Visiting Columbus & Ohio

Participant Guide (Version 2.0)

To ensure your visit is seamless, we encourage you to click on the Participant Guide provided, where you’ll find details on travel arrangements, dining options, and all event-related information. Whether you’re looking for the best local restaurants, navigating transportation around the city, or curious about the schedule of events, the participant guide has you covered.

Downtown Columbus Bars, Restaurants, and Eateries

From fine dining to rock climbing, summer in Columbus has something for everyone. You can check out all that Columbus has to offer with the Experience Columbus Visitor’s Guide and LGBTQ+ Guide!

Experience Columbus Visitor’s Guide

Experience Columbus LGBTQ+ Guide

Women Owned Local Businesses in Columbus, OH

Conference Layout

Columbus Pride Bands is very excited to host you in just a few days for the Heart of it All 2024 Pride Bands Alliance conference. Below you will find information to help you navigate through downtown Columbus to the various conference events.

The heart of downtown Columbus has generously wide sidewalks with curb ramps and wide crosswalks at most major intersections. The clip below is just south of the host hotel, and is fairly typical of what you will encounter throughout downtown.

Renaissance Columbus Downtown

Serving as our conference hub, the hotel is centrally located to most of our off-site activities. See the overall map below.

The main entrance to the hotel, located under the covered valet / drop-off area (enter from 3rd Street), is accessible. There is a door with a push plate adjacent to the revolving door. Once inside the main entrance there are accessible routes to other accessible sites within the hotel such as restaurants, meeting spaces, fitness center, and pool. Renaissance Additional Accessibility Info

Ohio Statehouse (approximately 0.15 mi from hotel)

The Ohio Statehouse is host to our gala and chamber performances. Due to its historic nature, it only has one street-level entrance that is accessible. From 3rd Street (east side of the building), there are three entrance doors. The door on the right is accessible, with a push plate. Statehouse Additional Accessibility Info

Davidson Theater Riffe Center (approximately 0.32 mi from hotel)

Saturday’s finale concert, as well as some of the rehearsals leading up to the concert, will take place at the Riffe Center. This is one of the many great venues operated by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA). All of the entrances to the Riffe Center are accessible. Riffe Additional Accessibility Info

Columbus Commons (approximately 0.36 mi from hotel)

The pep band will be performing outdoors at the Columbus Commons during Thursday’s Food Truck Food Court – a weekly lunchtime highlight for those working and living in downtown Columbus. All paved surfaces and the stage are accessible.

PiNS Mechanical (approximately 0.24 mi from hotel)

Duckpin bowling, pin ball machines, and a long list of cocktails and beer await you at Pins Mechanical, the location of the Welcome Kickoff social event. The main entrance to Pins is accessible. PiNS Additional Accessibility Info

Slammers (approximately 0.29 mi from hotel)

After Saturday’s concert come enjoy great pizza and great cocktails while hanging out with friends and bandmates at one of the only 33 lesbian bars in the country. Enter through the rainbow-painted patio along 5th St. Unfortunately, the main door facing Long St is not accessible.

As someone who does not rely on mobility assistance, I cannot judge what is or is not a convenient or managable path to travel. Please let us know if you need additional assistance traveling between the host hotel and other event sites. We will have volunteers to assist with transporting instruments if desired.

Beyond navigating the conference spaces, here is some additional information about scooter and van rental if that is something you want to look into.

Mobility scooters and/or wheelchairs can be rented locally from:

The Convention Center https://columbusconventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Scooter-Rental-Amendment.pdf

Advanced Medical Supply https://www.amscolumbus.com/rentals

101 Mobility https://www.101mobility.com/products/power-chairs-scooters/

Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft do not operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the Columbus OH market. However, you can rent wheelchair accessible vans from:

Mobilityworks https://www.mobilityworks.com/wheelchair-vans-for-rent/

Columbus Mobility Specialists https://www.columbusmobility.com/rentals/

See you soon, but in the meantime do not hesitate to reach out with questions or requests.

– Jeff Riggs

Transportation and Accessibility Chair