What is Leap Year? Thursday is Leap Day, and here are six ways to celebrate
Are you planning to do something special on Feb. 29?
If you are, you better hop to it — if you don’t make plans, another four years will roll by before you’ll have another chance.
That’s right: We’re in the midst of a Leap Year, and Thursday is Leap Day, the extra day allocated in calendars every four years.
Why do we have Leap Year? Put your science caps on
Leap years are needed to maintain a balance between the calendar year and the actual time that elapses in an astronomical year, which is always some hours longer than 365 days. The addition of the extra day, always on Feb. 29, factors in the “extra time” in the Earth’s orbit.
More: Why do we have leap years?
OK, now that we have the science behind Leap Year out of the way, here are a number of Leap Day-specific events are taking place throughout central Ohio this year.
Here we have gathered some possibilities on how to best spend the extra time and celebrate!
‘Leap Year’ on Leap Day
The 2010 romantic comedy “Leap Year,” starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, could be considered the perfect cinematic accompaniment to Leap Day. The folks at the Oak & Brazen Wine Company in Delaware thought so, too, and they are hosting a special event: At 4:30 p.m. Feb. 29, Oak & Brazen, 38 W. Winter St., will serve appetizers and drinks; then, at 6:30 p.m., the Strand Theatre, 28 E. Winter St., will screen the flick. Tickets, including the movie, appetizers and two drink tickets, cost $40. More information: bit.ly/3UIazdW
‘30 Rock’ celebration for Leap Year
The Grandview Theater and Drafthouse, 1247 Grandview Ave., will host its annual celebration of the Leap Day episode from the sixth season of the NBC sitcom “30 Rock.” At 5 p.m. Feb. 29, a pre-party will offer rhubarb beer, cocktails and candy. At 6 p.m., the episode will be screened, and attendees are encouraged to mingle afterward and participate in a raffle. Tickets cost $10; money raised will support the Ohio Women’s Alliance. More information: bit.ly/48Agqpj
Perley at the library on Leap Day
Central Ohio singer-songwriter Angela Perley — whose inimitable style is described as an amalgamation of alt-country, roadhouse rock ’n’ roll and so-called “witchy-woman psychedelia,” among other things — is always worth a listen, so why would Leap Day be any different? At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29, Perley will give a free concert at the Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington. More information: https://ualibrary.libnet.info/event/9336557
More: Arnold Sports Festival to return to Columbus stronger than ever Feb. 29-March 3
Fun for families on Leap Day
Learn about the day and have some fun at the same time: Starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29, the Worthington Northwest Library, 2280 Hard Road, Worthington, invites families with children ages 5 and younger to a Leap Day Party, featuring games, crafts and activities. More information: bit.ly/3HYMAQm
A wine of a good time celebrating Leap Year
At 6 p.m. the day before Leap Day — that’s Feb. 28 — Aardvark Wine & Beer, 2355 W. Dublin-Granville Road, will offer a tasting of wines from Frog’s Leap Winery, including sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon. One pour of each wine will be offered for $25. Tickets must be purchased in advance. More information: bit.ly/3wr7wwE
Additional wine tasting
Wines from Frog’s Leap Winery will also be center stage at another tasting on tap for Leap Day: Starting at 11 a.m. Feb. 29, Annie’s Wine Cottage, 30 W. Olentangy St., Powell, will offer pours of sauvignon blanc, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon and a red blend. The tasting costs $30 and does not require reservations. More information: bit.ly/48lJGQc
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here are six ways to celebrate Leap Year on Feb. 29
