Seventeen lighted arches march down High Street, and beneath them hums the Short North Arts District — Columbus’ creative heartbeat, where gallery windows glow late, murals climb brick walls and every block mixes boutiques, bars and art.
The district’s monthly Gallery Hop has drawn crowds since the 1980s, turning Saturday nights into a street festival of openings and performances. Between hops, the Short North rewards slow wandering: local fashion at independent boutiques, public art from the “Art in the Park” series to the giant murals, and some of the city’s best dining patios.
Once a rough stretch between downtown and campus, the Short North is now the neighborhood Columbus shows off first.
Come for the art; stay for the arches lit up at night — pure Columbus magic.
