Fourth Friday and Field of Heroes This Weekend in Westerville
Fourth Friday Season Begins This Week
Fourth Friday Returns to Uptown Westerville
Westerville’s popular Fourth Friday street festival kicks off its 2025 season this Friday, May 23, bringing live music, local food, art, and family-friendly entertainment back to the historic Uptown district. The monthly event, presented by Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital and organized by Uptown Westerville Inc., runs from 6 to 9 p.m., with State Street closed to vehicle traffic between Park and Home to create a safe, walkable atmosphere for thousands of visitors.
Attendance typically ranges from 10,000 to 30,000, far exceeding the city’s population and making Fourth Friday a major draw for both locals and visitors. This year’s opening event includes performances, more than 100 pop-up vendors, appearances by Brutus Buckeye, and interactive STEM activities along “Science Street,” featuring contributions from COSI and local scientists. Uptown’s permanent shops and restaurants will stay open late, joined by a variety of food trucks and street performers.
Visitors can also enjoy the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which allows adults to carry alcoholic beverages from participating establishments within marked festival boundaries.
Fourth Friday continues each month through October, concluding with the Halloween-themed “Midnight Madness.” What began as a late-night merchant promotion has grown into one of Central Ohio’s most vibrant recurring festivals, showcasing Westerville’s unique blend of historic charm and active community life.
Field of Heroes Returns to Westerville for Memorial Day Weekend with 3,500 Flags and Vietnam Memorial Wall
A powerful Memorial Day tradition returns this weekend as more than 3,500 American flags rise again at the Westerville Sports Complex for the 17th Field of Heroes. Open around the clock from Friday, May 23, through Monday, May 26, the event offers free public access to a sprawling and emotional display honoring veterans, first responders, and personal heroes.
This year’s theme, “On Behalf of a Grateful Nation,” marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. As part of the commemoration, visitors will experience the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall — an 80-percent scale replica of the Washington, D.C. monument — offering a solemn opportunity to remember those who served during that era.
Each flag in the field is personally dedicated, often in honor of veterans or loved ones, transforming the open space into thousands of individual tributes. Visitors are encouraged to walk among the rows, read the dedications, and reflect quietly, day or night — the field remains illuminated after dark.
Since its founding in 2009 by the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club, the Field of Heroes has grown from 1,500 flags to its current scale and includes a rotating focus each year. Past tributes have highlighted first responders, women in the military, and veterans of Middle East conflicts. Introducing “Tribute Fields” has helped the event remain historically relevant and emotionally resonant for many visitors.
Beyond the flags, the weekend schedule includes ceremonies, a name reading of those honored by flags, and a Saturday evening concert. A 5K Run/Walk supports the Mash Pantry and Resource Center for veterans, reinforcing the event’s commitment to symbolic honor and practical assistance.
The Field of Heroes began after a chance meeting in 2007 between Rotary Club member Larry Jenkins and Paul Swenson of the Colonial Flag Foundation. Their shared vision of community service and remembrance has since become a lasting civic tradition supported by a vast network of volunteers, patrons, and local organizations.
Special events this year include:
Vintage baseball game featuring the Ohio Village Muffins on Saturday at 2 PM
Concert by the Westerville Symphony on Saturday, May 24th at 7 PM
The Field of Heroes 5K – benefiting Columbus Honor Flight on Sunday, May 25th at 8 AM
A Salute to Vietnam Veterans – a ceremony at the Westerville Veterans Memorial on Sunday, May 25th at PM
Closing Ceremonies on Monday, May 26th, at noon.
Those interested in dedicating a flag, volunteering, or learning more about the event schedule can visit www.fieldofheroes.org or follow the Field of Heroes on social media.
As Jenkins has said of the tribute, “The Field of Heroes is never the same experience twice.” This year’s observance promises new meaning for visitors as it connects personal remembrance with national history and community pride.
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