Columbus Arts Festival kicks off the summer festival season, and the riverfront is where you want to be. With local, national and international artists exhibiting and selling their work, and six stages to amplify more than 150 performances, Downtown will be a rocking, swinging, strolling and leaping good time. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect this weekend, June 9-11.



In addition to big-name artists, 14 central Ohio artists have been accepted into the Emerging Artist program during the three-day festival extravaganza. So, whether you are looking to add pizzazz to your living room wall with a one-of-a-kind painting, or you want to dangle a handcrafted bobble from your neck, the Columbus Arts Festival is where to find it this weekend.

Toe-tappin’ and finger-snappin’ happens all weekend long for those who take in the incredible performance art. With more than 150 performances, the hardest part will be to figure out how to see it all. Find everything from jazz and classical music to slam poetry and modern dance. Plan for the must-see performances here.

Do you have a budding artist or young enthusiast at home? Children ages 12 and under get access to a special kid-sized gallery located near the Hands On Art Activities. All the artwork is donated by exhibiting artists and is priced at $5 and under for the kiddos.

We’ve only scratched the surface on what you’ll find at this year at Columbus Arts Festival. Come one day or all three—it won’t disappoint. If you want to get a lay of the land, check out the event map before you come. Organizers even provide a few tips on how to get to the festival and get situated.