Topic: Columbus: Festivals and Events

[Columbo]

This seems like an appropriate time to begin the 2011 Festival and Event thread for the Columbus and Central Ohio area.  Winter is fading away and Spring is around the corner.  So let's start with some information on the internationally recognized event that takes over Downtown Columbus this time of year: The Arnold.

Formerly known as The Arnold Classic.  Now known as The Arnold Sports Festival.  Locally known as simply The Arnold.  Whatever you call it, its big!  Here is The Arnold Sports Festival website.  Here is The Arnold page from The Columbus Dispatch for some additional background. 

If The Arnold isn't enough, Short North's monthly Gallery Hop is also on Saturday.  When the Arnold and the Gallery Hop are added together, it makes for an amazing night.  And for those with green thumbs, the Central Ohio Home & Garden Show continues at the State Fairgrounds until Sunday.  More about these events, and many more, at Columbus Underground.

[Columbo]

I forgot to mention one other big event happening in Columbus this weekend: The state high-school wrestling tournament.  This is the first of three late winter/early spring state high school tournaments that are held at The Schott/Value City Arena on the OSU campus.  The girls high-school basketball tournament and the boys high-school basketball tournament will be held here later this month.  Here's an article about the wrestling tournament from the Dispatch. 

Also, an amusing article about what happens when "The Arnold" arrives at The Arnold:

Arnold Sports Festival: Schwarzenegger focus of every eye, camera
Saturday, March 5, 2011  02:53 AM
By Josh Jarman, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

As if moving in the eye of a storm, Arnold Schwarzenegger walked through a crowd of thousands of awe-struck fans yesterday, lending his unique star power to the Columbus sports festival that bears his name.

Legions of excited spectators shouted and waved pictures to be autographed.  Grown men and women were brought to near tears by a handshake or photo opportunity as Schwarzenegger walked through the Greater Columbus Convention Center to kick off the Arnold Sports Festival.

The festival runs through Sunday and includes dozens of events at locations across the city, including the convention center and Veterans Memorial.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/05/schwarzenegger-focus-of-every-eye-camera.html?sid=101

Plus a slideshow of Arnold at the Arnold

[Keith M.]

Plenty of meat-heads and bronzed blond women who are twice my shoulder width were walking around yesterday. I'm staying a little ways up north away from all the hub-bub.

[Columbo]

No doubt about it.  It's a circus.  But who doesn't love a circus?

[Ohiofestivals]

The Arnold was great and I should be blogging about it soon on my festival blog.  In the meantime, here's a list of 2011 festivals in Ohio - they've never stopped for the winter...they've just slowed down a bit.

http://ohiofestivals.net/?page_id=173

Enjoy!

[ColDayMan]

Thanks!

[Ohiofestivals]

The Arnold Sports Festival post is up.

http://ohiofestivals.net/?p=623

Enjoy!

[Columbo]

Its not officially summer yet.  But the Central Ohio festival season starts in earnest this weekend. 

• The 50th anniversary of The Columbus Arts Festival takes place on June 3-5 in the Discovery District of Downtown Columbus.  The Columbus Arts Festival will run from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.  After a three year run in the Discovery District to make way for downtown riverfront construction, organizers plan to move the event back to the Columbus Riverfront in 2012.

• Rounding out the art scene this weekend is the Short North's monthly gallery hop on Saturday.

• Multiple sporting events from large to small are also around the area.  From the nationally televised Memorial Golf Tournament in Dublin, to the Ohio High School Baseball Tournament at Huntington Park in Downtown Columbus, to the Ohio High School Track and Field Championships at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the Ohio State University campus, to the Downtown Kickball League at the newly opened Columbus Commons Park in Downtown Columbus.

[Columbo]

• Rounding out the art scene this weekend is the Short North's monthly gallery hop on Saturday.

Five Stops for Gallery Hop - June 2011
By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground
June 4, 2011 - 9:00am

Gallery Hop is upon us once again, and as always, there’s plenty of things to see and places to visit.  We’ve decided to distill the Gallery Hop experience down and provide a quick pick for five visits to add to your list if you’re planning on hitting the Short North this evening.

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/five-stops-for-gallery-hop-june-2011

[David]

The Arnold Sports Festival post is up.

http://ohiofestivals.net/?p=623

Enjoy!

It seemed like there wasnt as many celebrities this year but I did go on Sunday, probably the lamest day.

[Columbo]

For those wondering if The Arnold's personal scandal will be imperiling next year's "The Arnold" in Columbus - the answer appears to be "no".


The 'Arnold' will be back despite scandal
Friday, May 27, 2011
By Dean Narciso, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

As advance-sale invitations are mailed for next year's Arnold Sports Festival, organizers say they're not changing anything, even as personal scandal envelopes its iconic namesake.
 
In fact, the Arnold Classic sports-festival concept plans to expand internationally.  "We've gotten a lot of pressure to globalize the event," said Jim Lorimer, a local attorney and co-creator of the event with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
 
Lorimer spoke to his longtime friend last week and confirmed that the former bodybuilder, California governor and movie star will host the Arnold Europe Classic in October in Madrid and commit to Brazil and Moscow versions in subsequent years.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/05/27/the-arnold-will-be-back-despite-scandal.html

[Columbo]

A very quick moving and severe thunderstorm blew through the Columbus Arts Festival in downtown Columbus on Saturday.  The Columbus Arts Festival posted photos of the storm and the aftermath on its Facebook page.  More photos at their facebook page here

DURING THE STORM



THE AFTERMATH



The Arts Festival is organzing a relief fund for the artists affected by the storm.  More info in this article from The Dispatch:

Relief fund to assist festival artists whose works were destroyed in storm - Tents of several vendors were smashed by Saturday weather

[Columbo]

Its possible there just might be too much to do in Columbus this weekend...

• The 2011 Park Street Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday on Park Street (where else?), just north of the Arena District.  A bevy of bars, outdoor concerts and entertainment await.

• The people responsible for Park Street are also reopening The Long Street District with a festival of their own on Friday and Saturday.  The new owners of The Long Street District previously started it in 2000, sold out and started Park Street in 2006.  After Long Street fell on hard times, the previous owners are now returning.  The new(previous) owners are profiled at Columbus Underground and in today's Dispatch.

• If that wasn't enough entertainment, Franklinton's Go West! 2011 Festival is taking place at Tommy's Diner parking lot on Saturday.

• If you want a more sedate downtown scene and want to view some expensive downtown residences (and you've got $75 to burn), the City Hop Preview Party is also Saturday.  But since its sold out, so you'll need to know someone to go.

• If you want to see some less expensive homes for much less than 75 bucks, the Westgate Home & Garden Tour is also taking place on Saturday.

• And if you want something non-bar, non-real estate to do, there's always the Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire MLS Game on Sunday.

[Keith M.]

Saturday was quite nice. Go West! was quality and afterward Ohio's turnout for the World Naked Bike Ride actually had a good number of participants: lots of confused motorists and pedestrians. I also got more than my dose of the Park St festival when I was subjected to some blaring Ke$sha while taking the High St detour.

[Columbo]

Another big weekend for festivals and events in Columbus: 

• The Columbus Pride Festival is celebrating its 30th year.  There will be the traditionally massive parade through downtown on Saturday, two days of events and entertainment at Goodale Park on Friday and Saturday, and the Bat n’ Rouge Softball Tournament at Dodge Park on Sunday.

• The 21st Annual Juneteenth Ohio Festival will be at Franklin Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• The Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival will be in downtown Gahanna on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• The Columbus Symphony 2011 season of Picnic with the Pops begins on Saturday.

And three movie series - both indoor and outdoor - begin this weekend:

• The Wex Drive-In series begins tonight on the plaza outside the Wexner Center For The Arts with a free screening of 'Lost In Translation'.

• The Columbus Commons Movies + Music series begins on Saturday with live music and a free screening of 'The Goonies'.

• And finally, the always popular CAPA Summer Movie Series begins with a screening of 'The Wizard of Oz' on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the beautiful Ohio Theatre.  Unlike the other two outside movie series, its not free.  But for only $4 you gain admission into one the original movie palaces - complete with movie, air conditioning and the “Mighty Morton” theatre organ for pre-movie, intermission and post-movie entertainment.

[Columbo]

Its ComFest weekend in Columbus: 

• COMFEST (aka The Community Festival) is celebrating its 39th year on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Goodale Park.  Plenty of music and a little of everything else.  For the complete ComFest lineup you can view their 64-page program guide.

But if you're looking for an alternative to the alternative festival, there's always these events:

• The 52nd Annual German Village Haus & Garten Tour is going on at the opposite end of the downtown from 9AM to 6PM on Sunday.  A great chance to view some expensive urban homes.

• The 2011 BIA Parade of Homes is finishing its two-week run in Delaware.  A great chance to view some expensive suburban homes.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets are hosting an NHL Draft Party today on the floor of Nationwide Arena starting at 6PM.  Free admission, free parking available, free t-shirts for the first 500 fans along with player autograph sessions, street hockey on the arena floor and tours of the team locker rooms.

• And on Sunday, the Columbus Crew have their 3rd Annual Red, White and Crew game.  The Crew host the Colorado Rapids for an 8PM match plus special events before the game and at halftime - and with fireworks after the game.

[Columbo]

If you're looking to fill your Fourth of July fireworks and parade fix, why not go to Friday's RED, WHITE & BOOM.

But if you're looking for something different, there's this month's Short North Gallery Hop on Saturday.  And if you want an alternative to the usual community sanctioned Fourth of July parades on Monday, go to the Short North instead for The Doo Dah Parade.

[Columbo]

Photos from last week's Red, White and Boom and the DooDah Parade:

RED WHITE AND BOOM PHOTO SLIDESHOW

DOO DAH PARADE 2011

[Columbo]

Another weekend of festivals and events in Columbus: 

• The North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival through Sunday at the North Market.

• The Columbus Music Co-op Parking Lot Blowout is Saturday at the Surly Girl Saloon parking lot in the Short North.

• The Schelotto and Padula Soccer Academy will be at the Columbus Commons downtown park Saturday to host a free soccer training camp with former Crew MLS Champions Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Gino Padula.

• The newly opened Scioto Mile will begin its Movies On The Mile with a screening of 'Despicable Me' on Saturday night.

• Picnic With The Pops features jazz instrumentalist Chris Botti with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night.

• And this weekend's Home and Garden Tours feature The Olde Towne East Summer Tour of Historic Homes on Sunday and the Merion Village Garden Tour and the Hungarian Village Garden Tour, both on Sunday.

[Columbo]

The hottest weekend of the year so far will also be a hot time for festivals and events in Columbus: 

• The Jazz & Rib Fest, one of the major downtown festivals, will be at the North Bank Park along the riverfront and at McFerson Commons in the Arena District on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• The Columbus Symphony will host Popcorn Pops on Friday and Picnic With The Pops on Saturday on the lawn of Chemical Abstracts Service (2540 Olentangy River Rd.)

• The newly opened Columbus Commons will have a Luau at the Commons with a free hog roast on Friday night.

• German Village ArtCrawl will be held Saturday night.

• There's also a bunch of outdoor movies: Tonight, The Wex Drive-In features the 1959 Japanese movie 'Battle in Outer Space' - in Japanese with English subtitles.  Friday, 'Glory' will be screened on the Statehouse grounds.  Saturday, 'Airplane!' will be shown at Goodale Park in the Short North and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' at Whetstone Park in Clintonville.

• And if all that wasn't enough, the Columbus Crew will be hosting the Portland Timbers at Crew Stadium on Saturday night.

[Columbo]

It's that time of the year again...

Ohio State Fair 2011 - July 27 through August 7

[Columbo]

Great events on Gay Street and around the Short North this weekend:

- 4th Annual Independents’ Day Seizes Downtown Columbus This Saturday:  The fourth annual Independents’ Day takes place on Saturday, September 17 from noon to midnight at Gay Street and Pearl Alley.  This free all-ages celebration features an explosive array of local artists, bands, food vendors, crafters, dancers, street performers, and small businesses.

- City Hop to focus on Gay Street:  Columbus Landmarks Foundation's annual tour of downtown residences focuses on five Gay Street locations this year.  This year's version also includes an architectural tour of six other Gay Street buildings: such as the Atlas Building - the 1904 high-rise designed by Frank L. Packard; the Ohio State Savings Association building - an art deco gem; and the Diamond Exchange building - billed as the first fireproof building in Ohio when it was completed in 1912.

- Short North Tour of Homes and Gardens:  The Shorth North Civic Association is featuring a tour of 12 homes and gardens on Sunday, September 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  The general tour can be walked or ridden in by trolley bus.  The Cycle Tavern will also be providing transporation between some of the stops.  Preview of the 2011 home and garden stops.

[Columbo]

From http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/experiencing/downtown-illumination-11



Downtown Illumination 2011
 
Downtown Columbus will be at the heart of the holiday season once more when the Columbus Commons, The Lazarus Building and the entire Scioto Mile from Broad Street to Bicentennial Park, are lit up in a spectacular urban light display from December 2 to January 15.
 
Grand Illumination, December 2
 
Join Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Santa to kick off the Downtown Illumination at Bicentennial Park December 2nd at 6pm.  Find more information at www.SciotoMile.com.
 
Following the Grand Illumination at Bicentennial Park, walk from The Scioto Mile to Columbus Commons for free carousel rides and hot chocolate from 5pm-8pm.  On the way, check out the Lazarus Window Displays, and stop by the OSU Urban Arts Space for a Book and Paper Art Sale from 6pm-8pm.
 
Downtown Illumination Highlights
 
Columbus Commons
• Over 100,000 multi-colored lights on 127 trees
• 35 foot Holiday Tree on the Grand Lawn
• Four Holiday Displays in the Garden
• A 15 foot Fountain of Light at High Street Entrance
 
Lazarus Building
• Six holiday display windows along High and Town Street featuring Santa, Reindeer, a Holiday Train and the original Twelve Days of Christmas Lazarus Displays
 
Scioto Mile
• Over 40,000 lights on more than 60 trees
• Holiday Light Show at the Bicentennial Park Fountain
 
 
Columbus Commons Holiday Fair, December 16-18
 
Save the Date for the Columbus Commons Holiday Fair, December 16 - December 18.  With rides, activities, visits with Santa and tons of family-friendly fun, the Commons will be the place to get in the holiday spirit.  Visit www.ColumbusCommons.org for more information.

[Columbo]

The voters at Columbus Underground chose their Top 10 Festivals of 2011:

Best Festival of 2011: ComFest

[Columbo]

We're not quite to the summer festival season yet.  But it feels like summer outside today.  And there's a bunch of big events happening today in Columbus that are colliding together.  So it's an appropriate time to restart the festivals and events thread.

First, the big one.  President Obama will be holding a campaign kickoff rally this afternoon at the Schottenstein Center on the Ohio State University campus.  While the Obama for President rally is going on, other events are also happening at OSU.  The previously scheduled State Science Day will be attracting thousands of participants to the campus.  A baseball doubleheader between Ohio State and Northwestern will be going on next door to the Schott.  And if that wasn't enough, part of the Capital City Half Marathon will be running though the campus in the morning.

All that, and there's also the Short North Gallery Hop tonight!  More about the President's visit and how to navigate in and around the OSU campus from the below linked Dispatch article:

Obama, runners will roil traffic Saturday near Ohio State

[Columbo]

The Capital City Half Marathon had a record crowd of over 13,000 people on Saturday.  More about that with photos at the Columbus Dispatch.  Over at Columbus Underground, Walker (who was also a runner!) also posted some very scenic photos of the race and some great photos of a crowded Columbus Commons - which was the finish line for the race.







MORE PHOTOS: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/cap-city-half-marathon-may-5th-2012

[David]

Hey does anyone care to post a nice little timeline or at least a rough draft - general idea of when the big events are? Columbus has some great outdoor events and I'm looking forward to going to them. The collective energy at festivals in Columbus just can't be beat, compared to other cities, IMO. I've been having a lot of fun hanging out with my brother and his Local Union Pipefitter and Welding friends; I have a feeling ComFest is going to be off-the-hook this year for me, when I go  I'll need to stock up on Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey

[Columbo]

Hey does anyone care to post a nice little timeline or at least a rough draft - general idea of when the big events are? Columbus has some great outdoor events and I'm looking forward to going to them.

Columbus Underground usually produces a Summer Festival Schedule before Memorial Day weekend (if I'm remembering this correctly).  When they do this I'll post a link to it here.  In the meantime, here's a few complications of some downtown summertime event series from Columbus Underground:

Ohio Statehouse Announces 2012 ‘Summer Fridays at the Statehouse’ Season

Columbus Commons 2012 Events

Downtown Live Summer Concert Series at Columbus Commons 2012

Rhythm on the River 2012 Season - Bicentennial Park Performing Arts Pavilion

[Columbo]

I have a feeling ComFest is going to be off-the-hook this year

Speaking of ComFest.  The very first ComFest was held 40 years ago today.  As part of the Columbus Bicentennial, the Dispatch has been running a series of articles about significant past events that have occurred on each calender day.  Today's May 12th date was dedicated to ComFest.  And given its origin and the headline of the article, it's come a long way in 40 years!

Columbus Mileposts: May 12, 1972 | Enduring festival that is ComFest started with a hippie street party

[Columbo]

Columbus Underground is kicking off their first summer weekend festival compilation.  Below is the link:

Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 1

Two of biggest weekend events are for music lovers.  If your music tastes are of the hand-banging variety, then head over to Crew Stadium for the Rock on the Range.  If your music tastes are more 'Austin City Limits', then head southeast for the Nelsonville Music Festival.

[Columbo]

Columbus Underground is kicking off their first summer weekend festival compilation.  Below is the link:

Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 1

Two of biggest weekend events are for music lovers.  If your music tastes are of the hand-banging variety, then head over to Crew Stadium for the Rock on the Range.  If your music tastes are more 'Austin City Limits', then head southeast for the Nelsonville Music Festival.

I neglected to highlight the Komen Race for the Cure event that happened last Saturday.  This year the race ending was at Columbus Commons.  Here are some photos from Columbus Underground at 20th Annual Komen Columbus Race for the Cure, May 19, 2012:

[Columbo]

And speaking more about Columbus Commons.  The opening of the new Bicentennial Pavilion at the Commons is being celebrated with a weekend full of free events.  Starting with a free Michael McDonald concert on Thursday night at 7:00PM and ending with a free performance of Shadowbox's Back to the Garden musical on Sunday night at 8:30PM.

More about the Bicentennial Pavilion Opening Weekend Events from May 24 to May 27 at http://columbuscommons.org/happenings/opening-weekend/.

[Columbo]

Hey does anyone care to post a nice little timeline or at least a rough draft - general idea of when the big events are? Columbus has some great outdoor events and I'm looking forward to going to them.

Columbus Underground usually produces a Summer Festival Schedule before Memorial Day weekend (if I'm remembering this correctly).  When they do this I'll post a link to it here. 

Here it is.  From Columbus Underground - a list of festivals from this Memorial Day weekend through November:

CU: The 2012 Columbus Festival Season

[Columbo]

The big festival news for this weekend is the Columbus Arts Festival returning to the downtown riverfront for the first time since construction of the Scioto Mile began in 2008.  Below are two postings from Columbus Underground about it.  One is a posting from the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) about this year's event.  The other is an on-going thread about the 2012 event.

CU: GCAC Presents: Columbus Arts Festival Returns to the Riverfront

CU: Columbus Arts Festival 2012

[Columbo]

Lots happening in the Columbus area this weekend with some of the biggest events happening downtown. 

The biggest will be the Pride Festival and the Pride Parade though downtown on Saturday.  Picnic with the Pops kicks off their new season at their new downtown location (Columbus Commons) with Three Dog Night on Friday and The Temptations on Saturday.  And right next door in the beautiful Ohio Theatre, CAPA’s Summer Movie Series starts Friday.

That and much more is complied by the wonderful folks at Columbus Underground in their Mega Summer Weekend round-up (linked below):

CU: Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 5