Need plans? Here are 10 fun things to do in Columbus and central Ohio

Have you ever wanted to go shopping, then grab dinner and enjoy a show, but you didn't feel like driving all over creation to do all those things? Easton Town Center has the solution to your problem!

The shopping mall's summer series, "Groove is at The Yard," is returning on Thursdays beginning May 1 and running through September. Shop till you drop, then drop by to bop! Get a bite to eat or a refreshing drink and enjoy free live music performed by local artists.

Over at Available Light Theatre , the 2024-25 season is closing with "Rock Egg Spoon," and the Worthington Chamber Orchestra will finish up its "In Nature's Realm" series with a themed program.

The Bluestone will welcome "rocktogenarian" Donnie Iris, who's still working the stage — and the crowd — like he's 28 instead of 82!

Also, a native son will return to central Ohio with his solo show that shines a whole new light on Mozart. Described as a "symphony of silliness" and "chaotic brilliance" by reviewers, the show was a hit at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. If you want to know the title, you'll have to read more below!

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Women's chorus to tune up with pair of concerts

Columbus Women's Chorus will continue celebrating its 35thyear with two concerts that will include the world premiere of a commissioned work, "Dance the Wind." The piece features music by assistant director and accompanist Sheena Phillips and lyrics by soprano Bobbie Brooks.

The 80-member chorus also will perform contemporary music from folk to blues at 7 p.m. May 3-4 at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for both concerts, which will be interpreted for the hearing impaired.

Tickets are $20 for ages 12 and older, available online or at the door. Sliding scale (pay what you can) tickets also will be sold at the door. ( colswomenschorus.org )

Easton Town Center to get into the 'Groove'

Easton Town Center is offering visitors the chance to shop and bop! The mall, located at 160 Easton Town Center, is kicking off "Groove is at The Yard," its annual summer concert series showcasing local artists.

The performances, which are free, will take place from 6-9 p.m. each Thursday from May through September at The Yard, east of Nordstrom.

The May lineup will feature: The Castros and Friends (May 1), Mothers of R&B and Soul (May 8), New Standard Soul Jam (May 15), Straw & The Scarecrow (May 22) and Colin Gawel & The League Bowlers (May 29). ( bit.ly/42u3K3h )

Available Light to end season with 'Rock Egg Spoon'

The year is 1804 and Louis Clark is on a mission to map America's uncharted territory with the help of Sacagawea, Bigfoot and his own bravado. The imaginary and real worlds collide as Clark makes his way across the country in "Rock Egg Spoon," the final production of Available Light Theatre's 2024-25 season.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. May 1-3, 8-9, 15-17 and 2 p.m. May 11, in Riffe Center Studio One, 77 S. High St. There will be a talkback after all Thursday and Friday shows.

Ticket prices start at $32.46, including fees. Pay-what-you-want tickets will be sold at the door. ( avltheatre.com )

Paint-and-sip event to offer brush with creativity

Whether you're an accomplished artist or you don't know a paintbrush from a pretzel stick, you're welcome at a paint-and-sip event hosted at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, 300 W. Broad St., at 6:30 p.m. May 2.

Led by museum educator Justin Dorsey, the session will commemorate the final month of the exhibition, " Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed ." The painting for the event will be loosely based on Solomon's themes of nature and human experiences.

General-admission tickets cost $30; veterans and active-duty military personnel pay $25. ( bit.ly/3S4gcke )

Rocker Donnie Iris to prove he's still 'King Cool'

Move over, Mick Jagger. Sit down, Steven Tyler. Let Donnie Iris show you how it's done.

Proving you're never too old to rock 'n' roll, Iris — who celebrated his 82nd birthday in February — will move and groove with his band, The Cruisers, on May 3 at The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Iris, nicknamed "King Cool," is known for the early 1980s hits, "Ah! Leah!" and "Love Is Like a Rock." (Fun fact: Iris' nickname comes from his 1981 album by the same name. He also lent the moniker to a limited-run light beer.)

Tickets cost $34.50 ( ticketmaster.com )

Local native to return with chaotic 'Mozart' show

In his white wig and gold-detailed jacket, comedian Aaron Nemo might be mistaken for the Temu version of "Amadeus." But he's actually a Mozart clone gone wrong in Nemo's well-received one-man show.

A staff writer for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Nemo is also a native central Ohioan who'll visit the Leisure Club, 1610 Oak St., to present "Sh---y Mozart" at 8 p.m. May 2. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the 21-and-older, BYOB event.

Featuring songs and real-time animation, the show has been performed on both coasts and as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. ( bit.ly/4cSz5QP )

Ariel Quartet to play tribute to 'Ancestral Voices'

Formed when the members were mere teens at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Israel, the Ariel Quartet has received global accolades for more than 20 years.

Hosted by Chamber Music Columbus, the award-winning ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. May 3 at the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.

The program, "Ancestral Voices," will include Matan Porat's "Four Ladino Songs," Franz Schubert's String Quartet No. 14 "Death and the Maiden" and a world premiere by local composer Dr. Ching-chu Hu.

Tickets start at $17.29 for children and $43.64 for adults. ( chambermusiccolumbus.org )

Fundraiser to benefit urban agriculture collective

The Growing and Growth Collective (GGC), a grassroots initiative supporting urban agriculture, will hold its annual fundraiser, "Sow the Seeds," from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 3 at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E. Broad St., one of GGC's six garden sites.

Guests can enjoy food from Creole 2 Geaux , music by Urban Strings Columbus and performances by Brother(hood) Dance! and Tifiani K. Inspires.

After the luncheon, there will be a garden walk and litter cleanup from 1-3 p.m., depending upon the weather.

Tickets can be purchased at the event for $19.70, in honor of Earth Day being established in 1970. ( bit.ly/3RVzuIJ )

Columbus Guitar Society to host Ukrainian virtuoso

Ukrainian guitar virtuoso Marko Topchii has been playing for 30 years — and he's only 34. In addition to taking first place at the Guitar Foundation of America competition, he has won more than 100 awards internationally, more than half of them first prizes.

As a guest of the Columbus Guitar Society, Topchii will play works by Bach, Maurice Ravel and other composers at 4 p.m. May 4 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 1559 Roxbury Road.

Tickets cost $16.88-$27.38. ( columbusguitarsociety.org )

Worthington Chamber Orchestra to close nature series

The Worthington Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Antoine T. Clark , will conclude its "In Nature's Realm" series with "Brahms, the Sea, and Mountains," a program of works that contrast the majesty of the sea with the grandeur of the mountains.

The concert is set for 5 p.m. May 4 at Worthington United Methodist Church, 600 High St., Worthington.

Along with pieces by Benjamin Britten and Johannes Brahms, the evening will be highlighted by the consortium premiere of "Mountains Upon Mountains, Like Waves Upon Waves" featuring Tower Duo .

Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for Worthington UMC members and $14 for students, plus fees. ( worthingtonchamberorchestra.com )

Entertainment and Things to Do reporter Belinda M. Paschal can be reached at  bpaschal@dispatch.com .

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus and central Ohio