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 17th 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.
