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 Full 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. 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. 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!
Here’s what’s happening in May:
- Heart of Africa, cheetah runs begin, Columbus Zoo – May 1
- Hat Day – May 4
- Paws in the Plaza, Gahanna, first Thursday of the month, May 4 through October 5
- Franklinton Farms Spring Festival – May 5
- Pinchflat – May 5
- Free Comic Book Day – May 5
- Merion Village Yard Sale – May 5
- Green on the Green, Worthington – May 5
- Central Ohio Folk Festival – May 5 & 6
- Columbus Documentary Week – through May 6
- Spring Flea – May 6
- Columbus Underground Urban Living Tour – May 6
- Powell Street Market – May 6
- CHROMA: Best of CCAD – May 9
- Taste of Dine Originals – May 10
- South Side Slow Ride – May 10
- Columbus Podcast Festival – May 10, 12, 13
- The Flyover Fest – May 10, 11, 12
- CCAD Fashion Show – May 11
- Indianola Informal Carnival – May 11
- GartenMarkt – May 12
- Roots and Roofs, Weinland Park – May 12
- Natural Play Area First Birthday, Blendon Woods Metro Park – May 12
- Alchemy Rising Festival, Medina – May 12 through 14
- All Things Herbal – May 11 and 12
- Columbus Craft Beer Week – May 11 through 19
- Gahanna Herb Day – May 12
- Columbus Oddities & Curiosities Expo – NEW! May 12
- The Ohio Egg Fest – May 12
- Six One Pour – May 12
- Smokehouse Brewing’s Mini Real Ale Festival – No date yet
- The Moonlight Market on Gay Street – May 12
- Pinned – Not happening for 2018
- Beer and Ice Cream Block Party – May 17
- The Whiskey Bear Comedy Festival – May 17-22
- Greasy Dozen Run – May 18, 19, 20
- Brews over Beats – NEW! May 18
- Columbus Psych Fest – May 18
- Bike to Work Day – May 18
- Rock on the Range – May 18, 19, 20
- Easton Food Fest – May 18, 19, 20
- North Market Apron Gala – May 19
- OSU’s WestFest – May 19
- Pork-A-Palooza – May 19
- Columbus Taco Fest – May 19
- Tails and Ales Block Party – May 19
- Village Valuables in German Village – May 19
- King Arts Complex 30th Anniversary Gala – May 19
- Dinosaur Island opens at the Columbus Zoo – May 19
- Smart City Columbus Ride and Drive Roadshow – May 19 and 20
- Delaware Arts Festival – May 19 and 20
- Opening Day at Zoombezi Bay – May 19 and 20
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – May 20
- Goods on Goodale – May 20
- MPACC Arts Opening – May 20
- Asian Festival Dragon Boat Races, West Bank Park – May 20
- Vintage Base Ball on Capitol Square – May 22
- Drauma – Taking a break for 2018
- Midwest Haunters Convention – May 23 – 27
- ZombieWalk – no dates, part of MHC
- Asian Festival – May 26 and 27
- Hills Market Salmon Roast, Hills Market Worthington – May 26
- Ohio Village opening day, 1890s carnival – May 26
- Food Truck Festival, Newark – May 26
- Utica Ice Cream Festival – May 26, 27, 28
- Shadowbox Live’s Which One’s Pink, dedicated to the memory of Stev Guyer, playing at Columbus Commons – May 27
- Green Lawn Abbey Open House – May 28
- The Memorial Tournament – May 28 through June 3
- Art for Franklinton – May 29
- Fore!Fest – NEW! May 31
- Nelsonville Music Festival – May 31 through June 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. For the Full list for 2018 Click Here. 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.