Kristen Newby, Special to The Dispatch
Sun, May 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC
German Village is a popular destination for out-of-town visitors and Columbus residents alike. In addition to its famed restaurants and the beauty of Schiller Park, its history draws visitors to walk along its original brick streets and view historic houses of all shapes and sizes
The German Village Home and Garden Tour, or Haus Und Garten Tour, provides an inside look at many of this south Columbus neighborhood’s historic homes, each with the unique design tastes of its owners
Just months after its founding, the German Village Society hosted the first Germany Village Home and Garden Tour on June 19, 1960, as part of its efforts to promote the preservation and restoration of German Village
After touring the gardens and interiors of select German Village homes, volunteered by their owners, participants enjoyed a German band concert, art exhibit, and complimentary balloons and lemonade at Schiller Park, which was advertised as an “old-fashioned festival.”
After eating a picnic lunch, folks could take a ride in one of the antique cars or horse-drawn carriages circling the tour’s path
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Interiors inspired attendees on how to decorate or refurbish their homes with a wide range of décor tastes among German Village homeowners, from antique to modern furnishings and traditional to eclectic décor, with varying approaches to maintaining the authenticity of the home as opposed to making it something new altogether
While some featured homes’ renovations were complete, some were still in progress. Visitors could see the before and after of these house projects and hear the owners share their vision, process, and technique
Over the decades, this event continues to be one of Columbus’ beloved summer attractions, marking its 66th year with this year’s tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 28. The pre-tour event is 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. For tickets and more info, go to https://germanvillage.com/tour/
Learn more about German Village’s rich history by viewing historic maps, photographs, and more online at My History, Columbus Metropolitan Library’s digital archive, at columbuslibrary.org/myhistory
Kristen Newby is Special Collections Manager at the Columbus Metropolitan Library
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch:German Village Home and Garden Tour is a longtime Columbus attraction
