ADVERTISEMENT

    Independents’ Day Hails Creative Culture

    Independents’ Day, a celebration of all things independent and distinctly Columbus, will take place on Saturday from noon to midnight at Gay Street and Pearl Alley. Thanks to Couchfire Collective this indie lovefest of food, music, and art is back for a second year. Adam Brouillette, Couchfire’s president, describes Independents’ Day as “a mishmash of a bunch of cool things all happening at the same time.” He hopes that 20,000 people from Central Ohio and beyond will attend the daylong festival whose motto is All For One, One For All.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    During Independents’ Day more than 150 vendor booths will line Gay Street, Lynn Alley, and Pearl Alley. Three music stages will host 28 bands courtesy of Columbus Music Co-op, Central City Recording, and Outer Sounds. Deejays from The Clampdown will host a dance party from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at Due Amici and Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, the proceeds of which will benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

    Local cuisine will be provided by a slew of eateries including Banana Bean Café, Barcelona Restaurant & Bar, Cotters Restaurant, DeepWood Restaurant, Due Amici, Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus, G Michael’s Bistro, Katzinger’s Delicatessen, Pattycake Vegan Bakery, Pistacia Vera Dessert Boutique, Rad Dog!, and Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails.

    Live art will be created throughout the day by friends of Via Colori, Franklinton Arts District, and Ohio State’s Master of Fine Arts program. Films will be projected along the side of the Modern Finance Building. Ohio Roller Girls will make special dunk tank appearances, and artist Aaron Hibbs will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records’ world hula hoop record.

    Adam thinks that Columbus residents should feel pretty darn good about the state of our creative culture. “A lot of art and music scenes in other cities do well as pocketed entities, but all of our groups work together,” he said. “People blame the Midwest for being too down-home, but we work as a team and know our neighbors. We’re successful because we’re not isolated.”

    Admission to Independents’ Day is free. Visit thisisindependent.com for more information.

    Alexandra Kelley is a featured writer for Columbus Underground and can be reached at alexandra477.com.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    French Bistro Slated for Prominent Downtown Corner

    Another new restaurant is coming to the corner of...

    15 New Public Art Murals Coming This Year

    According to a report released last month, more public...

    The Confluence Cast: Downtown with Michael Brown

    We're exploring the evolution of downtown with Michael Brown, who has been a cornerstone in the city's development planning and worked both in and outside city government to cheer on its growth. Columbus Underground editor Walker Evans and Mike delve into the city's challenges and triumphs, the synergy between projects, the balance between iconic and neighborhood-level public art investments, and the concerted efforts to address systemic issues like homelessness and affordable housing. Through anecdotes and insights, they highlight Columbus's young, creative energy and the dynamic urban policies that continue to drive its growth.

    Beat Bazaar Creates New Space for Columbus Producers

    On February 23, The Kutt Record shop filled with...
    Walker Evans
    Walker Evanshttps://columbusunderground.com
    Walker Evans is the co-founder of Columbus Underground, along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.
    ADVERTISEMENT