Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest and BBQ Week

The Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest is July 21-23, 2023. Enjoy great BBQ the week before the festival with BBQ Week!

Celebrate with Jazz & Rib Fest BBQ Week

Get your appetite ready for amazing BBQ during Jazz & Rib Fest BBQ Week this summer to celebrate great barbecue and support local businesses.

This restaurant week style event is July 18-24, 2022. Local restaurants, food trucks and other dining establishments are serving up barbecue inspired specials.

Restaurants will set their pricing and menus, which will range from creative through traditional.

Check the website to see details and offerings for the week, as they are released!

BBQ Week leads into the annual Jazz & Rib Fest!

Jazz & Rib Fest; photo credit Randall L. Schieber

Columbus Jazz & Rib Fest

Each summer, Jazz & Rib Fest is a highly anticipated tradition with the best of jazz and rib connoisseurs for a festival full of music and barbecue, brought to us by City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Dept.

Celebrate your love of jazz and ribs at the Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest and the festival’s return from July 21-23, 2023 along the Scioto Mile riverfront in downtown Columbus!

Jazz and Rib Fest, Columbus Ohio. photo credit Randall L. Schieber

The festival is on both sides of the Scioto River in Bicentennial, West Bank and Genoa Parks with three days of jazz by renowned musicians and food from barbecue pit masters.

Award-winning rib burners from the US and Canada will be bring their ribs to the people at the free festival.

Don’t forget about the jazz! There’s always a huge line-up of jazz performers ranging from hip hop to Latin-style jazz on the 3 festival stages to keep you entertained and tapping your feet.

Bring the family to enjoy fun activities throughout, including kids’ activities, demos and food tastings from partners, and more!

Jazz and Rib Fest 2017, Columbus Ohio. photo credit Randall L. Schieber

Headliners for the festival

Robert Glasper – Friday, July 22, 6:30-8 p.m.: One of the founders of a new sound that has changed the face of a genre. His award-winning career straddles the worlds of hip-hop, jazz and neo-soul. Reminiscent of jazz legends like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, with a twist of hip-hop, R&B and rock.

Lalah Hathaway – Friday, July 22, 9-10:30 p.m.: The daughter of the late soul legend Donny Hathaway has forged her own way in music, using a lovely contralto to pursue various styles that mix R&B, jazz and pop.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra – Saturday, July 23, 6:30-8 p.m.: Three-time Grammy winning salsa and Latin jazz band sets the gold standard for excellence in authentic, New York style, hard core salsa.

Boney James – Saturday, July 23, 9-10:30 p.m.: Four-time Grammy nominee with four Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold records and career sales topping three million units continues to defy musical genres; a two-time NAACP Award nominee, a Soul Train Award winner and named one of the Top 3 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Decade.

Kirk Whalum – Sunday, July 24, 4-5:30 p.m.: Best-known as the saxophone soloist on the Whitney Houston hit “I Will Always Love You,”, his trademark saxophone stylings have been heard on over 100 recordings, in which he has collaborated with a virtual “Who’s Who” of jazz, pop, R&B and gospel musicians.

Dee Dee Bridgewater with Columbus Jazz Orchestra – Sunday, July 24, 6:30-8 p.m.: Grammy and Tony Award-winning Jazz giant has ascended to the upper echelon of vocalists, putting her unique spin on standards, as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics. Accompanied by hometown favorites, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra with its big band jazz sound, the two come together to create a unique experience exclusively for Jazz & Rib Fest!