Enter the Raffle
Franklinton
Every Second Friday
Free & Open to All
Franklinton Arts District · Columbus, Ohio
Franklinton
Fridays
Presented by Thrive Companies · Trace Quarter
Thrive at Franklinton Fridays
Visit the Trace Quarter Booth. Enter to Win.
Thrive Companies hosts a booth at every Franklinton Fridays. Swing by, meet the team, and enter the raffle — whether you’re a longtime Franklinton neighbor or visiting the neighborhood for the first time. Can’t make it in person? Enter online below.
Enter the RaffleHow to Enter
01
Find the Trace Quarter booth at Franklinton Fridays, or scan the QR code on our signage at the event
02
Complete the short entry form — takes under a minute
03
A winner is selected following each monthly event
04
The Trace Quarter team contacts winners directly
Every Second Friday
Free & Open to All
About the Event
Columbus’ Monthly Celebration of Art, Community, and Culture
Franklinton Fridays is a year-round monthly event organized by the Franklinton Arts District — a neighborhood-wide celebration that opens galleries and artist studios to the public, fills the district with live music, and draws hundreds of Columbus residents to experience Franklinton’s maker culture and creative energy every month, all year long.
The event happens every second Friday from 5 to 10 PM. It is free, open to all, and runs without seasonal breaks. For anyone curious about what makes Franklinton one of Columbus’s most compelling neighborhoods, this is the most direct way to experience it.
Thrive Companies is a presenting sponsor of Franklinton Fridays. That investment reflects a straightforward commitment: to strengthen the community we are building in, not just the buildings we are building.
2nd
Friday Every Month
Free
No Admission
5–10
PM Each Event
12×
Per Year, Year-Round
Event Details
Every second Friday of the month
All 12 months — no seasonal breaks
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Franklinton Arts District, Columbus OH
Just west of downtown — 43215
Free — open to everyone
No tickets, no registration required
Family and pet-friendly
Street parking throughout the district
COTA accessible via West Broad St corridor
What’s There
What to Expect at Franklinton Fridays
Each event draws hundreds of people across multiple venues throughout the district. Here is what you will find when you arrive.
01
Artist Open Studios
Working artists throughout Franklinton open their studio doors to the public. Walk in, meet the makers, see work in progress, and buy original pieces directly from the people who created them.
02
Galleries and Exhibitions
Established and emerging galleries host opening receptions and ongoing exhibitions throughout the district. Each Franklinton Fridays brings new work and new artists to discover.
03
Live Music
Local musicians perform along the corridor from early evening until close — a walkable, sound-filled atmosphere that shifts every month with Columbus’s working creative community.
04
Maker and Vendor Market
Independent vendors, artisans, and makers set up shop at each event — handmade goods, art prints, ceramics, apparel, and more. All local, all direct from the creator.
05
Local Food and Drink
Franklinton’s independent restaurants, bars, and breweries are open and active on event nights. Walk the corridor and support the neighborhood’s growing culinary scene while you explore.
06
Community Connection
Community organizations, residents, and local businesses gather — it’s as much about people as it is about art. Franklinton Fridays is the best night to experience what this neighborhood is becoming.
2026 Schedule
Upcoming Franklinton Fridays
Every second Friday · 5:00–10:00 PM · Franklinton Arts District, Columbus OH
Next Up
May
8
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
June
12
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
July
10
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
August
14
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
September
11
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
October
9
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
November
13
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
December
11
2026
5:00 – 10:00 PM
Location and Context
Franklinton: Columbus’ Creative Frontier
Once one of Columbus’s most overlooked neighborhoods, Franklinton has become one of its most intentional. Just west of downtown, the district has attracted artists, makers, independent businesses, and community-minded residents who value authenticity and creative density over polish.
Franklinton Fridays is both a reflection of that energy and a catalyst for it — a monthly gathering that reinforces the neighborhood’s identity as a walkable, mixed-use, and genuinely connected place to live, work, and create.
01
Franklinton Arts District
The organizing body behind Franklinton Fridays and a central advocate for the neighborhood’s creative economy and artist community.
02
Independent Restaurants and Bars
A growing corridor of locally owned food and beverage destinations that make Franklinton a genuine dining and nightlife destination in Columbus.
03
Thoughtful Development
Residential communities and mixed-use projects designed to complement the neighborhood’s existing character, history, and community fabric — not override it.
04
A Walkable Corridor
Galleries, studios, parks, and restaurants accessible on foot — a quality residents consistently name as the top reason for choosing to live in Franklinton.
Thrive Companies in Franklinton
Live at the Center of It
Trace Quarter is a residential community in the Franklinton Arts District — designed for neighbors who want to be part of the neighborhood’s culture, not just nearby it. Walking distance to galleries, studios, live music, and the full Franklinton Fridays corridor.
As a presenting sponsor of Franklinton Fridays, Thrive’s commitment to this event is part of a straightforward belief: long-term impact for a community requires more than building quality buildings. It requires showing up.
Now Leasing
Trace Quarter
Modern apartments in the Franklinton Arts District. Studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom homes starting at $1,029 per month. On-site management, curated amenities, and a 1.7-acre public park — at the center of Franklinton’s creative and cultural corridor.
Explore Trace Quarter
Common Questions
Franklinton Fridays FAQ
Everything you need to know before attending — from hours and parking to how the Trace Quarter raffle works.
Yes. Franklinton Fridays is completely free and open to the public — no tickets, no registration, no admission fee. Food, drinks, and vendor purchases are at your own discretion.
Every second Friday of the month, all year long, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Franklinton Fridays runs all 12 months with no seasonal breaks. The full 2026 schedule is listed on this page.
The event spans multiple venues throughout the Franklinton Arts District in Columbus, Ohio — just west of downtown. It is a walkable event. Most participating galleries, studios, and venues are within easy walking distance of one another along the district corridor.
Street parking is available throughout the Franklinton neighborhood. The district is also accessible via COTA bus lines serving the West Broad Street corridor. Biking is a popular option given how walkable the event is once you arrive.
Yes. Franklinton Fridays is a community event welcoming families, children, and pets. The outdoor portions are especially well-suited for all ages. Individual bars and venues may have their own age policies for indoor spaces.
Generally yes. Because much of the event takes place inside galleries and studios, Franklinton Fridays continues in light rain. Significant weather may affect outdoor vendors. Follow the Franklinton Arts District on social media for any weather-related updates on event nights.
Thrive Companies runs a monthly raffle giveaway for Franklinton Fridays attendees, hosted at the Trace Quarter booth at each event. Enter in person at the booth or online at this link. Winners are selected and contacted following each monthly event.
Franklinton Fridays is organized by the Franklinton Arts District and supported by community sponsors, participating venues, and neighborhood businesses. Thrive Companies is a presenting sponsor through its Trace Quarter residential community in Franklinton.
