Columbus FESTIVAL GUIDE

Columbus, Ohio, and its surrounding areas host a vibrant array of festivals throughout the year, celebrating the city's rich cultural diversity, arts, music, and community spirit. Here's a comprehensive list of notable annual festivals:

Spring Festivals:

COSI Science Festival (April -May): Ohio's largest science festival includes events in Columbus and surrounding communities, culminating in the Big Science Celebration at COSI. cosiscifest.org

Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival (May): A premier rock festival held at the Historic Crew Stadium, featuring a lineup of renowned rock bands and artists. sonictemplefestival.com

Asian Festival (May 24–25, 2025): A celebration of Asian culture with authentic food, performances, and cultural exhibits at Franklin Park. asian-festival.org

Summer Festivals:

Columbus Arts Festival (June 6–8, 2025): A showcase of visual and performing arts along the downtown riverfront, featuring artists from across the nation. columbusartsfestival.org

Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival (June 2025): One of the Midwest's largest LGBTQ+ pride events, featuring a parade, live music, and community activities. stonewallcolumbus.org

ComFest (Community Festival) (June 2025): An immense three-day, free, non-commercial music and arts festival held in Goodale Park, featuring multiple stages, art vendors, and community organizations. Comfest.com

Red, White & BOOM! (July 3, 2025): Ohio's largest fireworks display, celebrating Independence Day with festivities starting at 11 a.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. redwhiteandboom.org

Jazz & Rib Fest (July 18–20, 2025): A highly anticipated summertime tradition offering both jazz and rib connoisseurs the finest in music and barbecue. Admission is free. hotribscooljazz.org

Columbus Food Truck Festival (Summer 2025): A two-day event featuring the best food trucks from Ohio and beyond, live music, and local craft vendors. Columbusfoodtruckfest.com

Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival (Summer 2025): A gathering of world-famous blues and jazz performers in Gahanna's Creekside district. Creeksidebluesandjazz.com

Fall Festivals:

All American Quarter Horse Congress (Fall 2025): The largest single-breed horse show in America, held at the Ohio Expo Center, featuring competitions like barrel racing. quarterhorsecontress.com

HighBall Halloween (Fall 2025): A fashion-forward costume party in the Short North Arts District, featuring local designers and elaborate costumes. highballcolumbus.org

Columbus Italian Festival (Fall 2025): A celebration of Italian culture in Italian Village, featuring music, food, and parades.

columbusitalianfestival.com

Additional Notable Festivals:

Ohio State Fair (Late July–Early August 2025): One of the largest state fairs in the U.S., featuring concerts, exhibitions, rides, and food stalls at the Ohio Expo Center. ohiostatefair.com

Dublin Irish Festival (August 2025): A celebration of Irish culture in Dublin, Ohio, with music, dance, and traditional cuisine. dublinirishfestival.org

Pumpkins Aglow (October 2025): A family-friendly event at the Franklin Park Conservatory featuring hundreds of jack-o-lanterns and enchanting lights. fpconservatory.org

CBUS Soul® Fest (Summer 2025): A festival celebrating Columbus' vibrant Black culture, music, history, and soul at Genoa Park. cbussoulfest.com

Columbus Book Festival (July 2025): A literary festival featuring panel discussions, author talks, and book signings at the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Main Library and Topiary Park. columbusbookfestival.org

Columbus Comedy Festival (Summer 2025): A festival showcasing Columbus' booming comedy scene across various venues in the city. columbuscomedyfest.com

Columbus Summer Wine Festival (Summer 2025): An event for wine enthusiasts featuring wine sampling, arts and crafts, live music, and more at McFerson Commons. columbuswinefest.com

Columbus Greek Festival (Labor Day Weekend 2025): An annual celebration of Greek culture and heritage at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, featuring live performances, authentic food, and more. columbusgreekfestival.com

Ohio Black Expo (Memorial Day Weekend 2025): A showcase of Black excellence with food, music, art, networking, and more in downtown Columbus. ohioblackexpo.com

Columbus Air Show (August 22–24, 2025): An exciting event at Rickenbacker International Airport, headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, featuring demonstrations from both modern military and civilian aircraft. columbusairshow.com

This list highlights the diverse and vibrant festival scene in and around Columbus, offering residents and visitors numerous opportunities to engage with the community and celebrate various aspects of culture, art, and entertainment throughout the year.