Sonic Temple returns as one of Ohio's biggest music festivals
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Metallica headlines Sonic Temple on two different nights. Photo: Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images
More than 100,000 rock lovers will jam into Historic Crew Stadium this weekend for one of the largest hard rock gatherings in the country.
Why it matters: Sonic Temple has survived a rebrand and a lost COVID year to become a major economic driver for Columbus and arguably Ohio's biggest music festival.
Flashback: Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival was formerly known as Rock on the Range. It was reenvisioned in 2019 when promoter Danny Wimmer took over the event after splitting with AEG Live.
The intrigue: This year's headliners include major international touring acts like Korn, Linkin Park and two different Metallica sets.
- More than 100 other acts across four stages range from Three 6 Mafia and Insane Clown Posse to Hoobastank and GWAR.
- There's also a live art program, food, drinks and charity fundraisers.
- Local venues Ace of Cups and King of Clubs host after parties Friday night.
By the numbers: Last year's festival drew a crowd of 138,000, according to organizers.
- Experience Columbus expects this year's crowd to buy more than 10,000 hotel rooms and spend $8.2 million around town.
What they're saying: "Columbus is a city that lives for live music, and Sonic Temple is the ultimate celebration for rock fans," says Sarah Townes, chief marketing and innovation officer for Experience Columbus.
- "They're aspiring to host the biggest rock festival in city history, and all signs point to record-breaking crowds."
The big picture: Definitive attendance and economic impact numbers are scarce, but Sonic Temple could have a claim as Ohio's biggest music festival.
- Its reported four-day attendance in 2024 beat Buckeye Country Superfest (127,000 in just two days) and Cincinnati Music Festival (84,000 in three).
Worth your time: Axios Cleveland dug into why Cleveland doesn't have a real competitor.
If you go: The festival is 97% sold out, but last-minute attendees can still find some single-day and weekend packages and others on resale sites like SeatGeek or StubHub.
- Parking passes are sold out.
- Doors open at 11am Thursday through Sunday at One Black and Gold Blvd.