Family-friendly event has OSU theme
By Ally Marotti
The Columbus Dispatch
When water slides, the Ohio State University Alumni Marching Band and giant inflatables moved into Columbus Commons yesterday, the urge to play Downtown became overwhelming for some families.
“Throw a little OSU into the mix, and we couldn’t resist,” said Jenny Perks of Clintonville, who showed up with her sons, A.J., 8, and Will, 6, at the OSU Family Funday.
The band’s 2 p.m. performance drew a big crowd, although some parents had trouble rounding up their kids to go listen.
As the band warmed up, Bill Konves’ 5-year-old twin boys ran between the inflatables and booths, wearing matching OSU shirts. His 7-year-old daughter was intrigued by the “Flubber” that kids could concoct out of water, glue and laundry detergent at the COSI booth. His wife and 2-year-old daughter wandered among some of the other booths.
In addition to the kid-oriented activities and the OSU theme, the low price attracted him to the event, said Konves, a Powell resident.
“For $5, you can’t beat it,” he said.
The event itself was free. Buying a pass admitted kids to the rock-climbing wall, hand-cranked train, three inflatables and the carousel. Individual rides or activities were $1.
The low fees don’t cover the costs of the activities but help to draw visitors, said Amy Taylor, chief operating officer for Capitol South, the company that manages Columbus Commons. Most of the funding for free events such as the Fundays comes from sponsorships, previous events and parking fees at the nearby garages.
In the year since the commons opened, operators have had to figure out what will encourage suburban residents to come Downtown.
“We threw a lot of spaghetti at the wall, and we had to figure out what worked,” Taylor said. A source of inspiration was her 3-year-old daughter, Audrey, she said. Yesterday, Audrey painted on a moveable wall sponsored by OSU Urban Arts Space.
“In an urban area, it should feel different than a suburban park,” Taylor said.OSU musicians are always a popular draw, and the alumni band is no exception, said Jon Woods, who will retire on Saturday after 28 years as director of Ohio State’s marching band.
“The bottom line is, they are excellent musicians,” Woods said as he prepared to play trombone with the band. “They play excellent music.”
At the other end of the commons, sandwiched between the rides and the food vendors, child-sized tables and chairs sat almost vacant in the shade.
Angelina Paulos, 8, is from Charlotte, N.C., but she and her family were in town for her uncle’s wedding. Her brother and father were playing on the obstacle courses, but she and her mother were sitting in the shade of the “outdoor reading room.”
Angelina, who sat in a small chair with her book, knew she couldn’t resist the other attractions for long.“I’m gonna read, then play,” she said.
