The best time to experience all that Columbus has to offer is the summer – especially the wide array of summer festivals! Columbus is filled to the brim the summer festivals that celebrate art, culture, music, food, and so much more. Whether you are local or just visiting, there is a summer festival perfect for you! Here is your ultimate guide to the summer festival season in Columbus, including fan favorites and underrated gems. 

June Festivals 

  • Date: June 1 
  • Location: Central Bexley on S. Dawson Ave 

Kick off your summer with the Bexley Porch Fest, a community-driven event where porches transform into music stages. Enjoy live performances, food trucks, beer, and cider—all within the charming neighborhood setting of Bexley.

  • June 7-9 
  • Scioto Mile Riverfront 

Embrace your creative side at the Columbus Arts Festival. This event transforms the Scioto Mile Riverfront into an immersive gallery featuring 250 visual artists, four stages of performances and dozens of food vendors.

  • June 14-15 
  •  Goodale Park 

Celebrate love, diversity, and inclusion at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival. This vibrant event includes a parade, live music, and a host of activities designed to promote equality and support the LGBTQ+ community.

  • June 21-22 
  • Village Green Park in Downtown Powell 

Join the festivities at the Powell Festival, a family-friendly event featuring live entertainment, food vendors, and fireworks. The perfect outing for those looking to embrace a small-town atmosphere filled with fun.

July Festivals 

  • July 19-21 
  • Scioto Mile downtown riverfront 

Experience the perfect blend of great jazz and mouth-watering ribs at the Jazz & Rib Fest. Set along the scenic Scioto Mile Riverfront, this festival offers a feast for the senses with top jazz musicians and top-rated rib vendors from across the country. Come hungry!

  • July 26-28 
  • Downtown Columbus 

Indulge in culinary delights at the Columbus Food & Wine Festival. This 3-day event features chef tastings, exquisite wine experiences, and live music, making it an elevated experience for food and wine enthusiasts.

August Festivals 

  • August 2-4 
  • Historic Dublin 

Celebrate Irish culture at the Dublin Irish Fest, one of the largest Irish festivals in the world. Enjoy traditional music, dance, food, and a 5k run, all set in the charming Historic Dublin area. 

  • August 10 
  • Historical Town Center 

No matter how you take your bourbon, the annual Heart of Grove City Bourbon & Spirits Festival is a can’t miss event! Sample bourbon and spirits from well-known heritage brands to some of the up-and-comers craft distilleries. 

  • August 25 
  • Artists, crafters, local businesses and organizations, vendors, music, food trucks 
  • Free admission 

Fall in love with Merion Village at this community festival, which highlights local artists, crafters, businesses, and organizations. With music, food trucks, and free admission, it’s a delightful way to spend a late-summer day.

September Festivals 

  • September 2 
  • FREE 
  • Northam Park/Tremont Road 
    2850 Tremont Road 

Close out the season with the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. This free event features a variety of artists displaying their work in a beautiful park setting. Enjoy live music, interactive activities, and food vendors as you celebrate the end of summer.