Columbus Events and Festivals

(Columbus, Ohio - OH, USA)

Columbus is well-known as an important cultural center and major center for the arts, and as such it plays host to numerous festivals and cultural events throughout the year. There are always plenty of seasonal things to do in Columbus, and major events and festivals are usually well publicized throughout Columbus.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day
• 12th February - Lincoln's Birthday
• Third Monday in February - Washington's Birthday
• Last Monday in May - Memorial Day
• 4th July - Independence Day
• First Monday in September - Labor Day
• Second Monday in October - Columbus Day
• 11th November - Veterans Day
• 4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving
• 25th December - Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• American Institute of Floral Designers Show- mid-January, held at Franklin Parl Conservatory and showcasing the talents of the country's best floral designers
• Wine and Jazz in the Garden - mid-January, enjoy wine tasting with experts and live jazz in the lovely surroundings of Franklin Park Conservatory

February

• Central Ohio Home and Garden Show - late February to early March, featuring over 350 exhibitors, events, and attractions showcasing everything imaginable related to the home and garden

March

• Central Ohio Home and Garden Show - late February to early March, featuring over 350 exhibitors, events, and attractions showcasing everything imaginable related to the home and garden
• St. Patrick's Day - mid-March, held in nearby Dublin and featuring great family entertainment, live Irish music, a parade, food stalls, and Celtic dancing

April

• Ashville Viking Festival - late April, a living history event reenacting a Viking All-Thing and including a replica of a Viking longboat, as well as live music, dance, food stalls, storytellers, crafts, and swordsmanship

May

• Worthington Plant Fest - mid-May, featuring popular plants and flowers, arts and crafts, vegetables, and food stalls

June

• Columbus Arts Festival - early June, a popular event featuring over 300 hundred artists, food stalls, live music, and hands-on activities for the kids
• Picnic with the Pops - selected Saturdays during June and July, outdoor concerts performed by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on the lawns of the Chemical Abstracts Service just north of OSU, along with occasional fireworks displays
• Rose Festival - mid-June, features live entertainment and rose-related exhibits and educational activities

July

• Picnic with the Pops - selected Saturdays during June and July, outdoor concerts performed by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on the lawns of the Chemical Abstracts Service just north of OSU, along with occasional fireworks displays
• Red, White and Boom - early July, featuring a spectacular fireworks display spanning the downtown Columbus riverfront, as well as various kid's activities

August

• Ohio State Fair - early August, a huge event featuring rides, food, and plenty of live entertainment
• Dublin Irish Festival - early August, held in neighboring Dublin, one of the largest Irish festivals in the country, featuring 10 stages of live music, dancing, cultural activities, food, and Irish history and folklore

September

• Greek Festival - early September, held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and featuring loads of traditional food, cultural events, and various activities
• Hot Times Community Music and Arts Festival - mid-September, an independent, volunteer-run festival showcasing local and national musicians, dancers, poets, and artists
• German Village Oktoberfest - late September to early October, a huge event featuring dozens of traditional bands spread over three stages, plenty of German food and beer, stalls, and art displays

October

• All American Quarter Horse Congress - most of October, the world's largest single breed horse show boasting numerous related exhibits, lectures, tournaments, and demonstrations
• Ohio Proud Fall Festival - mid-October, Ohio Proud is designed to support local agriculture and this annual festival offers free samples of, along with numerous stalls selling local fresh produce and locally produced foods
• German Village Oktoberfest - late September to early October, a huge event featuring dozens of traditional bands spread over three stages, plenty of German food and beer, stalls, and art displays

November

• Veteran's Day Parade - mid-November, an annual parade held in downtown Columbus to honor the country's wartime veterans
• Home for the Holidays - late November, an annual tradition lighting the City Hall Holiday Tree

December

• First Night Columbus - New Years' Eve, an alcohol-free event featuring hundred's of entertainers at dozens of downtown performance sites, as well as hands-on activities, to celebrate the new year