Central Ohio and Columbus Festivals

Festival Season is here and there are fun events almost every weekend.  Events will be added throughout the season.  If you see any missing, please leave a comment.  Let me know what your favorite festival is!

Festivals in italics have not been updated for 2017 yet.  I will update as the details become available

AUGUST

• Lobster Roll Days, Hills Market Worthington: Saturdays in August
• Paws in the Plaza, Gahanna: August 3, first Thursday of the month
• Pelotonia: August 4-6
• Dublin Irish Festival: August 4-6
• Short North Gallery Hop: August 5 (first Saturday of the month)
  
• Deshler Corn City Festival: August 5-6
• ProMusica Summer Music Series: August 10, 12, 13
• All Ohio Balloon Festival: August 10-12
• Franklinton Fridays: August 11 (second Friday of the month)
• North Ridgeville Corn Festival: August 11-13
• Hot Rod Hula Hop: August 12
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street: August 12
• Superhero Day at Easton: August 12
• Peach Fest at Lynd’s: August 12
• Festival Latino: August 12-13
• Taste the Future: August 15
• Lexington Blueberry Festival – August 17-20
• Indianola Stroll: August 18
  
• Sommerfest (III): August 18
  
• Columbus Food Truck Festival: August 18-19
• Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival: August 18-19
• FMMF – Fashion Meets Music Festival: August 18-19
• WAG! Festival: August 19
• CrestFest: August 19
• African Village Arts Festival:
• Ganther’s Place Harvest and Jazz Festival: August 19
• TEA 43206: August 19
• Grove City EcoFest: August 19
• Cruise the Ville: August 19
  
• Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival: August 19-20
• Sunday Sunlight Market on Gay Street: August 20 (third Sunday of the month)
• Arch City Comedy Festival: will return in 2018
  
• Obetz Zucchinifest: August 24-27
• 4th Fridays in Uptown Westerville: August 25 (and each 4th Friday through September)
• Rhythm on the River, Bicentennial Park: August 25 with The Seldom Scene | Michael Cleveland and Flamekeep
• Craft Brew at the Zoo: August 25
• Columbus Summer Beerfest: August 25-26
• MatsuriCon: August 25-27
• India Festival: August 26
• PupArt: August 26
• Grandview Hop: August 26
• Urban Scrawl: August 26
• Columbus Coffee Fest: August 30 – October 1
• Ohio Proud Summer Harvest at Easton:

Festivals in italics have not been updated for 2017 yet.

SEPTEMBER

• Millersport Sweet Corn Festival: August 30- September 2
• Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival – September 1-3
• Short North Gallery Hop: September 2 (first Saturday of the month)
• Family Funday at the Columbus Commons: Sept 2, Free and ticketed family fun, plus The Jungle Book under the stars
  
• Greek Festival: September 1-4
• Bike the Cbus: September 2
• Ohio Renaissance Festival – September 2 through October 29, Saturdays, Sundays, Labor Day Monday
• Hot Licks Blues Fest, Granville: September 2
• Hills Market (Worthington) Ohio Hog Roast: September 4
• Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival: September 2-4
• Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival: September 4
• Fredericktown Tomato Show: September  6-9
• Taste of Powell: September 7
  
• Paws in the Plaza, Gahanna: September 7, first Thursday of the month
• Marion Popcorn Festival: September 7-9
• Franklinton Fridays: September 8 (second Friday of the month)
• Lithopolis Honeyfest: September 8-9
• Hot Times Community Festival – September 8-10
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street: September 9
• Old Hilliardfest Art and Street Fair: September 9
• FestiFair Arts and Craft Festival – September 9
• Merion Village Festival: September 10
• Slice of Columbus: September 13
• Easton Fashion Night: September 14
• Ohio Lesbian Festival: September 14-17
• Indianola Stroll: September 15
• Ohio Pawpaw Festival: September 15-17
• Country Living Fair: September 15-17
• Germania Oktoberfest: September 15-17
• Backwoods Fest, Thornville: September 15-17
• Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival: September 15-17
• Ohiolina Music Festival – September 15-16
• Scoot-A-Que: September 15-17
• Cartoon Weekend at the Columbus Zoo: September 16-17
• Preble County Pork Festival: September 16-17
• Arts in the Alley, Grove City: September 16-17
• Independents’ Day: September 16-17
• Delaware County Fair: September 16-23
• Powell Street Market – September 17
• Sunday Sunlight Market on Gay Street: September 17 (third Sunday of the month)
• Jackson County Apple Festival: September 19-23
• Little Brown Jug, Delaware: September 21
• Barnesville Pumpkin Festival: September 21-24
• 4th Fridays in Uptown Westerville: September 22
• Union County Covered Bridge and Bluegrass Festival: September 22-24
• Columbus Oktoberfest: September 22-24
• Old Worthington Market Day: September 23
• Hops & Vines Fest, Gahanna – September 23
• New Albany Classic: September 24
• Annual Taste of Dublin: September 26
• Ohio Craft Brew Festival: September 29-30
• North Market Festival for Good: September 29-30
• Lebanon Country Applefest: September 30
• Harvest Festival, Columbus Commons: September 30
• Chalk the Block, Easton: September 30
• FeMME Fest – August 12-21
• Clintonville Homes Tour – No date listed yet
• Clintonville Art and Music Festival – spring 2018
• New American Festival – September 10
• Short North Tour of Homes
• Fall Festival and Musical Jamboree in Hilliard
• Lynd’s Annual PumpkinPalooza

Festivals in italics have not been updated for 2017 yet.

OCTOBER

• Paws in the Plaza, Gahanna: October 5, first Thursday of the month
• Ohio Gourd Festival (Delaware County): October 6-8
• Columbus Italian Festival: October 6-8
• Oktoberfest in Grove City: October 7
• Short North Gallery Hop: October 7 (first Saturday of the month)
• Oktoberfest in Powell
  
• TWIG of Nationwide Children’s Pumpkinpalooza – October 8
• Experience Columbus Days – Columbus Day Weekend
• Columbus Underground Birthday
• Upper Arlington Fall Fest – October 9
• Franklinton Fridays: October 13 (second Friday of the month)
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street: October 14
• Monster Bash: October 14
• Ohio Sauerkraut Festival: October 14-15
• Ohio 24 Hour Horror Marathon – October 15-16
• Circleville Pumpkin Show: October 18-21
• Dublin Halloween Spooktacular: October 19
  
• Van Wert County Apple Festival: October 20-21
• Indianola Art Crawl: October 21
• Sunday Sunlight Market on Gay Street: October 22 (third Sunday of the month)
• Halloween Family Fun Day at North Market: October 29
• Haunted Statehouse Tours: October 20, 21, 28, 29
• Highball – October 21-22
• Boo at the Zoo – October 21-23, 28-30
• Easton Pet Parade and Fall Festival – October 23
• Grove City Boo on Broadway
• TRAUMA – Halloween Fetish Party

Festivals in italics have not been updated for 2017 yet.

NOVEMBER

• Short North Gallery Hop: November 4 (first Saturday of the month)
• TWIG Bazaar – November 6
• Franklinton Fridays: November 10 (second Friday of the month)
• Columbus International Festival – November 12-13
• Craftin’ Outlaws Holiday Show
• Magical Day of Giving at Polaris Mall
• Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Easton: November 17
• Wildlights: November 17 through January 1
• Howliday Bazaar: November 18
• Gahanna Holiday Lights Parade and Celebration
• Christmasfair: November 18-19
• Marysville Christmas Walk and Tree Lighting – November 28

Festivals in italics have not been updated for 2017 yet.

DECEMBER

• Short North Gallery Hop: December 2 (first Saturday of the month)
• Upper Arlington Winter Festival & Tree Lighting Ceremony – December 4
• Hollyfest Arts & Crafts Show – December 5
• Holidays in Powell – December 5
• Village Lights: December 3
• Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting: December 7
• Franklinton Fridays: December 8 (second Friday of the month)
• Grandview Hop Holiday Hop: December 9
• Chanukkah Celebration, Easton – December 12
• Lighting of the Luminaries, Ganther’s Place: December 16
• Tremont Center Christmas Event: December 19

Festivals in italics have not been updated for 2017 yet.

Past Festivals:

MARCH

• Franklinton Fridays: March 10 (second Friday of the month)
• Dine Originals Week: March 20-26
• Spring Avant-Garde Arts & Craft Show: March 25 at Makay Event Center
• Made LOCAL Marketplace Spring Show: March 25
• Small Press Alternative Comics EXPO (S.P.A.C.E): March 25-26
• Cool Season Annuals Sale at Chadwick Arboretum: March 31
• Columbus Home Improvement Show: March 31 – April 2

APRIL

• Over 75 Easter Events with Easter egg hunts, and photos with the Easter Bunny through April 16
• CCAD Art Fair: April 1
• Short North Gallery Hop: April 1 (first Saturday of the month)
• Paws in the Plaza in Gahanna: April 6 (first Thursday of the month)
• A Taste of Clintonville: April 6
• Ohioana Book Festival: April 8
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street: April 8
• Craftin’ Outlaws Spring Fling: April 9
• Franklinton Fridays: April 14 (second Friday of the month)
• Eggs, Paw and Claws at the Columbus Zoo: April 14-15
• Columbus International Film + Video Festival at CCAD: April 19-23
• Best Bites Brunch: April 20
• Indianola Stroll: April 21
• Arbor Day Celebration at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens: April 21
• Earth Day Celebration at Columbus Commons: April 22
• Blast! The Big Science Bash at COSI: April 22
• Earth Day Celebration at the Zoo: April 22
• Grove City Lions Club Spring Craft Beer Fest: April 23
• Sunday Sunlight Market on Gay Street: April 23 (typically third Sunday of the month, except April)
• Puppypalooza at Huntington Park: April 25
• The Columbus Pancakes & Booze Art Show: April 28
• 4th Fridays in Uptown Westerville: April 28 (and each 4th Friday through September)
• Arbor Day Festival at Dawes Arboretum: April 29
• Taste of Granville: April 29
• Gluten-free Food Allergy Fest: April 29-30
• Schmeckfest German Food Festival at Germania: April 30

MAY

• Paws in the Plaza, Gahanna: May 5, first Thursday of the month
• Powell Touch-a-Truck: May 5
• GartenMarkt: May 5-6
• Grove City Community Environmental Day: May 6
• Short North Gallery Hop: May 6 (first Saturday of the month)
• Free Comic Book Day: May 6
• Green on the Green, Worthington: May 6
• Pinchflat: May 6
• Merion Village Yard Sale: May 6
• Central Ohio Folk Festival: May 6-7
• Spring Flea: May 7
• Powell Street Market: May 7
• Taste of Dine Originals: May 11
• DinoFest Columbus: May 11
• Chadwick Arboretum Spring Plant Sale: May 11-13
• Franklinton Fridays: May 12 (second Friday of the month)
• CCAD Senior Fashion Show: May 12
• Indianola Carnival: May 12
• Science on Tap at COSI: May 12
• Columbus Craft Beer Week: May 12-20
• Gahanna Herb Day Festival: May 13
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street: May 13
• North Market Apron Gala: May 13
• Smokehouse Brewing’s Mini Real Ale Festival: May 13
• Pinned: A Motorcyle Pary: May 13
• Shepherd’s Corner Plant Sale: May 13
• Green Lawn Abbey Neighborhood Yard Sale: May 13
• Free Admission to the Zoo for Mother’s Day: May 14
• Ride of Silence: May 17
• Columbus Psych Fest: May 19
• Worthington Touch-a-Truck: May 19
• National Bike to Work Day: May 19, pre-planned routes leading to City Hall for a morning celebration
• Easton Food Fest:May 19-21, Food Truck Friday, Sippin’ Saturday, and Sweet Sunday
• Rock on the Range – May 19-21
• Cruise Hocking: May 19-21
• Village Valuables in German Village: May 20
• Six One Pour – The Ohio Craft Beer Fest: May 20
• Upper Arlington Spring Fling: May 20
• King Arts Complex Anniversary Gala: May 20
• Dawes Arboretum Plant Sale: May 20
• Indianola Art Crawl: May 20
• Delaware Arts Festival: May 20-21
• Asian Festival Dragon Boat Race: May 21
• COSI EMS & Safety Day: May 21
• Sunday Sunlight Market on Gay Street: May 21 (third Sunday of the month)
• ColumBEST Extravaganza: May 22
• 4th Fridays in Uptown Westerville: May 26 (and each 4th Friday through September)
• WILDZFEST at the Wilds: May 27
• Hills Market Salmon Roast: May 27
• Family Funday at the Columbus Commons: May 27, Free and ticketed family fun, plus Secret Life of Pets under the stars
• Asian Festival: May 27-28
• Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival and Car and Motorcycle Show: May 27-29
• Lithopolis Annual Fireman Fish Fry: May 29
• Worthington Memorial Parade and Celebration: May 29
• Green Lawn Abbey Memorial Day Open House: May 29, Tours and refreshments at this historical site; donations accepted
• The Memorial Tournament: May 29-June 4
• Columbus Craftacular
• Tour de Highland West:

JUNE

• The Memorial Tournament: May 29-June 4
• Easton Sounds on the Town Concert Series: Wednesdays, June through August
• Paws in the Plaza, Gahanna: June 1 first Thursday of the month
• Nelsonville Music Festival – June 1-4
• Midwest Burlesque and Rockabilly Weekend: June 1-4
• Marysville Touch-a-Truck: July 2
• Newark Strawberry Festival – June 2-4
• Rhythm on the River, Bicentennial Park: June 2 with The Blind Boys of Alabama | MojoFlo
• Short North Yard Sale: June 3
• Short North Gallery Hop: June 3 (first Saturday of the month)
• Summer in the 614: June 3, musicians, family activities, games and food vendors
• Bexley Women’s Club House & Garden Tour – June 4
• Tour of Franklinton Cycling Race: June 4
• Jeni’s Strawberry Jam at the North Market: June 4
• DAC Sundays at Scioto summer concert series – Sunday evenings from June 11 through July 30
• CAPA Summer Movie Series: Begins mid-June
• Franklinton Fridays: June 9 (second Friday of the month)
• Park Street Festival: June 9-10 Postponed until late August
• Columbus Arts Festival: June 9-11
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street: June 10 (second Saturday of the month)
• ZombieWalk: June 10  Will return in 2018
• Buckeye Country Superfest: June 10-11
• Olde Towne East Trash to Treasures, Neighborhood yard sale: June 10
• Summer Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show: June 11
• Tater Tots and Beer Festival: June 11
• Origins Game Fair: June 14-18
• Washboard Music Festival: June 15-17
• FFOCOL – Film Festival of Columbus – June 15-18
• Sommerfest at Germania: June 16
• Tour de Grandview: June 16
• Indianola Stroll: June 16
• Duck Creek Log Jam: June 16-17
• Grove City Wine and Arts Festival: June 16-17
• Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival: June 16-18
• Columbus PRIDE Festival: June 16-18
• KidsLinked’s Free Columbus Children’s Festival – June 17
• Worthington Art Festival: June 17-18
• Picnic with the Pops: June 17 – A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of Prince
• Zoofari: June 17
• Grandview Digfest: June 17
• Summer Children’s Festival by Kidslinked:  June 17
• Juneteenth Ohio Festival will be back in 2017 if they can raise enough funds
• London Cobra Auto Show: June 22 through 24
• 4th Fridays in Uptown Westerville: June 23 (and each 4th Friday through September)
• Rhythm on the River, Bicentennial Park: June 23 with The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson | Hadden Sayers Band
• Picnic with the Pops: June 23 – Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Columbus Symphony Chorus
• Comfest: June 23-25
• Easton Art Affair: June 23-25
• Powell Festival: June 23-24
• Picnic with the Pops: June 24 – Beethoven V. Coldplay: A symphonic mash-up of Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony (“Eroica”) with songs from the British rock band Coldplay
• Grandview Hop: June 24
• Hilltop Bean Dinner: June 24
• Haus und Garten Tour, German Village: June 24-25
• Sunday Sunlight Market on Gay Street: June 25 (third Sunday of the month)
• Summer Fridays at the Statehouse: Fridays, June through August
• Fountainside at Scioto Mile: Wednesdays, June through mid-August

JULY

• Short North Gallery Hop: July 1 (first Saturday of the month)
• Picnic with the Pops: July 1 – Patriotic Pops featuring Harmony Project and followed by fireworks
• Red White & Boom: July 3
• Red, White & Brats at Germania: July 3
• Doo Dah Parade: July 4
• City of Dublin Independence Day Celebration: July 4
• Grove City Independence Day Celebration: July 4
• Paws in the Plaza, Gahanna: July 6, first Thursday of the month
• Good Guys PPG Nationals: July 7-9
• North Market Ohio Wine Festival: July 7-9
• AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: July 7-9
• Picnic with the Pops: July 8 – Remember When Rock Was Young: Starring Craig A. Meyer as “Almost Elton John” and featuring music by The Rocket Band
• Westgate’s Summer Jam: July 8
• Westerville Music and Arts Festival: July 8-9
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street: July 8 (second Saturday of the month)
• Merion Village Garden Tour: July 9
• The Summer Tour of Historic Homes of Olde Towne East: July 9
  
• Upper Arlington Summer Celebration: July 13
• Franklinton Fridays: July 14 (second Friday of the month)
• Rhythm on the River, Bicentennial Park: July 14 with The Seldom Scene | Michael Cleveland and Flamekeep
• Ohio Brew Week Festival: July 14-22
• Young Writers Short Play Festival, MadLab Theatre:
• Picnic with the Pops: July 15 – A Symphonic Night of Hip Hop featuring Common
• Art Crawl in German Village: July 15
• Franklin County Fair: July 15-22
• WesterFlora Garden Tour: July 16
• Sunday Sunlight Market on Gay Street: July 16 (third Sunday of the month)
• Lancaster Festival: July 19-29
• Indianola Stroll: July 21
• Taste of Worthington: July 21
• Sommerfest (II): July 21
  
• Jazz and Rib Fest: July 21-23
• Picnic with the Pops: July 22 – Three Dog Night
• 2X2 Hip-Hop Festival: July 22
• A Day at the Park in Marysville: July 22
• Lazy Daze of Summer Festival: Typically 3rd Friday of the month
• Union County Fair: July 23-29
• Ohio State Fair: July 26 through August 6
• 4th Fridays in Uptown Westerville: July 28 (and each 4th Friday through September)
• Canal Winchester Blues and Ribfest: July 28-29
• Picnic with the Pops: July 28 & 29 – The OSU Marching Band
• Whitehall Food Truck & Fun Fest featuring Chase Bryant: July 29
• Grandview Hop: July 29
• Rally for the Ranch: July 29
• Ganther’s Place Annual Tour: July 29
• Powell Street Market: July 30

Festivals in italics have not been updated for 2017 yet.