LIVE FOR FESTIVAL SEASON.

Find a continuously updated list of festivals and events at experiencecolumbus.com/festivals.

Scan this QR code to start planning your experiences.

Check out experiencecolumbus.com for a complete calendar of events and to confirm dates.

Food Fests

Participate in the 58-year-old traditional tomato wars, a dodgeball-style tournament substituting balls for tomatoes, or enjoy live music, delicious food and rides at the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival on Aug. 10–12. Come hungry to the Columbus Food Truck Festival on Aug. 19–20 that showcases food vendors from across Ohio and beyond for a delicious lineup of cuisines.

Try everything from zucchini bread to zucchini ice cream to zucchini beer at the Obetz Zucchinifest, Sept. 1–4. Listen to live music throughout the weekend and stay through Monday for kids’ entertainment day.

Music Fests

Rock out on May 25–28 at Historic Crew Stadium when renowned bands like Kiss and the Foo Fighters come together for Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival.

Join fellow country music fans on May 27 at Ohio Stadium for Buckeye Country Superfest and sing along to performances from George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town and many others.

Music lovers from all across the state gather at the Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival, June 16–18, to listen to performances of smooth jazz and melodic blues by national and regional acts.

Enjoy fall-off-the-bone ribs while strolling down the Scioto Mile listening to smooth rhythms at the Jazz & Rib Fest on July 21–23.

Celebrate The Arts

Discover the talent of Columbus’ newest fashion designers at the CCAD Fashion Show on May 11. Enjoy the runway-style show and be the first to see these student designers’ skills up close.

Listen to live music and shop for fine arts and crafts made by artists from around the county at the juried Columbus Arts Festival on June 9–11 along the downtown riverfront.

Enjoy fine crafts from local artists and meet the artists themselves, listen to live music and participate in hands-on art activities in Northam Park at the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival on Sept. 4.

Sports Events

Watch 20,000 athletes compete in many different sporting events, including competitions in bodybuilding, combat, strength, strongman and fitness at the Arnold Sports Festival on March 2–5.

Invest in local charities and witness the best of the best PGA Tour golfers battle for The Memorial Tournament title in Dublin on May 29–June 4.

Support Pelotonia’s fundraising efforts for cancer research and take part in the Ride Weekend Aug. 4–6 for a three-day experience that offers several cycling courses around Central Ohio.

MORE CAN’T MISS FESTIVALS

Step into a world of hundreds of butterflies flying freely among the colorful plants at Blooms & Butterflies at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens every spring and summer.

Experience science in a new way at COSI Science Festival, May 3–6, with 100 events held at COSI and around Ohio, including science trivia, computer science explanations and more.

Grow your career and connect with Black entrepreneurs at the Ohio Black Expo, May 25–28, through educational workshops, food, arts and entertainment.

Join Columbus Pride for a month’s worth of fun ranging from brunches to live music entertainment to the Pride Festival weekend, which culminates with the Pride Parade on June 17.

Tour the inside of beautiful homes and gardens of German Village during the German Village Haus und Garten Tour on June 24–25 and witness the preservation efforts that go into keeping these historic homes pristine.

Celebrate the nation’s birthday in Downtown Columbus on July 3 at Red, White & BOOM!, the largest Independence Day celebration in the Midwest.

Experience Columbus’ free-thinking vibe at its best at the the hilarious Doo-Dah Parade on July 4, filled with art cars, wacky costumes and political satire.

Celebrate Columbus’ Black culture during CBUS Soul Fest, back for its second year in August in Bicentennial Park. Listen to live music all day, grab a bite at local food trucks and meet the owners of locally owned businesses like Ellie’s Book Shop.

Experience Irish culture Aug. 4–6 through food, traditional musical entertainment and hands-on workshops at the Dublin Irish Festival, the largest three-day Irish festival in the world.

Stop by the annual Columbus Greek Festival on Sept. 1–4 to enjoy music and dancing, dine on traditional food and shop for traditional Greek jewelry and hand-carved olive wood.

PLAN AHEAD

Mark your calendar for more 2023 events and festivals.

SEPTEMBER

Columbus Oktoberfest columbusoktoberfest.com

Taste of Bexley bexleyareachamber.org

OCTOBER

Columbus Marathon columbusmarathon.com

The Columbus Italian Festival columbusitalianfestival.com

NOVEMBER–JANUARY

Wildlights columbuszoo.org

DECEMBER

Winterfair winterfair.org