Festival season is once again upon us! Here’s an ultimate list of all of the best festivals in Columbus, Ohio, plus food festivals in Central Ohio and more! There’s food festivals, music festivals, free outdoor fun activities, and more to keep your summer full of events! Lists of the home tours in Columbus area can be found near the end. Below is a list of festivals beginning now and running through December 2019. The 2019 Columbus Underground Festival List is presented by the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival, happening on Monday, September 2, 2019.
New festivals this year include: the Peony Fest, COSI SciFest, Franklinton block party (CANCELLED), Sun-Grant Sustainable Beer Fest, WonderBus Music & Arts Festival, Camp Anarchy, Rhythm on the River Music Festival, Crafted Food, Beer & Music Festival, The Shawshank Redemption celebration of 25 years, Ohio Wings and Beer Festival, Hope Fest, Orange Soda Fest, Community Celebration of Honor, Cloud City and Scioto Fest. Branstool Orchard’s adds a SunflowerFest and Lynd’s has added a new farm and is also hosting a Sunflower Festival in August.
Ohiolina Music Festival returns for 2019 with a new location in Granville. Buckeye Country Superfest is also back for 2019.
Grandview decided Digfest was no longer worth it. Fore!Fest expands to three days, and CoffeeFest expands to two full days.
Get out your calendar and start filling it in! Just want music festivals? Check out our event calendar section. If you know of a festival that should be included, comment and we’ll add it. This should be a great start to help get your weekends full of fun events all summer long. Enjoy!
Festivals in April
- Red Tent Revivial – April 20
- OhioDance Festival – April 26, 27, and 28
- Granville Daffodil Stroll – April 27
- Schmeckfest – April 27
- Ohioana Book Festival – April 27
- Männerchor Maifest – April 27
- Duckling Day – April 27
- Short North Gala – April 28
- Sunlight Market – April 28
- SPACE (Small Press Alternative Comics Expo) – April 27 and 28
- Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest – April 27 and 28
- Columbus YP Week – April 29 through May 5
Festivals in May
- COSI SciFest – NEW! May 1 – 4
- Urban Air Affair, Wake Up Downtown, Logan – May 2 through 4
- Hat Day – May 3
- Brews over Beats – May 3
- Paws in the Plaza, event cancelled in 2019
- Pinchflat – May 4
- SneakerFreaks – May 4
- Free Comic Book Day – May 4
- Merion Village Yard Sale – May 4
- Avenue for All Festival – NEW! May 4
- Sun-Grant Sustainable Beer Fest – NEW! May 4
- Green on the Green, Worthington – May 4
- Avenue for All Neighborhood Bike Ride– May 4
- Central Ohio Folk Festival – May 4 & 5
- Columbus Kulturfest – May 5
- Spring Flea – May 5
- Columbus Underground Urban Living Tour – May 5
- Powell Street Market – May 5
- CHROMA: Best of CCAD – May 8
- The Flyover Fest – May 8, 9, 10
- Taste of Dine Originals – May 9
- Dance on Dakota Block Party – NEW! May 10
- CCAD Fashion Show – May 10
- Indianola Informal Carnival – May 10
- Jazz and Juleps – May 10
- Franklinton Block Party – NEW! May 11 – CANCELLED
- Franklinton Farms Spring Festival – May 11
- Gartenmrkt – May 11
- Herb Day – May 11
- Columbus Margarita Fest – May 11
- Columbus Oddities & Curiosities Expo – May 11
- The Moonlight Market on Gay Street – May 11
- Pinned – Not happening for 2019
- The Whiskey Bear Comedy Festival – May 16-21
- Bike to Work Day – May 17
- Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival – NEW! May 17-19
- Columbus Craft Beer Week – May 17 through 25
- Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Brew Fest – May 18
- OSU’s WestFest – May 18
- North Market Apron Gala – May 18
- Pork-A-Palooza – May 18
- Columbus Taco Fest – May 18
- Village Valuables in German Village – May 18
- Art for Franklinton – May 18
- King Arts Complex 30th Anniversary Gala – May 18
- Delaware Arts Festival – May 18 and 19
- Opening Day at Zoombezi Bay – May 18 and 19
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – May 19
- MPACC Box Party – May 19
- Asian Festival Dragon Boat Races, West Bank Park – May 19
- Columbus Psych Fest – May 23, 24, 25
- Peony Fest – NEW! May 25 and 26 (sold out!)
- Village Pets Fest – NEW! May 25
- The Greasy Dozen Run – May 24 and 25
- Asian Festival – May 25 and 26
- Ohio Village opening day, 1890s carnival – May 25
- Jeni’s Strawberry Jam – May 26
- Shadowbox Live’s Leather and Lace, playing at Columbus Commons – May 26
- Green Lawn Abbey Open House – May 27
- The Memorial Tournament – May 27 through June 2
- Fore!Fest – May 30 through June 1 (3 days!)
- Midwest Burlesque and Rockabilly Weekend – May 30 through June 2
- Sommerfest I – May 31
- Camp Anarchy – May 31 through June 2
- Summer Sizzle Concert Series, Grove City – most Fridays May 31 through August 16
- Bunbury Music Festival – May 31 through June 2 (Cincinnati)
Festivals in June
- Snowville Creamery Open House – June 1
- Chicken and Beer Festival – June 1
- Summer614 – June 1
- Rhythm on the River Music Festival – NEW!June 1
- 32nd Annual Music on the Lawn in Grandview – Tuesdays, June 4 through July 30
- Summer Reading Club Kickoff, Main Library – June 1
- Short North/Victorian Village Yard Sale – June 1
- Hubbard Mastery School Bazaar – June 1
- The Lights Fest, Waynesville – June 1
- Stop and Smell the Roses – no official event this year, peak blooms mid-June
- The Concert for Community – June 6
- Nelsonville Music Festival – June 6 through 9
- Rootwire Transformational ARTS Festival, Pomeroy – no date for 2019 yet
- Big Local Art Tent at the Columbus Arts Festival – June 7, 8, 9
- Columbus Arts Festival – June 7, 8, 9
- Ohio Fairy Gardening Festival – June 8 (Jefferson, Ohio)
- Riverfest – June 8 and 9
- Buckeye Country Superfest – June 8
- Olde Towne East – Trash to Treasures Yard Sale – June 8
- DAC Sundays at Scioto Summer Concert Series – Sunday evenings, June 9 through July 28
- Origins Game Fair – June 12 through 16
- Washboard Music Festival and Logan’s 200th Birthday – June 13, 14, 15
- Sommerfest II – June 14
- CAPA Summer Movie Series – June 14 through August 11
- Franklinton Bike Fest – June 14
- Tour de Grandview – June 14
- Grove City Wine and Arts Festival – June 14 and 15
- Duck Creek Log Jam – June 14 and 15
- Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival – June 14, 15, 16
- Community Pride Festival – no date yet
- Columbus PRIDE Festival, June 14 and 15, Brunch on 16
- World Naked Bike Ride – June 15
- Moonlight Market on Gay Street – June 15
- The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure – June 15 through 22
- Worthington Arts Festival – June 15 and 16
- Grandview Digfest – No longer happening
- Zoofari – June 15
- Picnic with the Pops – No dates yet
- Wex Drive-In, Logan’s Run – June 18
- Juneteenth Ohio Festival – trying to raise money to bring festival back
- London Cobra Auto Show – June 20, 21, 22
- Ohio Wings and Beer Festival – NEW! June 22
- Columbus Food & Wine Festival – June 21 and 22
- Powell Festival – June 21 and 22
- Easton Art Affair – June 21, 22, 23
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – June 23
- Comfest – June 28, 29, 30
- Hilltop Bean Dinner – June 29
- Grandview Hop – June 29
- Olentangy Summer Bash – June 29
- Beer and Ice Cream Block Party – June 30
Festivals in July
- Red White & Boom – July 3
- Doo Dah Parade – July 4
- Community Celebration of Honor at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum – NEW! – July 5
- AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days – July 5, 6, 7
- SpringsFest in Yellow Springs – July 6
- 4th & 4th Fest – No Longer Happening
- Picktown Palooza – July 11, 12, 13
- The Heritage Concert Series, Mayme Moore Park – July 11 through August 15 on Thursdays
- Young Writers Short Play Festival, MadLab Theatre – July 12 through 27
- Westerville Music and Arts Festival – July 13 and 14
- Downtown Live, Columbus Commons, Thursdays July 11, 18, 25, August 1
- North Market Ohio Wine Festival – July 12 and 13
- Youth Lemonade Day – July 12 and 13
- Lilyfest – July 12, 13, 14
- INKcarceration Festival – Mansfield – July 12, 13, 14
- Ohio Brew Week (Athens) – July 12 through 20
- Moonlight Market on Gay Street – July 13
- Summer Jam West – July 13
- Cultural Wall Music Festival – July 13 and 14
- Franklin County Fair – July 13 through 20
- Lancaster Festival – July 17 through 27
- Blame My Roots Fest (Belmont) – July 18 through 21
- Sommerfest III- July 19
- TrotCon – July 19, 20, 21
- Jazz and Ribs Fest – July 19, 20, 21
- Art Crawl in German Village – No date yet
- Cultural Fusion Festival – July 20
- Union County Fair – July 21 through July 27
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – July 21
- Ohio State Fair – July 24 through August 4
- World Bazaar, Westerville – July 26
- Making Midwest Fest – July 26, 27, 28
- Canal Winchester Blues and Ribfest – July 26 and 27
- GospelFest – July 27
- 2X2 Hip-Hop Festival – July 27
- Grandview Hop – July 27
- Serbian Festival – July 27
- What? Music & Arts Festival – July 27
- Whitehall Food Truck & Fun Fest – July 27
- Somali Cultural Day – No date yet
Thank you to The City of Upper Arlington for sponsoring the 2019 Ultimate Festivals Guide for Columbus festivals!
Festivals in August
- The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival, Thornville – August 1, 2, 3
- Sommerfest IV- August 2
- Pelotonia – August 2, 3, 4
- Dublin Irish Festival – August 2, 3, 4
- SunflowerFest – August 3 through 11
- Orange Soda Fest – August 3
- Hippie Fest, Hocking Hills – August 3 and 4
- All Ohio Balloon Festival – August 8, 9, 10
- Rivers Trails and Ales Festival, Marietta – August 8 through 11
- Bellweather Music Festival, Waynesville – August 9 and 10
- Columbus Fiery Foods Festival – NEW! – August 10
- FrontStage Fest – August 10
- North Market Farmers Festival – August 10
- ProMusica Summer Series – August 8, 10, 11
- Grove City EcoFest – August 10
- Coworking Tour – August 10
- Bourbon Tasting, Grove City – August 10
- Moonlight Market on Gay Street – August 10
- The Hula Hop – Tiki Themed event – August 10
- Festival Latino – August 10 and 11
- Taste the Future – August 13
- Sommerfest V – August 16
- Columbus Food Truck Festival – August 16 and 17
- Sunflower Festival – August 16 through 18 and 23 through 25
- WCOL Country Jam – August 16 and 17 – Cancelled
- Italian Heritage Summer Festival, Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard – August 16, 17, 18
- The Shawshank Redemption 25th Anniversary Celebration – NEW! August 16, 17 18
- MatsuriCon – August 16, 17, 18
- WonderBus Music & Arts Festival – NEW! August 17
- Cruise the Ville – August 17
- WAG! Dog Festival – August 17
- The Ohio Egg Fest – August 17
- Weinland Park Festival – August 17
- African Village Arts Festival – August 17 – probable date
- TEA 43206 – August 17
- Ganther’s Place Harvest and Jazz Festival – no date yet
- CrestFest – August 17
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – August 18
- Podfest Midwest – August 22-25
- Columbus Black International Film Festival – August 22 through 25
- Columbus Summer Beerfest – August 24
- African American Cultural Festival – August 23-24 (new location!)
- Breakaway Music Festival – August 23-24
- Craft Brew at the Zoo – August 23
- Columbus Summer Wine Festival – August 24
- India Festival – August 24
- Columbus African Festival – August 24
- Egyptian Festival – August 23, 24, 25 probable
- Urban Scrawl – August 24 and 25 probable
- VIVO Music Festival – no date yet
- Greek Festival – August 30 through September 2
- Grandview Hop – August 31
- Bike the CBus – August 31
- Ohio Renaissance Festival – August 31 through October 27, Saturdays, Sundays, Labor Day Monday (30 years!)
Festivals in September
- Melanincholy Festival in Milo-Grogan – probably no longer happening
- Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival – September 1, 2, 3
- Shadowbox Live, at Columbus Commons – September 1
- Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival – September 2
- Macedonian Festival at St. Marys Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral in Reynoldsburg – No date listed yet
- Oktoberfest – September 6, 7, 8
- Taste of Powell – September 7
- Cloud City – NEW! September 7
- The Festival for Good – September 7
- Hot Times Community Festival – September 6, 7, 8
- Powell Street Market – September 8
- Merion Village Festival – September 8
- Columbus Garden Railroad Society, Self Guided Garden Tours – September 8
- FFOCOL – Film Festival of Columbus – September 11 through 14
- Slice of Columbus – September 11
- Creative Control Fest – September 12 through 14
- Scioto Fest – September 12 through 15
- 934 Fest – September 13 and 14
- Crafted Food, Beer & Music Festival – NEW! – September 14
- Hope Fest – NEW! – September 14
- Country Living Fair – September 13, 14, 15
- Columbus Caribbean Festival – September 13 and 14
- Moonlight Market on Gay Street – September 14
- Old Hilliardfest Art and Street Fair – September 14
- Columbus Open Studio & Stage Tour – September 14 and 15
- Art for Life – back in 2020
- Delaware County Fair – September 14 through 21
- Ohio Lesbian Festival – September 19, 20, 21, 22
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – September 22
- Ohiolina Music Festival – Returning for 2019! September 20 and 21
- Little Brown Jug, Delaware – September 19
- Germania Oktoberfest – September 20 through 22
- Backwoods Fest – September 20, 21, 22
- Grove City Arts in the Alley – September 21 and 22
- Creekside Hops and Vines – September 21
- Green Lawn Abbey Classic and Exotic Car – September 21
- Mac & Cheese Festival – September 27
- Union County Covered Bridge and Bluegrass Festival – September 27, 28, 29
- Lynd’s Annual PumpkinPalooza – No date listed yet, usually end of September
- Scoot-A-Que – September 27, 28, 29
- Cartoon Crossroads Columbus – September 26 through September 29
- Old Worthington Market Day – September 28
- Grandview Hop – September 28
- Harvest Fair, Columbus Commons – September 28
- Columbus International Festival – September 28 and 29
- Columbus Coffee Festival – September 28 and 29 (2 full days!)
Festivals in October
- All American Quarter Horse Congress – October 1 through 27
- Chalk the Block – October 5 and 6
- Apple Butter Festival – October 6
- Taste of Italy – October 7
- HighBall Halloween – October 11 and 12
- Columbus Italian Festival – October 11, 12, 13
- Spirits and Spells – October 12
- GDEX – October 12 and 13
- Moonlight Market on Gay Street – October 12
- Uptown Untapped – October 12
- Monster Bash – October 12
- Ohio 24 Hour Horror Marathon – October 12 and 13
- Fashion Week Columbus – October 13 through 19
- Frank Fetch Fall Fest – October 13
- Creepside – October 19
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – October 20
- Wizards and Wands Festival – October 25
- Fall Harvest Days at Hoover YMCA Park – no date yet
- Westerville Pumpkin Glow – October 23 through 27
- HAUNTED Fest – October 25
- TRAUMA – Halloween Fetish Party – October 30, 31 and November 1 and 2
Festivals in November and December
- Wildlights – November 15 through January 5
- Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Easton – No date yet
- Main Library Holiday Open House – November 20
- Dragon Lights Columbus – November 22 through January 5 (probable)
- Holiday Open House and Tree Illumination Ceremony, Worthington – December 1
- Frank Fetch Park Tree Lighting – No date yet
- Clintonville Holidayville – No date yet
- Village Lights – December 1 (unconfirmed)
- Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting – December 5
- Winterfair – December 6 through 8
- Winterfest – December 7
- Craftin’ Outlaws – December 8
- Lighting of the Luminaries, Ganther’s Place – No date yet
- New Year’s Eve – December 31
- First Night Columbus – December 31
- And plenty of other events in the CU Event Calendar!
House and Garden Tours
- Columbus Underground Urban Living Tour – May 5
- Tour de Highland West – May 19
- Bexley Women’s Club House & Garden Tour – June 2
- Westgate Home & Garden Tour – June 8
- Old Oaks Home and Garden Tour – June 9
- Haus und Garten Tour, German Village – June 29 and 30
- Merion Village Garden Tour – July 14
- Summer Tour of Historic Homes – Olde Towne East – July 14
- Clintonville Open Garden Tour – July 14
- WesterFlora Garden Tour – July 21
- Ganther’s Place Garden Tour – July 28
- More Than Mums & Marigolds Franklinton Garden Tour – Aug 11 at 1pm-5pm, start at 1186 W. Broad St.
- Clintonville Homes Tour – No date yet
- Short North Tour of Homes – September 14 and 15
- Fall Urban Living Tour – September 15
- Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Tour of Homes – October 6
Local Food Festivals
- Utica Ice Cream Festival – May 25, 26, 27
- Newark Strawberry Festival – May 31, June 1, 2
- Van Wert Peony Festival – June 7 and 8
- Taste of Worthington – No date yet
- Deshler Corn City Festival – No date yet
- Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival – August 8, 9, 10
- North Ridgeville Corn Festival – August 9, 10, 11
- Lexington Blueberry Festival – August 15 through 18
- Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival – August 17 and 18
- Pickle Fest (Cleveland, but it’s the first year and pickles!) – August 24
- Millersport Sweet Corn Festival – August 28 through 31
- Obetz Zucchinifest – August 30 through September 2
- Fredericktown Tomato Show – September 4 through 7
- Marion Popcorn Festival – September 5, 6, 7
- Lithopolis Honeyfest – September 6 and 7
- Mantua Potato Festival – September 6, 7, 8
- Ohio Pawpaw Festival – September 13, 14, 15
- Preble County Pork Festival – September 21 and 22
- Jackson County Apple Festival – September 17 through 21
- Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival – September 20, 21, 22
- Barnesville Pumpkin Festival – September 26 through 29
- Lebanon Country Applefest – September 28 and 29 (2 days!)
- Ohio Gourd Festival (Delaware County) – October 4, 5, 6
- Spring Valley Potato Festival – October 5 and 6 (probable)
- Ohio Sauerkraut Festival – October 12 and 13
- Circleville Pumpkin Show – October 16 through 19
- Van Wert County Apple Festival – October 18 and 19
- Ohio Smoked Meats and BBQ Festival, Nelsonville – October 19 and 20
Every effort has been made to ensure dates are correct, however: Please note, dates are subject to change.
The Columbus Underground 2019 Columbus Festival List is presented by The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival celebrates the arts in all its forms, with 150-plus exhibitors selling works in a variety of mediums, hands-on arts activities for the kids (big and small), interactive performances, live music and more. Join us September
2 in Northam Park as we celebrate our 53rd year. Visit upperarlingtonoh.gov for more information.