9 Reasons to Visit the Columbus Arts Festival

The Columbus Arts Festival returns to the downtown riverfront June 7 through 9, bringing three days of art, live music, theater and dance, fashion and poetry, local food and drink, and hands-on activities for people of all ages. Here are nine reasons to visit the Festival this year!

1. More Than 250 Local and National Artists
Browse through hundreds of artists’ work, on stunning display along the riverfront and over the Main and Rich Street bridges, featuring painting to photography, sculpture to jewelry, ceramics to woodworking and much more. Artists come from across the country for the festival, with more than 60 artists representing Ohio.

2. Free Concerts & Performances
The Festival features four stages of live music, dance, theater and poetry throughout the weekend packed with all Columbus based talent! Check out the Big Local Arts Stage as part of the Big Local Arts Village. Catch local poets and storytellers at the Word is Art & Acoustic Lounge. Enjoy great musical acts plus dance and theater companies perform on the Genoa Park Main Stage and the Bicentennial Park Stage.

3. Hands-On Activities for Kids and Families
At the all-ages Kids Hands-On Activity Village, volunteers from local cultural organizations help festival-goers experience painting, silkscreening, printmaking and drawing their own fantastical creature. Plus, with the Children’s and Teen Art Gallery nearby, younger ones can purchase their own art at the kid-sized — and kid-priced — gallery.

4. Fashion at the Fest
Returning for a second year, the popular Friday night fashion show features Columbus-area designers and models showcasing stunning and innovative creations.

5.  Big Local Arts Village
The festival-favorite Big Local Arts Village sits at the Franklinton entrance, where more than 60 Columbus-based artists and creatives showcase and sell their work. Watch live artist demonstrations all weekend long!

6. Boozy Slushies from High Bank Distillery
Columbus’ High Bank Distillery crafts boozy slushies using their award-winning whiskey or vodka. Perfect for cooling off while strolling the festival grounds.

7. Rhinegeist Beer Garden
Festival guests can relax in the shade of the Rhinegeist beer garden with a refreshing Ohio-made brew. They’re even brewing a specialty beer just for the festival!

8. More Than 40 Food Trucks and Carts
You won’t leave hungry from the arts festival! From fried chicken, burgers and barbecue to a wide range of international fare, plus vegetarian and vegan eats, the festival features something for everyone. Be sure to cool off with a lemon shake-up or scoop of Graeter’s ice cream!

9. Plenty of Photo Ops
With the colorful artist booths, exciting performances, stunning bridges and scenic riverfront, the entire Columbus Arts Festival is one big photo op! For the best photo at the Fest, head to the giant selfie frame on the west side of the Scioto near the Rich Street Bridge to snap a photo with the city’s skyline as a backdrop.