Your Central Ohio spring festival guide
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Illustration: Maura Losch, Lindsey Bailey/Axios
The weather is getting warmer, and that means festival season is upon us.
- To honor the season, we're showcasing the spring slate of festivals bringing communities together, celebrating niche interests and in some cases attracting national interest.
Fun fact: You could theoretically spend every weekend between now and the summer at a Central Ohio festival.
Reality check: But between food vendor prices and the going rate for hot-ticket music festivals, be ready to blow your budget if you try.
Heritage
🇩🇪 Maifest at The Mannerchor: April 26, German Village. Free!
🗡️ Ashville Viking Festival: April 26-27, Ashville. Free!
- If you can't wait for the Renaissance Festival, get your fix of old-timey feasting and festivities in Ashville.
🌸 Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival: May 16, Bexley. Free!
🏴☠️ Buckeye Lake Piratefest: May 16-18, Buckeye Lake. Free!
🐲 Asian Festival: May 24-25, Franklin Park. Free!
✊🏾 Ohio Black Expo: May 24-25, Genoa Park. $20-$50.
- This "Riverfront culture fest + convention" is headlined by rapper and activist Common.
Arts & Science
🧪 COSI Science Festival: April 30-May 3 Franklinton and around the region. Free!
- Enjoy nature walks, exhibitions, trivia and art projects.
📚 Ohioana Book Festival: May 3, Italian Village. Free!
🪴 Herb Day Festival: May 3, Gahanna. Free!
🎨 Delaware Arts Festival: May 17-18, Downtown. Free!
🖼️ Columbus Arts Festival: June 6-8, Downtown Riverfront. Free!
- The event draws hundreds of artists from across the country.
🧑🎨 Worthington Arts Festival: June 14-15, Old Worthington. Free!
Music
🪕 Central Ohio Folk Festival: May 3-4, Highbanks Metro Park. Free!
🎸 Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival: May 8-11, Historic Crew Stadium. $160-$530.
- This year, it's headlined by Korn, Linkin Park and two nights of no-repeat sets from Metallica.
🪩 Breakaway Music Festival: May 30-31, Historic Crew Stadium. $70-$1,000.
🎷 Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival: June 13-15, Gahanna Creekside. $15-$30.
- The centerpiece of Gahanna's calendar, this festival has grown from a half-day local event to a three-day regional draw.
🏳️🌈 All Out Music Festival: June 14, Kemba Live! $60-$90.
Food & Drink
🍔 Newark Food Truck Festival: May 10, Newark Canal Market District. Free!
- Besides the food, this event showcases the suburb's downtown revitalization.
🌮 Columbus Taco Fest: May 24-25, Goodale Park. Free!
🍦 Utica Ice Cream Festival: May 24-26 Velvet Ice Cream's Ye Olde Mill. Free!
🍗 Chicken & Beer Festival: June 7, Dodge Park. Free!
🍷 Columbus Summer Wine Festival: June 7, McFerson Commons. $25.
- In 2024, the fall festival canceled at the last minute. Can the spring event rebound?
🍾 Grove City Wine & Arts Festival: June 13-14, Downtown. Free!
🍓 London Strawberry Festival: June 19-21, London. Free!