About Columbus Arts Festival

The Columbus Arts Festival, powered by American Electric Power and produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, brings the best in fine art and fine craft to Columbus. The festival has been consistently rated by AmericanStyle and Sunshine Artist magazines as one of the top festivals in the nation, and each year it hosts juried artists from across the United States, as well as several international artists.

The overall ambiance of the festival is amplified by the beautiful Columbus downtown riverfront. Known as the Scioto Mile, the waterfront includes Bicentennial Park, two bridges on Main and Rich Streets, lush green spaces and walkways and mesmerizing water features along with plazas, paths, and bikeways. The festival’s home on the riverfront has brought in record crowds and drawn praise from festival-goers of all ages.

For most cities, a lively riverfront is a piece of art in and of itself. For Columbus, it's just the beginning. The Columbus Arts Festival assembles nearly 300 artists along the city's scenic riverfront to sell creations and show off their wares to the public. Visitors can browse and buy just about anything, or try their hand at creating art through various festival activities and enjoy numerous demonstrations. The show lasts three full days, and features six different stages that showcase music, theater, dance, and spoken word art. Roaming performers and their friends also move around the festival grounds, putting on a mobile show for attendees. Food and drink vendors—including some of Columbus’ top-notch restaurants and food trucks—will be on-hand throughout the weekend festival.