Festival season is once again upon us! We have an ultimate list of all of the best festivals in Columbus Ohio, and festivals in Central Ohio! Food festivals, music festivals, free outdoor fun activities, and more! Lists of the home tours in Columbus, fairs, shopping events, and other fun things to do during the summer. Below is a list of festivals beginning now and running through December 2018. The 2018 Columbus Underground Festival List is presented by the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival, happening on Monday, September 3, 2018.
New festivals this year include: the Italian Heritage Summer Festival in Dublin, a spring/summer version of the Country Living Fair, the first ever Ohio Fairy Gardening Festival being held in Perry, Ohio (worth the drive!), the first Oddities & Curiosities Expo will be held in May, the 2×2 Hip-Hop Festival moves locations and adds Brews over Beats in May. Fore!Fest is coming back this year in May and will be at Bridge Park. A new series of Community Pride events is starting this year. The Lights Fest sets up close to Columbus. Kale & Ale Festival comes to Columbus in June (update, this has been cancelled). The John Glenn Astronomy Park officially opens in June. INKcarceration, a new summer festival combining non-stop live music with tattoos is in July, happening at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. Picktown Palooza replaced the Pickerington Violet Festival. Holler comes back as a festival in August. A wine festival comes to Columbus Commons in August. Frontstage Fest comes to Big Room Bar in August. Huntington Garden in Schiller Park celebrates 25 years. Art for Life returns in September. The New Albany Classic hung up its helmet and will no longer be happening.
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 let me know and it will be added. This should be a great start to help get your weekends full of fun events all summer long. Enjoy!
AUGUST
- Park Street Fest – Probably not happening
- Holler Festival – No date yet
- The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival, Thornville – August 2, 3, 4
- Pelotonia 10 Years – August 3, 4, 5
- Dublin Irish Festival – August 3, 4, 5
- Mayor Andrew J. Ginther’s FamJam – August 4
- Jazz at the AMP – August 4
- Deshler Corn City Festival – August 4 and 5
- Hippie Fest, Hocking Hills – August 4 and 5
- Huntington Garden in Schiller Park’s 25th Anniversary – August 5
- All Ohio Balloon Festival – August 9, 10, 11
- FFOCOL Â – Film Festival of Columbus – August 9 through 12
- ProMusica Summer Concert Series – August 9 through 12
- Rivers Trails and Ales Festival, Marietta, August 9 through 12
- Arts in Uptown Festival – August 10
- North Ridgeville Corn Festival – August 10, 11, 12
- Grove City EcoFest – August 11
- Frontstage Fest – NEW! August 11
- North Market Farmers’ Festival – August 11
- Bourbon Tasting, Grove City – August 11
- Moonlight Market on Gay Street – August 11
- Columbus Summer Beerfest – August 11
- Hot Rod Hula Hop – Tiki Themed event – August 11
- Festival Latino – August 11 and 12
- Buckeye Kosher Community BBQ Festival – August 12
- Wex Drive-In, The Fifth Element – August 14
- Taste the Future – August 14
- Lexington Blueberry Festival – August 16 through 19
- Sommerfest – August 17
- Columbus Food Truck Festival – August 17 and 18
- Columbus Duck Race – August 18
- WELLFest – August 18
- FMMF Fashion Meets Music Festival – No dates yet
- Fête en Blanc – No date yet
- Slip ‘N Fly Fest, Mansfield – August 17, 18, 19
- Cruise the Ville – August 18
- WAG! Dog Festival – August 18
- Peach Fest ’18 at Lynd Fruit Farm – August 18
- Weinland Park Community Festival – August 18
- African Village Arts Festival – August 18
- TEA 43206 – August 18
- Ganther’s Place Harvest and Jazz Festival – August 18
- CrestFest – August 18
- Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival – August 18 and 19
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – August 19
- Goods on Goodale – August 19
- The Coffee ColLab – August 24
- Block Party Art Bazaar – August 24
- Breakaway Music Festival – August 24, 25, 26
- MatsuriCon – August 24, 25, 26
- Craft Brew at the Zoo – August 24
- Grandview Hop – August 25
- Columbus Summer Wine Festival – August 25
- India Festival – August 25
- Egyptian Festival – No date yet
- Urban Scrawl – August 25 and 26
- VIVO Music Festival – August 29 through September 2
- Millersport Sweet Corn Festival – August 29 through September 1
- WCOL Country Jam + Campout – August 30, 31, September 1
- Obetz Zucchinifest – August 31 through September 3
- Greek Festival – August 31 through September 3
Every effort has been made to ensure dates are correct, however: Please note, dates are subject to change.
The Columbus Underground 2018 Columbus Festival List is presented by The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival hosts 25,000 visitors participating in interactive performances and activities, purchasing art from more than 100 artists working in a wide range of media and enjoying refreshments from a variety of vendors. And it all happens because of our great volunteers! 2018 marks the 52nd Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival as well as the Centennial Celebration for the City of Upper Arlington. Visit uaoh.net for more information.