Columbus Festival season continues to look different for 2021. Check out which festivals will keep it virtual, what festivals are planning for in-person experiences, and what festivals have rescheduled or postponed their festivities due to the pandemic. Many have high hopes for the 2021 festival season!
Stay safe, follow health precautions, and if you know of a festival in Columbus or Ohio that’s taking place virtually or in person, let us know!
The Columbus Underground 2021 Columbus Festival List is presented by The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. Since 1966, the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival has celebrated and shared the arts with the community and region within a beautiful park setting. Upper Arlington hopes to move forward with a fun and safe event this year following all state guidelines. For more information and updates follow on Facebook @UALaborDayArtsFestival or visit upperarlingtonoh.gov.
May Festivals
- Craftin’ Outlaws Pop-Up Market at the Columbus Museum of Art – Saturdays May through September
- COSI SciFest – virtual May 5-8
- Jazz and Juleps – canceled, but another Social Distancing Plant Sale will be held. Pickup is May 7
- Eldora Speedway – May 7-8
- Indianola Informal Carnival – virtual May 7-14
- Moonlight Market on Gay Street – May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11 and Oct. 9
- Not Your Mama’s Craft Market – May 9, Aug. 28, Oct. 3
- Hat Day – moved to September
- Free Comic Book Day – moved to August
- Green on the Green – postponed to 2022
- CHROMA: Best of CCAD – in-person May 13, virtual June 16
- The Flyover Fest – Hosting hybrid events through fall 2021
- CCAD Fashion Show – in-person and virtual May 14
- Greek Festival – May 14-16
- Lancaster Community Days Festival – May 14-16
- King Arts Complex Anniversary Gala – virtual May 15
- Columbus Taco Fest – Grab-N-Go event May 15-16
- Sunlight Market on Gay Street – May 16, June 13, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17
- Columbus Oddities & Curiosities Expo – canceled for 2021 as event was “not approved”
- Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival – postponed to 2022
- Columbus Craft Beer Week – postponed to 2022
- Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Brew Fest – postponed to 2022
- Art for Franklinton – Moved to June
- Delaware Arts Festival – canceled
- Asian Festival Dragon Boat Races – no date set
- Art at the Wagnalls – May 21-22
- Opening Day at Zoombezi Bay – May 22
- Central Ohio Folk Festival – virtual May 22
- Dinosaur Island at the Columbus Zoo – Opens May 29
- Summer Reading Challenge – All-Online, May 29
- Asian Festival – virtual May 29-30
- Ohio Village – Opening moved to July
- Utica Ice Cream Festival – No date yet
- Rolling Thunder Ohio – May 30
- The Memorial Tournament – May 31 through June 6
June Festivals
- Peony Fest – June 4-6 in Van Wert
- Newark Strawberry Festival – June 4-6
- Bunbury Music Festival – Canceled, festival later in 2021 possible
- Chicken and Beer Festival – June 5
- Tempting Fête Open-Air Festival – NEW – June 5
- Music on the Lawn in Grandview – No dates set
- Fore!Fest – No date yet
- Nelsonville Music Festival – Postponed, may have smaller events at later date
- Columbus Arts Festival – postponed to 2022
- Picnic with the Pops – Saturdays in June and July
- Drive-Thru Food Truck Rally – Moved to August
- Sommerfest I – June 11
- Polaris Night Market – NEW – June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10
- Art for Franklinton – June 12
- Washboard Music Festival – June 17-19 in Logan
- Origins Online – Moved to September
- Juneteenth Jubilee – NEW – June 19
- Juneteenth Community Festival – NEW – June 19
- Ohio Fairy Gardening Festival – June 19
- CelticFest Ohio – June 19-21
- Tour de Grandview – Canceled, will return in 2022
- Grove City Wine and Arts Festival – June 18 and 19
- Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival – Moved to September
- Columbus PRIDE Festival – Celebration and March event June 19, other events throughout June
- Columbus Community Pride – Moved to October
- World Naked Bike Ride – Postponed to 2022
- The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure – Tentatively planned for June 19-26
- Worthington Arts Festival – Cancelled for 2021
- Sugar Grove Stars & Stripes Festival – June 25-26
- London Cobra Auto Show – June 25-27
- ComFest – virtual June 25-27
- Powell Festival – Three-part concert series June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27
- Powell Street Market – June 26, Sept. 12
- Four Peel Fest – June 27
- Hilltop Bean Dinner – No date yet
July Festivals
- Red White & Boom – Will not take place in July. Considering alternative date
- INKcarceration Festival — Moved to September
- Doo Dah Parade – July 4
- Ohio Village – Opening July 7
- Ohio Brew Week (Athens) – July 9-17
- SPACE (Small Press Alternative Comics Expo) – virtual July 10 and 11, in-person in November
- Westerville Music and Arts Festival – July 10 and 11
- Merion Village Festival – Now Summer Fundays, July 10 through Oct. 2
- Franklin County Youth Lemonade Festival – No date yet
- Summer Jam West – Cancelled for 2021
- Picktown Palooza – July 15-17
- S’miles of Sunflowers – through Sept. 3
- TrotCon – July 16-18
- Sommerfest II – July 17
- GospelFest – Virtual July 17
- SpringsFest – No date yet
- Franklin County Fair – July 19-25
- Cinema Columbus – Postponed
- Jazz and Ribs Fest – now Jazz & Rib Fest BBQ Week, July 19-25
- The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival – July 23-24 in Thornville
- AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days – July 23-25
- Uncorked Wine Festival – NEW – July 24
- Columbus Summer Beerfest – July 24
- Union County Fair – July 25-31
- Columbus YP Week – July 26 through Aug. 1
- Ohio State Fair – July 28 through Aug. 8, closed to public. Open for livestock and educational events and exhibitors only
- Ohio Creatives Festival – NEW – July 30-31
- Whitehall Food Truck & Fun Fest – July 31
- Lancaster Festival – Jul 23-31
- The Ohio Egg Fest – July 31
- Monster Jam – July 31 – Aug. 1
- Canal Winchester Blues and Ribfest – Canceled, will return in 2022
- What? Music & Arts Festival – Moved to August
- Dublin Irish Festival – Having smaller events as ‘Dublin Irish Days’ in August
- North Market Ohio Wine Festival – No word yet
- Taste of Worthington – No word yet
August Festivals
- Baltimore Festival – Aug. 5-7
- Dublin Irish Days by the Dublin Irish Festival – Aug. 5-8
- Heritage Music Festival – Aug. 5, Aug. 12
- What? Music & Arts Festival – Aug. 6-7
- Downtown Live — Aug. 6, Aug. 19, Aug. 26, Sept. 2
- Young Writers Short Play Festival – Virtual Aug. 6-21
- Pelotonia – Aug. 7-8, in-person and virtual
- Hippie Fest – Aug. 7-8 in Hocking Hills
- North Ridgeville Corn Festival – Canceled, to return in 2022
- Columbus Brew Festival – Postponed to 2022
- The Hula Hop – No date yet
- Taste the Future – Aug. 10
- All Ohio Balloon Festival – Aug. 12-14 in Marysville
- Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival – August 12-14
- Bellweather Music Festival – Aug. 12-14 in Waynesville
- ProMusica SummerFEST – Aug. 11-12, 14
- Sommerfest III – Aug. 13
- Rivers Trails and Ales Festival – Aug. 13-14
- Aminah Celebration Days – Aug. 13-15
- Grove City EcoFest – Aug. 14
- Free Comic Book Day – Aug. 14
- Summer614 – Aug. 14
- North Market Farmers’ Festival – Aug. 14
- DAC Sundays at Scioto Summer Concert Series – Sunday evenings, Aug. 15 – Oct. 3, 2021
- Upper Arlington Night Market – NEW – Aug. 18, Sept. 15
- Lexington Blueberry Festival – August 19-22
- MatsuriCon – Aug. 20-22
- Lancaster Brewfest – Aug. 21
- African Village Arts Festival– Aug. 21
- Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival – August 21-22
- Columbus Food Truck Festival – Aug. 21-22
- Columbus Black International Film Festival – Aug. 27–28
- Breakaway Music Festival – Moved to September
- Zoofari – Aug. 28
- WAG! Dog Festival – Aug. 28
- Scrawl (formerly Urban Scrawl) – Aug. 28-29
- Columbus Fiery Foods Festival – CANCELED
- WonderBus Music & Arts Festival – Aug. 28-29
- Grandview Hop – Aug. 28, Sept. 25
- Italian Heritage Summer Festival – No word yet
- TEA 43206 – No word yet
- African American Cultural Festival – No word yet
September Festivals
- Millersport Sweet Corn Festival – Sept. 1-4
- Breakaway Music Festival – Sept. 3-4
- Obetz Zucchinifest – Sept. 3-6
- Columbus Greek Festival – Sept. 3-6
- Old Hilliardfest Art and Street Fair – Sept. 4
- Eat Up Columbus – Sept. 4
- Columbus Caribbean Festival – Sept. 4-5
- Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival – Sept. 4-6
- Bike the CBus – Virtual and in-person Sept. 4-6
- Ohio Renaissance Festival – Weekends Sept. 4 through Oct. 31
- Sommerfest IV – Sept. 5
- Shine On Festival & Flea – Sept. 5
- Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival – Sept. 6
- Fredericktown Tomato Show – September 8-11
- Marion Popcorn Festival – September 9-11
- Lithopolis Honeyfest – Sept. 10-11
- Champaign County Balloon Fest – Sept. 10-11
- Oktoberfest – Sept. 10-12
- INKcarceration Festival – Sept. 10-12 in Mansfield
- Hot Times Community Festival – Sept. 10-12
- Mantua Potato Festival – Sept. 10-12
- Columbus Eygptian Festival – Sept. 10-12
- Columbus Garden Railroad Society Garden Tour – Sept. 12
- 934 Fest – Sept. 11-12 in-person and online
- Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival – Sept. 11, 18 and 25
- Country Living Fair – Postponed to 2022
- Ohio Lesbian Festival – Sept. 16-19
- Preble County Pork Festival – Sept. 17-19
- Germania Oktoberfest – Sept. 17-19
- Backwoods Fest – Sept. 17-19
- Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival – Sept. 17-19
- Ohio Pawpaw Festival – Sept. 17-19
- Ohiolina Music Festival – Sept. 17-19
- Grove City Arts in the Alley – Sept. 17-19
- Columbus African Festival – Sept. 18
- Festival Latino – Sept. 18
- Delaware County Fair – Sept. 18-25
- Little Brown Jug – Sept. 19-23 in Delaware
- Jackson County Apple Festival – Sept. 21-25
- Slice of Columbus – Sept. 22
- Taste of Bexley – Sept. 23
- Barnesville Pumpkin Festival – Sept. 23-26
- Hat Day – Sept. 24
- Fall at the Round Barn Vintage and Made Market – Sept. 24-25
- Sims Fall Festival – Sept. 24-25
- Covered Bridge and Bluegrass Festival – Sept. 24-26 in Union County
- Newark Station Arts & Music Festival – NEW! – Sept. 24-26
- Lost Lands Music Festival in Legend Valley – Sept. 24-26
- Arnold Classic – Sept. 25
- Rwandan Fete – Sept. 25
- Pickerington Oktoberfest – Sept. 25
- Columbus Coffee Festival – Sept. 25-26
- Lebanon Country Applefest – Sept. 25-26
- Fashion Week Columbus – Sept. 26 through Oct. 2
- All American Quarter Horse Congress – Sept. 28 through Oct. 24
- Origins Game Fair – Sept. 30 through Oct. 3
- Origins Online – Sept. 30 through Oct. 3
- GDEX – Sept. 30 – Oct. 3
- Cartoon Crossroads Columbus – Sept. 30 through Oct. 4
- Lynd’s Annual PumpkinPalooza – No date yet
- Scoot-A-Que – No date yet
- Taste of Powell – No word yet
- Cloud City – No word yet
- Crafted Food, Beer, and Music Festival – No word yet
- Creative Control Fest – No word yet
October Festivals
- Ohio Gourd Festival in Delaware County – October 1-3
- Wizards and Wands Festival – Oct. 1-24
- SoHud Fools Parade & Festival of Hilaria – Oct. 2
- Creekside Hops and Vines Fest – Oct. 2
- Central Ohio Afro Fest – Oct. 2
- Spring Valley Potato Festival – Oct. 2-3
- Chalk the Block – Oct. 2-3
- Taste of Italy – Oct. 4
- Apple Butter Festival – Canceled
- The Festival for Good – Oct. 8
- Hocking Hills Music Festival – NEW! – Oct. 8-9
- Columbus Italian Festival – Oct. 8-10
- Bob Evans Farm Festival in Rio Grande – Oct. 8-10
- Columbus Community Pride – Oct. 9
- Columbus Taco Fest – Oct. 9
- Ohio Sauerkraut Festival – Oct. 9-10
- Van Wert County Apple Festival – Oct. 15-16
- Ohio Smoked Meats and BBQ Festival in Nelsonville – Oct. 15-16
- El Dia de los Muertos AKA Day of the Dead Community Event – Oct. 16
- Donut and Beer Festival – Oct. 16
- Monster Bash – Oct. 16
- Circleville Pumpkin Show – Oct. 20-23
- Westerville Pumpkin Glow – Oct. 20-24
- HighBall Halloween – Oct. 23
- Art for Life – Oct. 23
- Midwest BunFest – Oct. 23
- Crew Fest – NEW! – Oct. 24
- Easton HOWLoween Pet Contest & Fall Festival – Oct. 24
- Haunted Fest – Oct. 29
- TRAUMA – Halloween Fetish Party – Oct. 29-30
- Mac & Cheese Festival – No date yet
- Spirits and Spells – No word yet
- Grove City Oktoberfest – No word yet
- Uptown Untapped – No word yet
- Ohio 24 Hour Horror Marathon – No word yet
- Creepside – No word yet
November Festivals
- SPACE (Small Press Alternative Comics Expo) – Nov. 6-7
- Wildlights – Nov. 19 through Jan. 2
- Easton’s Grand Illumination – Nov. 19
- Holiday Open House and Tree Illumination Ceremony in Worthington – Nov. 28
December Festivals
- Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting – Dec. 2
- Winterfair – Dec. 3-5
- WinterFest – Dec. 4
- Village Lights – Dec. 5
- New Year’s Eve – Dec. 31
- Main Library Holiday Open House – No word yet
- Frank Fetch Park Tree Lighting – No word yet
- Clintonville Holidayville – No word yet
- Westerville Tree Lighting – No word yet
- Uptown Ice Sculpture Tour – No word yet
- Ganther’s Place Lighting of the Luminaries – No word yet
House and Garden Tours
- Bexley Women’s Club House & Garden Tour – June 6
- Westgate Home & Garden Tour – June 13
- Haus und Garten Tour – Coming back as Garten Tour – June 26
- Merion Village Garden Tour – July 11
- WesterFlora Garden Tour – July 18
- Ganther’s Place Garden Tour – July 25
- Short North Tour of Homes – Sept. 19
- Olde Towne East Summer Tour of Historic Homes – Cancelled
- Tour de Highland West – No word yet
- Old Oaks Home and Garden Tour – No word yet
Festivals listed as “No date yet” have indicated a festival may take place in 2021 in some shape or form. Festivals listed as “No word yet” have not indicated one way or the other if a festival will take place.
Every effort has been made to ensure dates are correct for festivals in Columbus, however please note, dates are subject to change. Remember, events may be rescheduled or postponed due to COVID-19.
The Columbus Underground 2021 Columbus Festival List is presented by The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. Since 1966, the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival has celebrated and shared the arts with the community and region within a beautiful park setting. Upper Arlington hopes to move forward with a fun and safe event this year following all state guidelines. For more information and updates follow on Facebook @UALaborDayArtsFestival or visit upperarlingtonoh.gov.