Thanks to summer, festival season is officially underway in the 614! If you’re looking for something you can do this weekend with the entire family, head down to the Columbus Arts Festival. The festival is located on the Scioto Mile, Columbus’ riverfront park. It extends to Main and Rich streets and in front of COSI (Center of Science and Industry.) There will be art, music, food and fun. The festival is open this evening til 10:30pm (booths closed at 8pm.) and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out all the fun activities going on below.
via https://www.columbusartsfestival.org/festival/visitor-info/
Big Local Arts Village
The place to find homegrown art! Experience make-and-take projects led by local indie artist collectives, art technique demonstrations, a gallery of artwork for purchase, the Big Local Art Stage with an incredible line up of Cbus bands and the Big Local Beer Garden featuring Columbus craft breweries.
Get Framed at the Arts Festival
Check out our giant picture frame just north of the intersection of the Rich Street bridge and Washington Boulevard, sponsored by Reed Arts. Make Festival memories with Columbus’ beautiful cityscape in the background.
Homage and Student-Designed Merchandise
The Festival partnered with Homage and students from the Columbus College of Art & Design to design the souvenir T-shirts for the 2019 Festival—everything you love about Homage T’s and an opportunity to show your support for local art students. These limited-edition T-shirts can be purchased at one of two Official Festival Merch booths located by the GCAC booth at Rich St. and Civic Center and Washington Blvd. and Town St.
Learn More About the Local Arts Scene
Visit the Columbus Arts Marketing Association (CAMA) booths and learn more about the local arts scene from representatives of area arts organizations. Local arts organizations are located on Washington Blvd. between the Main St. Bridge and Rich St. Bridge.
Catch Some Shade In Our Oases
Relax in shady oases courtesy of Oakland Nursery as you enjoy performances on the ABC6 Bicentennial Park Stage. And thanks to Lasting Impressions Event Rentals and Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service you’ll find rest stations in the middle of each bridge featuring shade, seating and tropical plants to help bring your senses alive with color and texture.
Family Safety & Care Station
To meet the needs of our family visitors with small children, the Family Safety & Care Station, courtesy of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, offers a private air conditioned space for diaper changing, nursing and relaxing. The mobile unit is located on Wolfe Drive near the Hands On Activities area. Open Fri. 11 a.m–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Riverfest Presented by MORPC
Enjoy the Festival from the Scioto River by kayak or canoe and celebrate our region’s water resources along the Scioto River. Riverfest water activities will take place in conjunction with the Festival: Saturday, June 8 from 12 p.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday, June 9 from 12 p.m.–4 p.m.
400 SQUARE and Franklinton
400 W. Rich and Chromedge Art Studios will have their doors open, providing an inside look at artists’ personal workspaces, a variety of demos and mini-workshops to create a totally unique piece of art, and learn at the
hand of our own resident artists. Visitors can enjoy live mural painting by Miss Birdy, Giovanni Santiago, Daniel Rona, Dominic Damien, Henry Hess & more, as they spotlight their creativity on Franklinton buildings. Browse an exhibition featuring Franklinton history and see Rob Jones’ solo show at The Vanderelli Room. Or you can take a break and play some board games with artist Jennifer Bender’s life-sized The Artist’s Game of Life or dip into the Hillbilly Hot Tub which will be parked at 400 W. Rich all weekend. Saturday morning you just may see some of the members of the Artist Wrestling League roaming the Arts Fest wrestling up interest in their Saturday afternoon performance at 400 SQUARE.
PULLL Wellness Challenge
Pelotonia’s mobile app PULLL allows users to generate funds for cancer research through exercise. Stop by to test out your skills in a variety of wellness activities and have fun making an impact. 100% of every dollar raised supports life-saving cancer research at OSUCCC-James.
For Kids & Families
Meet the Art Shark!
Because he is awesome! You’ll find him at the Hands-On Art Activities Village presented by Battelle (June 8, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and June 9, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) and around the Bicentennial Park fountain (June 7, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. and June 8, 3 p.m.–5 p.m.)
Hands-On Art Activities Village Presented by Battelle
Fun and engaging hands-on arts and crafts activities for the entire family. Volunteers from local organizations will be on hand to keep your family busy with creative fun from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday of the Festival. Be sure to pick up your copy of the scavenger hunt map. Complete five activities and choose a free prize!
Children’s Gallery Presented by PNC
An absolute MUST for kids on Saturday & Sunday, 12 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Children ages 12 and younger are invited to experience our unique kid-sized gallery—located in the Hands-On Activities Village—with artwork donated by exhibiting artists. Each piece is priced at $5 and under.
Grass Patch Theatre Presented by PNC
Performances of Alice in Wonderland by the Grass Patch Performers, local actors ages 4-12, will take place in Dorrian Green Park amongst the Hands-On Art Activities Village on the west side of COSI. Park your chair for this special treat from central Ohio’s Dramatic Impact with Candace Mazur-Darman.
Virtual Reality Tent Presented by White Castle
New this year, with support from White Castle, the Columbus Arts Festival presents a Virtual Reality Tent where visitors can engage in virtual and augmented reality experiences and games presented by GDEX. With presentations from GDEX, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus-based artist Bryan Christopher Moss and more, the tent is open 2 p.m.–9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 12 p.m.–5 p.m. Sunday.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Community Art Project
Nationwide Children’s Hospital has partnered with Project S.N.A.P. to create a large-scale, community mosaic mural that will be installed in the new Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion opening in early 2020. Festival-goers are invited to contribute by creating a unique piece of art. The mosaic will incorporate artwork from people across the country, sending hope, strength and support to patients and families awaiting treatment in the Pavilion’s
Crisis Center. Two locations: Hands-On Activity Village and near Milestone 229 on the east side of the river.
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