May is Date Your Mate Month: Here are 6 Greater Columbus places to take your loved one

Are you and your significant other in a dating slump, often falling into the same routine?

Well, the month of May can help bring back those sparks, thanks to a national holiday. May is National Date Your Mate Month, which gives couples 31 days to get out of their comfort zone and try new activities.

In Greater Columbus, there are plenty of things partners can try, from art museums, outdoor concerts and food tours. Here are six places across the area to explore:

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Enjoy an outdoor concert

With the month of May comes warmer weather (hopefully) and the arrival of outdoor concert season! There are plenty of options to choose from across Greater Columbus. The Central Ohio Folk Festival will take place at Highbanks Metro Park May 7 and 8, with Americana band the Way Down Wanderers as the headliner. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

Then on May 10, electronic duo Disclosure will get the party started at Kemba Live. Brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence are best-known for their 2013 hit song "Latch" with Sam Smith. Tickets start at $52.50.

Other concerts coming to Kemba Live (some are indoors) in May include:

• May 8, Clutch

• May 9, Alec Benjamin

• May 13, Ben Rector

• May 14, Earthgang

• May 18, The Blitz Summer Kick-Off Concert featuring Halestorm

• May 19, Whiskey Myers

• May 21, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

• May 26, Tame Impala

• May 28, Smashing Pumpkins

(www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org), (promowestlive.com)

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Attend a comedy show at Funny Bone

Are you a couple that loves to laugh? Check out a comedy show at Funny Bone Columbus inside Easton Town Center. The comedy club and restaurant is hosting several shows throughout May, featuring comedians such as Michael Rapaport and "Abbott Elementary" star Janelle James.

Coming to the Funny Bone from May 6-8 is comedian Bruce Bruce. The performer is known for his improv skills and appearing in movies such as "Top Five" and "Think Like a Man."

The following weekend, King Bach will perform four shows at the comedy club. The comedian became famous on the now-closed video-sharing service Vine, where he had more than 11 million followers.

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On May 20, Michael Rapaport will bring his standup set to the Funny Bone. He is best-known for movies such as "The Heat" and "True Romance."

Then just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Janelle James will take the stage. Besides playing principal Ava Coleman on "Abbott Elementary," she was also a actor and writer for Showtime's "Black Monday" and the Apple TV+ show "Central Park."

• May 6-8, Bruce Bruce. Tickets $35-$45

• May 13-14, King Bach. Tickets $32

• May 20-21, Michael Rapaport. Tickets $32-$42

• May 27-29, Janelle James. Tickets $32-$42.

(columbus.funnybone.com)

Gaze out at the stars

For those looking for a quieter, more intimate date, a visit to Perkins Observatory in Delaware may be the perfect spot. Part of the Ohio Wesleyan University campus, the observatory offers public programs on Friday nights several times throughout the year. The program usually consists of a planetarium-style show, observing the stars with a 32-inch telescope and a tour of the observatory. This month, the program will be held on May 6, 13 and 20. Tickets cost $10.

(owu.edu/about/offices-services-directory/perkins-observatory)

Visit an art museum

Spend the afternoon getting immersed in paintings, sculptures and other forms of art at the Columbus Museum of Art or the Wexner Center for the Arts.

At the Columbus Museum of Art, check out exhibits from former Ohio State professor Roy Lichtenstein, a comics series from artist Bryan Moss about life during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, or the "Present Generations" exhibit, which shows contemporary art pieces that deal with questions of identity and other social concerns.

At the Wexner, visit the "To Begin, Again" exhibit, which is the largest presentation of Ohio State’s permanent collection to date. The exhibit showcases art that was influenced by the cultural rebellion of the late 1960s and early 1970s that took place at Ohio State and across the country.

And a bonus — the Columbus Museum of Art offers free admission on Sundays, with the Wexner Center for the Arts offering free admission on Thursdays after 4 p.m. and on Sundays.

(columbusmuseum.org), (wexarts.org)

Try your hand at ax-throwing

For partners who like a date that's a little more active, go out for a night of ax-throwing. Couples can enjoy food and drinks at most places while they have fun trying to get their axes within the target.

Ax-throwing places around town include Dueling Axes and Columbus Axe Throwing. Small groups can play at Dueling Axes beginning at $35 per person, while Columbus Axe rates begin at $30 per person.

(theduelingaxes.com), (columbusaxethrowing.com)

Go on a food adventure

Indulge the foodie in your life with a neighborhood tour with Columbus Food Adventures. The company offers food tours across Greater Columbus such as the Short North, German Village, Dublin and Worthington. Most tours last about 3½ hours, and include six tasting stops and at least a mile of walking. And for the couples who enjoy sweets, there's even an all-dessert food tour!

Tours range from $62 to $68 per person and are offered on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. Most weekends in May are still open to purchase tickets.

(columbusfoodadventures.com)

Micah Walker is the Dispatch trending reporter. Reach her at mwalker@dispatch.com or 740-251-7199. Follow her on Twitter @micah_walker701.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Date Your Mate Month: 6 Greater Columbus places to rekindle romance