Memorial Day weekend starts Saturday, and Hilliard's two municipal pools open with it. Good timing after a long spring. Before you make plans, three things worth knowing first.

Top story: Both the Hilliard Family Aquatic Center and Clyde "Butch" Seidle Community Pool open Saturday at noon. First-time visitors need to register before arriving. Details in the Seasonal Spotlight below.

Don't miss: The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics passes through Hilliard on Tuesday, May 26. Officers and athletes carry the Flame of Hope down Norwich to Main Street and on to Northwest Parkway. Get outside and cheer.

Worth knowing: Roberts Road corridor construction starts June 1. Two separate projects, significant detour routes. Now is the time to learn the alternates.

HCSD Earns Top Fiscal Honor

Hilliard City Schools received the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for its fiscal year 2025 audit at the May 11 Board of Education meeting. The honor places HCSD in the top 4% of more than 4,200 audits conducted statewide each year.

Source: https://www.hilliardschools.org/news/

Two construction projects start simultaneously on Roberts Road on Monday, June 1, and they affect different sections of the corridor.

The first, the Alton Place Infrastructure Improvements project, closes the westbound lane west of Alton and Darby Creek Road. Westbound traffic detours via Alton and Darby Creek Road and Walker Road. Eastbound traffic stays on Roberts.

The second, a Franklin County Engineer bridge rehabilitation at Clover Groff Run, closes the road completely at the bridge crossing. Westbound detour: south on Hilliard and Rome to Renner Road, west on Renner to Alton and Darby Creek, north to Walker, west on Walker to Roberts. Eastbound detour is the reverse. Bridge closure is estimated at 35 days.

The full project runs through mid-August. Full detour maps and contacts at the city site.

Source: https://hilliardohio.gov/roberts-road-corridor-construction/

Bradley graduates tonight at 7 p.m. Davidson graduates Friday, May 22, also at 7 p.m. Both ceremonies are at the Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Graduates arrive by 6. No tickets required for family and guests. Parking is $10. Livestream links at hilliardschools.org/graduation-2026.

The Darby Class of 2026 already had their moment. After the school moved Darby's graduation from May 20 to May 19 to avoid conflicts with Bruno Mars' Ohio Stadium concert, Darby seniors launched a TikTok campaign asking Mars to do something for their class. It worked. On Tuesday evening, Mars arranged for the Little Ladies Soft Serve truck to park outside the Schottenstein and treated the entire senior class on his tab.

Last day of school for all HCSD students is May 29.

The public nomination portal for naming the new sixth-grade school (the repurposed Brown Elementary building on Walker Road) closed May 18. The board will hear the recommended name at its June 8 meeting.

Source: https://www.hilliardschools.org/graduation-2026/ Source (Bruno Mars): https://www.aol.com/articles/no-cameo-bruno-mars-gives-015807166.html

Brick House Blue, TruePointe's flex-work and coworking space, opened May 7 at 4022 Green Stripe Lane. Two floors with private offices, meeting rooms, and collaborative workspace. It's also the venue for the Chamber's Business After Hours this month on May 28.

Teriyaki Madness announced plans to open at TruePointe in the third quarter of 2026. Construction is expected to start soon.

Bakes by Lo is relocating from Center Street Market to a renovated historic building on Main Street in Old Hilliard. The Westwood Collective is behind the adaptive reuse project, supported by a $70,000 grant from the Hilliard Development Corporation.

Legacy Smokehouse at 3987 Main Street announced on social media that May 31 is its final day. The neighborhood smokehouse has been serving Central Texas-style barbecue for nearly a decade. If you've been meaning to go, this weekend is the time.

Source: https://hilliardohio.gov/teriyaki-madness-to-open-at-truepointe/

Source: https://www.destinationhilliard.org/whats-new/truepointe-update

Hilliard operates two outdoor municipal pools, and both open this Saturday, May 23.

Hilliard Family Aquatic Center at 3850 Veterans Memorial Drive is the larger facility, with two 30-foot water slides, a 25-yard competition pool, and an interactive leisure pool. Opening weekend hours are Saturday noon to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 7 p.m., and Monday (Memorial Day) noon to 8 p.m. Starting Tuesday, May 26 through May 29, hours shift to 4:30 to 8 p.m. due to lifeguard availability during the school year.

Clyde "Butch" Seidle Community Pool at 4450 Schirtzinger Road is Hilliard's neighborhood pool option in the northwest part of town.

One thing to do before you go: First-time visitors need to register an account before arriving. Online registration can take up to three business days to activate, which means if you're new to the system, stop by the Hilliard Community Center in person before Saturday. Returning members with a key fob from a previous season are already set.

Season passes are available. Day-pass info and full 2026 schedules are at the city's aquatics page.

Source: https://recandparks.hilliardohio.gov/outdoor-aquatics/memberships Source: https://hilliardohio.gov/pools-passes/

Thursday, May 21. Exercise With Intention: Longevity at The Well, 5:30 to 7 p.m. A city parks program on how movement and nutrition support longevity, led by a fitness professional. Registration required through the city's Rec and Parks platform. The Well, 3993 Cosgray Road. Source: https://recandparks.hilliardohio.gov/event/exercise-with-intention-longevity

Thursday, May 21. Gold Star Spring Social at Crooked Can, 5 to 7 p.m. Open community social hosted by Gold Star Hilliard. Members, families, friends, and neighbors all welcome. Crooked Can Brewing Co., Old Hilliard. Source: https://www.meetup.com/hilliardarea/events/314377630

Thursday, May 21. Bradley High School Graduation, 7 p.m. Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Columbus. No tickets required. Parking $10. Livestream at hilliardschools.org/graduation-2026. Source: https://www.hilliardschools.org/graduation-2026/

Friday, May 22. Davidson High School Graduation, 7 p.m. Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Columbus. No tickets required. Parking $10. Livestream at hilliardschools.org/graduation-2026. Source: https://www.hilliardschools.org/graduation-2026/

Friday, May 22. Erin Coburn live at Black Swan Bar and Grill, 7 p.m. 5414 Roberts Road, Hilliard. Source: https://www.bandsintown.com/e/108076293-erin-coburn-at-black-swan-bar-and-grill

Friday, May 22. Astrology Level 2 Workshop at The Witch's Parlor, 6:30 p.m. Hosted with Sam of Find Me in the Stars for anyone looking to work more fluidly with their birth chart. The Witch's Parlor, Hilliard. Source: https://www.destinationhilliard.org/events

Saturday, May 23. Hilliard Family Aquatic Center opening day, noon to 8 p.m. Two 30-foot slides, competition pool, leisure pool. 3850 Veterans Memorial Drive. New visitors must register an account before arriving. Source: https://recandparks.hilliardohio.gov/outdoor-aquatics/memberships

Saturday, May 23. Clyde "Butch" Seidle Community Pool opening day, noon to 8 p.m. 4450 Schirtzinger Road. Source: https://hilliardohio.gov/pools-passes/

Saturday, May 23. Columbus Sports Card Show at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Buy, sell, and trade sports cards and collectibles. Franklin County Fairgrounds, 4100 Columbia Street, Hilliard. Source: https://cardshows.io/events/columbus-sports-card-show-05-23-2026

Saturday, May 23. Family Karaoke at Wilson's Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m. Hilliard. Source: https://www.destinationhilliard.org/events

Tuesday, May 26. Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics (Hilliard leg), starting after 11 a.m. Officers and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope from City Hall down Norwich Street to Main Street and on to Northwest Parkway. Residents are invited to line the route. Source: https://hilliardohio.gov/cheer-on-hilliards-torch-run-for-special-olympics/

Tuesday, May 26. Hilliard Farm Market, 4 to 7 p.m. Produce, baked goods, food trucks, and local vendors. SNAP and EBT accepted. Hilliard United Methodist Church parking lot, 5445 Scioto Darby Road. Source: https://hilliardfarmmarket.com

Thursday, May 28. Hilliard Area Chamber Business After Hours, 4 to 6 p.m. Monthly networking at Brick House Blue, TruePointe. Registration at the Chamber site. Source: https://business.hilliardchamber.org/calendar/Details/business-after-hours-may-2026-1584818

Thursday, May 28. Help Shape Hilliard's Housing Community Open House, 5 to 7 p.m. Review the draft Housing Study, ask questions, and submit feedback before the committee recommends action to City Council. Hilliard City Hall, 3800 Municipal Way. Source: https://hilliardohio.gov/help-shape-hilliards-housing-open-house-may-28/

Three Hilliard seniors classes are now graduates. The pools open Saturday. And Cole Swindell is coming July 4.

Going to the pool for the first time? Register online before Thursday night or swing by the Community Center in person so you're set for Saturday.

Know about a neighborhood garage sale this weekend, a block party, or something happening on your street? Reply and tell us. That's how we find the good stuff.

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