10 highlights the Columbus Arts Festival brings to downtown
The Columbus Arts Festival is held every June on the riverfront in downtown Columbus. It features three days of live music, theater, dance, food, and activities for all ages. Welcome-to-summer Festival enlivens Downtown Columbus, and is a good excuse to take a lunch break. This is especially true on the opening day, Friday, June 9, when everyone in the office can enjoy a relaxing lunch. Food trucks will serve up tasty food, there will be live music and the Rhinegeist Beer Garden is open.
Here are 10 things you must see at the Columbus Arts Festival from June 9-11, 2019.
The Columbus Arts Festival features more than 225 artists across the nation, showcasing everything from jewelry to ceramics, photography to paintings. In 2023, the festival will feature more than 60 Ohio artists and 18 Columbus area artists as part of the Emerging Festival Artist Program.
Fashion and music at the main stage
The Genoa Park Main Stage, located on the west side of the river, in front of COSI hosts music, theater and dance throughout the weekend. The Genoa Park Main Stage will host music, theater, dance and fashion throughout the festival weekend.
The Rhinegeist beer garden
Rhinegeist Brewing allows festival goers to relax in the shade in West Bank Park's beer garden. Fill your souvenir mugs with refreshing IPAs and lagers. You can also add wheat beers, sours, or wheat beer. Rhinegeist created a special hoppy wheat ale for the festival called Sketch. You can find it in bars and restaurants all over Columbus, as well as the festival.
The Big Local Arts Village
The Big Local Arts Village is a perennially popular attraction at the Franklinton festival entrance. Over 50 Columbus artists and creators will be displaying their work, including calligraphy and ceramics. They'll also have photography, wire artwork, and more. Stay around to see metalworking, clay throwing and woodturning demonstrations. The Big Local Music Stage features Columbus bands The Deeptones and Funk City Show Band as well as Honey & Blue.
A mini film festival
This year's festival will feature a mini-film festival in West Bank Park. Film Columbus and Gateway Film Center have curated a family-friendly film lineup, including Spike Jonze’s Where The Wild Things Are, on Saturday, at 8 p.m., and local documentaries.
Art shopping at its best
Columbus Arts Festival is the best place to shop for art. The Columbus Arts Festival features work of all mediums and price ranges including photography, painting, sculpting, ceramics fiber, glass and wood. No matter your budget, this is the time to chat with artists and learn about their inspiration or purchase a piece for home or office.
More than 40 food vendors
The Arts Festival is back with a new lineup of food vendors. They offer everything from barbecue to comfort foods; Asian, Mexican and German fare, gourmet ice-cream, sno cones, and donuts, and much more.
High Bank Distillery Slushies
Columbus Arts Festival and High Bank Distillery have teamed up to create three slushies that are perfect for cooling down. Try the Cranberry Lime Cosmo or the Whiskey vanilla root beer, both made with High Bank spirit.
Everyone can enjoy hands-on activities
Hands-On activity village is a popular feature for all ages of the festival. Volunteers from local cultural organizations help festival goers to experience painting, printing, drawing their fantastical creature, or designing a bag to carry artwork. The Children's Gallery is nearby and allows children and teens to purchase their art in a kid-sized gallery at a kid-price.
Experience the Patron Package
The Patron Package is a part of the support for the awards presented at the festival. Patron Package includes VIP access, discounts, drink coupons and more. Each package comes with a ticket for the Patron Party on Friday night, which is a festival favorite. The Patron Party will be held at The Junto this year, a newly-opened independent lifestyle hotel located on the Scioto peninsula.
The Columbus Arts Festival, with its more than 225 local artists, three performance stages, beer garden, artist demonstrations by locals, interactive activities, more than 40 food trucks, film festival, and much more, is the favorite event to welcome summer in the city. Learn more at columbusartsfestival.org.
gcac.org.