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Greater Columbus, Ohio
Annual Events

Greater Columbus, Ohio has festivities taking place all through the year including concerts, festivals, fairs and sporting events.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

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The list below presents an overview of the major events in the Columbus, Ohio area.

January: College Baseball; From the crack of the bat to the slide on into home, NCAA baseball packs a wallop of home run frenzy for what’s oft called America’s favorite pastime. Diamond action starts in January, continuing through most of June.; Ohio State Buckeyes, Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops, Wright State Raiders; Wildlights; The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium brightens the holiday season with Wildlights, a spectacular winter celebration, from mid-November through early January, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Call (800) MONKEYS for more information.; American Motosports Arenacross Championships; Motocross racing at its best unfolds with thrills, spills and family fun at the Triple Turn Arena with heated indoor pits near Canal Winchester. Call (937) 246-0297 for more information.
February: Paws to Party; In mid-February, the GrayStone Wine Cellar hosts a wine tasting and silent auction to benefit Citizens for Humane Action Animal Shelter, in Columbus. Call (614) 718-9248 for more information.; Jack Nicklaus Museum; In the heart of the Ohio State University sports complex in Jack’s hometown is a 24,000 square-foot educational / historical facility featuring the sport's great practitioner, with golf-oriented events at intervals throughout the year. Call (614) 247-5959 for more information.; Be My Valentine Powell Pet Adoption Benefit; Raffle drawings at this Powell Center benefit help raise funds for featured animal shelters. Attendees are invited to bring pets, to shop or browse vendor / sponsors for Valentine treats, and learn about grooming, training, health, and photography. Call (614) 841-0232 for more information.
March: Arnold Classic Cheerleading & Dance Championships; At Batelle Hall in the Greater Columbus Convention Center, US Spirit and Schwarzenegger / Lorimer Classic Productions promote this decade-plus competition in cheerleading and dance. Title winners receive prizes, jackets, medals, and trophies. Call (614) 841-9338 for more information.; Blooms & Butterflies; At this popular annual event, Franklin Park Conservatory goes aflutter with butterflies emerging from cocoons. Call (614) 645-1802 for more information.; Hip Hop Expo; At the Columbus Convention Center, Marko Records goes all out to feature R&B and Hip Hop artistry. Call (614) 218-1972 for more information.; Celebrity Chef Event; During the last week in March, the Columbus Area Humane Society hosts local chefs, dignitaries and celebrities who provide a night of music, food and fun to benefit Columbus area homeless and abused animals, in the Huntington Club of Ohio Stadium. Call (614) 777-7387 for more information.
April: Major League Soccer; There’s no end to the excitement each season as Major League Soccer teams from both the eastern and western conferences vie for glory in regular season matches, on to the play offs and cup finals.; Columbus Crew - To get in on the action, and book seats for the Columbus Crew, click here.; Eggs, Paws and Claws; Arrival of spring is celebrated at the Columbus Zoo with treat stations, clowns and a bunny. At intervals throughout the year, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium offers a variety of special family-oriented events. Call (614) 645-3581 for more information.; WildNite for Wildlife; In early April, the Ohio Wildlife Center sponsors a gala to benefit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, which will include appetizers, a cash bar, dinner buffet, silent and live auctions, and presentations of wildlife. Call (614) 734-9453 for more information.; Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE); Over 100 exhibitors will participate in the largest exhibition of small press, alternative and creator-owned comics in the Midwest, at the Aladdin Shrine Complex Multipurpose Room in Columbus. Call (614) 889-7582 for more information.
May: RiverFest; Presented by Columbia Gas, RiverFest’s games, music, food and boating celebrate life along Central Ohio’s rivers and waterways, spotlighting their vital environmental role. Call (614) 233-4186 for more information.; Asian Festival; This festival of all things Asian invites families to celebrate on Memorial Day weekend with hands-on children’s activities and cuisine from Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Call (614) 292-0613 for more information.; Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE); The Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE), featuring more than 150 exhibitors, is the Midwest’s largest showcase of small press, alternative and creator-owned comics. (614) 889-7582 for more information.; WaterFire on the Mile; Monthly from May to October, a permanent art installation on the Scioto River in downtown's North Bank Park allows onlookers to experience 50 floating fires on the river with mystical music, twirlers and live musicians. Call (614) 224-3720 for more information.; Iris Society Show; Varieties of Iris in several colors grown for today’s market are on display at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Call (614) 645-1709 for more information.
June: Columbus Arts Festival; Running more than four decades, the annual Columbus Arts Festival stars some 300 visual artists and craftspeople, along with entertainment, plus food from gourmet to street treats. Most activity is on the Scioto River’s east side. Call (614) 224-2606 for more information.; Columbus Art Affair; In mid to late June, local artists exhibit jewelry, painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, and more at the Polaris Fashion Place, 1500 Polaris Parkway. Call (954) 472 3755 for more information.; Annual Roy Rogers Festival; Fans of cowboy star Roy Rogers assemble for a western-style weekend of fun in Portsmouth. Call (800) 648-2574 for more information.; Santa Maria Art Festival; Art work and interpretation of the Fair Avenue Art Impact and those of the Jewish Day School interweave art and culture. Call (614) 645-0351 for more information.; Banana Split Festival; JW Denver Williams Memorial Park hosts a rollback to the ‘50s / ‘60s era at Wilmington, birthplace of the banana split. Festivities include free rock’n’roll concerts, games, rides, and seductive, calorie-laden banana splits galore. Call (937) 382-1965 for more information.; CAPA Summer Movie Series; During June and July, the CAPA Summer Movie Series at the magnificent Ohio Theater – one of central Ohio’s favorite summer entertainment traditions – features seven weeks of Hollywood’s big stars and most treasured films. 2005 featured films, for example: West Side Story, Some Like It Hot, Rebel Without a Cause and 14 more, plus Stooge-a-Rama, with classic Three Stooges shorts. Call (614) 469-0939 for more information.
July: Red, White & Boom; Independence Day celebrants gather downtown on the riverfront for what’s billed as the Midwest’s largest fireworks display, plus all the trimmings including a parade. Call (614) 421-BOOM for more information.; Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival; In mid-July, Heritage Park hosts juried fine arts and crafts, as well as a special Colonial arts and crafts exhibit, and youth art exhibit for children 3 through 18, live music and interactive youth performances. Call (614) 882-8917 for more information.; Jam-N Jefferson Park Festival; On a weekend in mid-July each year, the St. Paul AME Church sponsors a festival of live entertainment, health screenings, children's activities, a Sunday morning worship service and much more. Jefferson Park, 99 Jefferson Avenue, between East Broad Street and East Long Street, one block west of I-71. Call (614) 228-2500 for more information.; North Market Food and Wine Festival; Presented by the North Market and the Ohio Wine Producers Association, a dozen wineries have booths outside for tastings and wine by the glass to go with food and fun. Call (614) 463-9664 for more information.; Jazz and Rib Fest; Over the last weekend in July, internationally known jazz musicians perform while rib enthusiasts from all over the country gather to sample a wide variety of cooking styles, sponsored by the Music in the Air and Office of Special Events programs of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, along the downtown Columbus waterfront. Call (614) 645-7996 for more information.
August: Jazz & Blues Ribfest; Over the first weekend in August, Olde Pickerington Village hosts a local ribs competition accompanied by live local jazz and blues bands, food vendors and activities for the kids. Call (614) 837-6701 for more information.; Ohio State Fair; Annual Farmers Festival; The Annual Farmers Festival incorporates popular downtown restaurants, music and free food. Call (614) 645-5095 for more information.; Ohio State Fair; Big-name entertainment, antique and historical exhibits, five stages of free acts, a trio of air-conditioned sit-down restaurants, and a midway with more than 70 rides are part of this 150-year-old tradition. Call (888) 646-3976 for more information.; Columbus Feis; Columbus Feis each year showcases fine Irish dancing with more than 1,200 competitors on nine stages in both individual and group contests. Call (614) 457-7227 for more information.; Annual Heritage Concert Series; Midsummer JazzFest; In mid-August, the midsummer jazz festival features a car show and 6 top acts in the Midwest, at the Indian Mound Mall in Heath. Call (740) 345-9408 for more information.; Annual Heritage Concert Series; Each year during July and August, Columbus’ Mayme Moore Park hosts some of the best jazz around on Thursday evenings. Call (614) 645-0642 for more information.; Classic Car Cruise; At the end of August, New Life Church of Gahanna hosts a party that features an exhibition of classic cars and motorcycles, a play area for the kids with a clown and a midway, lots of food, and a DJ spinning oldies. Proceeds benefit Gahanna Residents in Need. Call (614) 475-8500 for more information.
September: College Football; NCAA Football, created in 1997 to promote college football ideals, makes no bones about the importance of each game. Losing at any time during the season can thwart a team's chances for postseason action or an NCAA Championship. No wonder NCAA Football marketers have adopted a tagline of "NCAA Football: Every Game Counts."; Ohio State Buckeyes, Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops; Ohio State Buckeyes - To cheer on your favorites and book seats for the Ohio State Buckeyes, click here.; NAICCO Labor Day Weekend Traditional Powwow; The Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio hosts an annual powwow at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, a festival of Native American culture and Native foods. Dancers, drum groups, artists and vendors will represent a number of Native American tribes. Call (614) 443-6120 for more information.; Greek Festival; Annual Antiques & Gardeners Fair; The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden nurtures plants and people, in September attracting folks with a fondness for antiques and green thumbs. Call (614) 645-3000 for more information.; Greek Festival; Greek pastries, books, cathedral tours and more are part of the annual Greek Festival. Call (614) 224-9020 for more information.; Olde Pickerington Village Arts Festival; In early September, local artists, craftsmen and photographers display and sell their work along East Columbus Street in Pickerington, with lots of food and beverage vendors on hand. Call (614) 833-2211 for more information.; Marion Popcorn Festival; Downtown Marion hosts free entertainment and a parade to accompany food stands and rides, plus the Popcorn 100 Bicycle Tour, Popcorn Softball Tournament, and Popcorn 5K Run. Call (740) 387-3378 for more information.; Tipp City Mum Festival; Tipp City, once widely known for mum-growing, celebrates its heritage with a Main Street parade heading into City Park. Call (937) 667-8631 for more information.; Athens Area Sustainability Festival; Some 65 miles southeast of Columbus at the Athens County Fairgrounds, the grassroots Sustainability Festival features more than 40 workshops on energy and building alternatives, food and agricultural practices, innovative wellness and healing, arts, crafts, and a kid's program. Call (740) 674-4300 for more information.
October: National Hockey League; The National Hockey League’s rough and tumble world packs a motherlode of milestones, from 1917’s NHL opener, to when Maurice Richard was first to score 50 goals in one season in 1944-45, to when Clint Benedict was the first goalie to put on a mask after a shot knocked him unconscious, to when Manon Rheaume made headlines in 1992 as the first woman playing in one of the four major sports leagues, goaltending for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the St. Louis Blues. From October on, it’s non-stop action in the world of hat tricks -- three goals in a game by a player -- and sudden death overtime.; Columbus Blue Jackets - To book for the Columbus Blue Jackets, click here.; Buckeye Ranch Family Fall Fest; Buckeye Ranch hosts an annual Family Fall Fest with a slate of activities from hayrides to cookie decorating. Call (614) 277-3050 for more information.; Herb Harvest Day; This annual free fall celebration, at the Ohio Herb Education Center in Gahanna, showcases how to cultivate herbs while providing samples of assorted herb-infused dishes, teas and sweets. Call (614) 428-9255 for more information.; Halloween Pet Parade; The Capital Area Humane Society, raising money to aid homeless animals, hosts this annual Halloween Pet Parade where pets in costume parade around the Easton Town Center. Call (614) 337-2200 for more information.; Haunted Ship; Pirates and their booty provide a haunted twist to Halloween fun during family-oriented tours of the Santa Maria at Battelle Park in Columbus. Call (614) 645-0351 for more information.; Annual Dresden Octoberfest; German foods from beer and bratwurst to potato salad along with funnel cakes and fun are part of Dresden’s annual celebration. Call (740) 754-3401 for more information.; Craftin’ Outlaws; Craftin’ Outlaws, an alternative craft fair, supports the growing underground DIY craft movement (enjoying a huge on-line following despite lack of support in the mass-produced world). Showcased at the Columbus Athenaeum are original, one-of-a-kind works from the young, edgy and crafty within local and national circles. Call (614) 314-4593 for more information.; Trunk or Treat; On the last Sunday evening in October, around Halloween, the Westerville Christian Church hosts this family event with games, face painting, inflatables, food and candy. Costumes are encouraged. Call (614) 891-6842 for more information.; Annual Sorghum Makin’ Festival; Well beyond sorghum, John Simon Farm near West Portsmouth also has apple butter and soap making, butter churning, corn pickling, hayrides, dancing and more. Call (740) 754-3401 for more information.
November: College Basketball; First devised by James Naismith in 1891, with the first recorded collegiate game in 1893, legions testify there’s no sound so soothing as a basketball whooshing through the net after a flick of the wrist. NCAA basketball brings grass roots hoop dreams to an entirely new level each fall, building toward March Madness, the NCAA Division Basketball Championships.; Ohio State Buckeyes, Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops, Wright State Raiders; Ohio State Buckeyes - To book seats for the Ohio State Buckeyes, click here.; Holiday Lights Parade & Festival; As Ohio’s leading evening parade, Granville Street’s lighted floats, marching bands, Clydesdales, and more lead the way to post-parade nostalgic holiday fun in charming, old Gahanna. Call (614) 342-4250 for more information.; Wildlights; The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium brightens the holiday season with Wildlights, a spectacular winter celebration, from mid-November through early January, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Call (800) MONKEYS for more information.
December: A Dickens of a Christmas; From plum pudding to humbug pie, Ohio Village / Ohio Historical Center recreate a Dickens-style Victorian Christmas with cooking demos, caroling, readings by candlelight, and other traditions. Call (614) 297-2300 for more information.; First Night Columbus; First Night Columbus is Central Ohio’s largest, New Year’s Eve celebration, alcohol-free, it’s a fun for all ages, safe, and interactive indoor experience with diverse entertainment at dozens of indoor venues downtown. Call (614) 481-0020 for more information.; Homes for the Holidays; Holiday lighting and decorated interiors warm the season with this tour of historic homes in Columbus. Call (614) 434-8080 for more information.; Once Upon A Life Christmas Program; In mid-December, Faith Life Church in New Albany presents an artistic holiday program. Call (614) 855-4848 for more information.; Wildlights; The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium brightens the holiday season with Wildlights, a spectacular winter celebration, from mid-November through early January, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Call (800) MONKEYS for more information.

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Greater Columbus, Ohio Annual Events

Greater Columbus, Ohio
Annual Events