Events

March

Arnold Fitness Week

Greater Columbus Convention Center and Veterans Memorial

614-431-2600

Call for schedule.

Admission Charged.

This may be the largest fitness expo in the world!  It routinely draws 10,000 athletes and more than 70,000 spectators. The Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness Weekend features international fitness and strength competitions, a world-class fitness expo and continuous entertainment.  Weekend highlights include men's and women's bodybuilding, women's fitness competition, martial arts, gymnastics, cheerleading and dance competition, a 5K pump and run race, World's Strongest Man competition and arm wrestling.

 

Blooms & Butterflies (March-November)
Franklin Park Conservatory 1777 E. Broad St.
614-645-1802

Call for hours.

Admission Charged

Franklin Park Conservatory is a flutter with hundreds of butterflies at this popular annual event. Walk amid hundreds of the flying jewels--all different colors and sizes. You even can watch butterflies hatching from their cocoons.

 

May

 

Asian Festival

1777 E. Broad St.

614-463-1752

Call for exact dates and schedule.

Admission Free.

The sights, sounds, and tastes of Asia are captured at this event. Sample Asian cuisine from a gamut of countries, shop the Asian market, keep the kids active with hands-on activities, and be entertained by the stage performances and cultural booths.

 

June

 

Columbus Rose Festival

Whetstone Park of Roses

3923 N. High St.

614-645-3350

Admission Charged.

Call for exact dates and hours.

The 2 day festival is held when roses are at their peak.  Take in the sights and smells, or attend a floral design workshop by a gardening expert, listen to live entertainment, or buy a few plants.

 

 

Festival Latino

Downtown Riverfront
Bicentennial Park, Genoa Park & Civic Center Drive

614-645-7995

Call for exact dates and  times.

Admission Free.

Show off your salsa, banda, cumbia, merengue, mariachi, Afro-Cuban or Andean talents, or learn how you can acquire some at this two-day fiesta. Taste the culture at the local restaurants specializing in across-the-border fare.

 

 

Greater Columbus Arts Festival

Downtown Riverfront

614-224-2606
Call for exact dates and times.

Admission Free.

More than 300 of the nation's best artists display their works at this annual 3-day street festival and show along the riverfront in downtown Columbus. Music, food, and art activities add to the festivities.

 

 

North Market Berries and Dairy Festival

59 Spruce Street, one block north of Nationwide Arena and one block one block west of
Greater Columbus Convention Center

614-463-9664

Admission Free.

Call for exact dates and times.

The day-long festival will feature berry and dairy related foods throughout the North Market and outdoors at the Farmers’ Market, as well as children’s activities, roving entertainers, music, recipes and samples.

 

 

July

 

Red, White and Boom

Downtown riverfront, Columbus

614-421-2666

Call for date and hours.

The annual Independence Day celebration is full of live music, a parade, and food and  is topped off by one of the most extravagant fireworks displays in the Midwest!

 

 

The Doo Dah Parade

Goodale Park (Intersection of Park Street and Buttles Ave. in Short North)

Admission Free.

The Doo Dah parade is a satirical celebration of life and lunacy. There is no fee to enter just show up and show off.

 

August

 

OHIO STATE FAIR

State Fairgrounds, I-71 at 17^th Ave. (Expo Center)

614-221-6623 or 800-345-4386

Call for exact date and hours.

Admission Charged.

It's not summer until you see the life-size butter cow at one of the largest state fairs in the country. This 17 day fair features everything from star studded performers and heart stopping rides to livestock exhibits and exceptional displays for the whole family to enjoy.  Nationally known musical acts, one of the world's longest sky rides and the largest junior fair in the nation are highlights. Agricultural displays, children's contests, tractor pulls, laser light shows, and, of course, the butter cow, are mainstays.

 

Buckeye Invitational

Palace Theater

614-459-0400

Admission Charged

Call for exact date and schedule.

International barbershop competition featuring both men’s and women’s choruses and quartets. 

 

Dublin Irish Festival

Coffman Park

5600 Post Road

614-410-4545 or 800-647-1518

Call for exact dates and hours.

Admission Charged.

Celebrate all things Irish during the annual event, which showcases Irish dance, music and culture.

 

 

September

 

Columbus Family Fun Fest
Riverfront Amphitheater, Genoa Park, Washington Boulevard
614-645-4313

Call for exact dates and times.

Admission Free.

Celebrate family at Columbus' most family friendly festival. Columbus' downtown riverfront will host extreme sports entertainment, river rides, artistic adventures and an evening fireworks extravaganza, Stars and Stripes, over the Scioto.

 

 

Columbus Italian Festival
St. John the Baptist Church, 720 Hamlet St.
614-BYI-TALY

Call for exact dates and times.

Admission Charged.

Enjoy fun for the entire family including live entertainment, an open-air market and fabulous food and drink. Whether you're Italian or not, the Columbus Italian Festival will make you feel like part of the family.

 

October

German Village Oktoberfest

Mohawk Alternative School Athletic Field

Northeast corner of South Grant and East Livingston Ave.

614-224-4300 or 614-221-8888

Admission Charged.

The German Village Oktoberfest is a celebration blending a time-honored German festival with the vitality and charm of a thriving urban neighborhood. More than 30 bands performing on three stages, a wide variety of authentic German food, as well as artisans and shops; Oktoberfest continues to brew a whole new tradition of fun.

 

 

Harvest Festival

North Market, 59 Spruce Street

614-463-9664

Call for exact date and time.

Admission Free.

Shop for crisp apples, flavorful squash, pumpkins and other autumn produce while enjoying an array of fall entertainment at the North Market's  Annual Harvest Festival.  The day-long event features cooking demonstrations, amateur pie contest, music, free apple cider and pumpkin bread, roving entertainers, face painting, balloons and other children's activities.

 

 

Columbus Marathon, Inc.
929 Harrison Ave. Suite 202

Downtown Columbus.

614-42-7866

Call for information.

Admission Charged.

Watch runners wind through a fast and friendly 26.2 miles of streets in the downtown area and surrounding suburbs during the 3 day event, which includes a free sports and fitness expo. The Columbus Marathon has no limit on the size of the field and requires no qualifying time to enter. Participants must be at least 18 years of age as of race day to enter.

 

November

 

Columbus International Festival
Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St.
614-421-4400

Call for dates and times.

Admission Charged.
The 49th annual Columbus International festival is an entertaining and educational event sponsored by the Columbus Chapter of the United Nations Association. Numerous countries will be represented through food, exhibits, education, shopping and entertainment.

 

December

 

Winterfair
Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave.
614-486-7119

Call for exact dates and times.

Admission Charged (seniors and children free).

Artists from across the nation will showcase their traditional and contemporary crafts including ceramics, wood, glass, painting, metal, jewelry, photography and sculpture. It's the perfect place to pick up holiday gifts.