By 1812Blockhouse, Columbus Arts Festival
Welcome back to Summer Road Trips for 2022!
This year we’re continuing our weekly look at unique events and attractions that are within an easy driving distance of Richland County. For the first time in two years, we’re sharing events taking place in-person, although by all means please all ahead and verify what social distancing, masking, etc.
Of course, we regularly feature the many extraordinary places to visit right here in Richland County and encourage our readers to get out and experience what is on offer in our own backyard.
Today we’re highlighting the return of one of central Ohio’s traditional events — the Columbus Arts Festival.
While many favorite artists, local bands, hands-on activities and food vendors return to the Columbus Arts Festival, there are always new things to discover at the welcome to summer event presented by the American Electric Power Foundation and produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council). Here are some of the adventures in store for the more than 450,000 guests coming to the 2022 festival, June 10-12:
Film at the Fest
In partnership with Film Columbus and the Gateway Film Center, the Festival presents Film at Fest, sponsored by J.P. Morgan Chase. The mini film festival will feature local documentaries, CCAD student animation, episodes of WOSU Public Media’s Broad & High, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians (the original 1961 version, remastered) and other family-friendly fare. Films will be screened at Genoa Park on the river side of COSI, on the west bank of the Scioto River. For more details and the full schedule, visit columbusartsfestival.org/visit/film-at-the-fest/.
New Location for the Hands-On Activities Village
The Festival’s Hands-On Activities Village presented by Battelle moves this year to the grass triangle at the southeast corner of Town and Belle. The village is staffed by volunteers from 13 local organizations from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday., and features activities like printmaking, painting with acrylics, creating fantastical creatures, building kinetic sand castles and more.
Rhinegeist Beer Garden
This year the Festival has partnered with Rhinegeist Brewery on a shaded beer garden located at Belle and Washington. Guests can enjoy Rhinegeist’s signature lagers, IPAs and seasonal brews while they lounge close to food trucks, hands-on activities and the Big Local Arts Village.
The Updated Cultural Arts Center Stage
The Acoustic Lounge combined with the Word Is Art Stage to form the new Cultural Arts Center Stage. Located in the shaded quiet of the Cultural Arts Center courtyard, the stage will host live music, poets, storytellers, novelists and short story writers on Saturday and Sunday.
The New Patron Package
This year the Festival has merged tickets to its long-time Patron Party with its Friends of the Festival VIP Package to create the new Patron Package. The package includes a ticket to the Friday night Patron Party (presented by The Ohio State Ohio University), access to exclusive VIP hospitality areas, free water at beverage stations, a private cash bar, private air-conditioned restrooms and other amenities. Packages are priced at $135 per person; proceeds support the Arts Festival’s Artist Awards. For more details and to purchase the package, visit columbusartsfestival.org/visit/patron-package.
Keep up to date on your COVID shots!
Offered in partnership with Columbus Public Health and the Columbus Division of Fire, eligible Festival-goers can get their COVID vaccines and boosters at the booth located on Town Street near the Hands-On Activities Village. The vaccine clinic will also be host to a baby care and changing station.
Big Local Arts Village
In 2019 the Big Local Arts Tent transformed into the Big Local Arts Village, and this year it returns, with support from CoverMyMeds, to Rich Street between Washington and Starling at the Festival’s Franklinton entrance. More than 60 central Ohio artists will display and demonstrate their work, while the Big Local Music Stage underneath the railroad overpass on Rich Street will feature Columbus-based bands throughout the weekend. Learn more about the hands-on activities at the Festival here: columbusartsfestival.org/press-room/hands-on-activities-demonstrations-and-more-interactive-fun-at-the-2022-columbus-arts-festival/.
Shadowbox Live and We Were Promised Jetpacks in Bicentennial Park
The ABC6 Bicentennial Park Stage will feature free headlining performances throughout the weekend. On Friday, June 10 at 8:30 p.m., the Festival welcomes Shadowbox Live to perform Flower Power: The Music and The Movement, a tribute to the musical stylings and cultural movements of the 1960s and 1970s. On Saturday, June 11 at 9 p.m., the stage hosts Edinburgh, Scotland indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks. Opening for We Were Promised Jetpacks is nationally touring Weakened Friends at 5 p.m., followed by Columbus favorite Mistar Anderson at 6:45 p.m. The evening performances are sponsored by Huntington National Bank and the Worthington Industries Foundation. To see the full performance schedules, visit columbusartsfestival.org/visit/performance-schedule/.
Keep up with more Festival updates and announcements at columbusartsfestival.org.
Festival Hours: Friday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note: on Friday and Saturday artist booths close at 9 p.m.; artists have the option to stay open later.). For more information on the Columbus Arts Festival, call (614) 221-8625 or visit columbusartsfestival.org.
