you experience, and with kids by your side, it becomes even more magical.
