What’s New at the 2023 Columbus Arts Festival?

COLUMBUS, Ohio — 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 (GCAC). Here are some of the adventures in store for the nearly 500,000 guests coming to the 2023 festival, June 9-11:

Headliners on the Genoa Park Main Stage

Due to construction in Bicentennial Park, the Festival’s main stage moves to Genoa Park. With the city skyline offering a beautiful backdrop, the Genoa Park Main Stage will feature music, dance and theater throughout the weekend. On Friday, June 9 the stage hosts runway show Fashion As Art featuring Columbus-area fashion designers followed by Columbus’ neo funk favorite MojoFlo. On Saturday, June 10, the Festival welcomes local power pop group Ghost Shirt opening for Chicago-based indie rock trio Dehd. Main stage performances are supported by Huntington. To see the full performance schedules, visit columbusartsfestival.org/visit/performance-schedule/.

Fashion at the Fest

On Friday, June 9 at 8 p.m., the Genoa Park Main Stage hosts Fashion As Art, a runway show featuring four Columbus-based designers whose fashion intentionally intersects with art. Designers Tracy Powell, Crystal Zhang, Casey Immel-Brown and Celeste Malvar-Stewart will showcase eight looks each on the runway, accompanied by DJ Pastel. Learn more at columbusartsfestival.org/press-room/columbus-arts-festival-to-present-fashion-as-art-runway-show-on-genoa-park-main-stage.

Scribble Mini Mural Festival

Columbus’ live painting mural festival, Scrawl, will bring a mini version called “Scribble” to the Columbus Arts Festival, sponsored by Deloitte. Throughout the Festival weekend, 12 Columbus-area artists will create murals along the fences surrounding Bicentennial Park on the east side of the river. Featured artists include Andy Clarkson, Bridgette Barnes, Dane Khy, Evelyn McBride, Elizabeth Miller, Jennifer Morley, Danny Painter, Sarah Schlup, Andy Smith, Jay Snyder, Technocolor Art and WXVVY. Learn more about Scribble here: franklintonartsdistrict.com/scribble.html.

Teen Art Gallery

The popular Children’s Gallery, and located near the Kids Hands-On Activities Village, allows kids ages 12 and younger to play art collector in the Children’s Gallery! Exhibiting festival artists donate pieces priced at $5 and under. New this year is a Teen Art Gallery geared toward collectors aged 13-17. Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Largest Emerging Festival Artist Class

Created in 2011, the Emerging Festival Artist program is for artists who have limited or no experience exhibiting at national festivals. Artists must be residents of Franklin or the surrounding counties. The 2023 Columbus Arts Festival will feature the largest Emerging Festival Artist class to date, with 18 central Ohio artists showcasing their work. The Emerging Festival Artist program is supported by the Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust.

Boozy Slushies from High Bank Distillery

This year the Festival has partnered with Columbus’ High Bank Distillery to feature a trio of boozy slushies crafted with their award-winning spirits. Available at three beverage booths at the Festival, High Bank’s Signature Slushies include a Cranberry Lime Cosmo, Whiskey Vanilla Root Beer and a Whiskey Bramble.

Rhinegeist Brews “Sketch” Just for the Festival

In addition to a beer garden with shaded seating and fun group games, Rhinegeist brewed a hoppy wheat ale named “Sketch” especially for the Columbus Arts Festival. Sketch will be available at the beer garden and select beverage booths at the Festival. Guests eager to try it will also find it at select locations where Rhinegeist is on tap in Columbus.

Patron Party at The Junto

Held the opening night of the Festival and sponsored by J.P. Morgan Chase, the Patron Party moves to an updated location this year: The Junto, a newly completed independent lifestyle hotel on the Scioto Peninsula (77 Belle St.). Guests who have purchased the Patron Package are invited for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live performances on Friday, June 9 from 5:30-8 p.m. Patron Packages are available for purchase here: columbusartsfestival.org/visit/patron-package.

Keep up with more Festival updates and announcements at columbusartsfestival.org.

Festival Hours: Friday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note: on Friday and Saturday artists have the option to close at 9 p.m.)

To volunteer at the Columbus Arts Festival, please go to columbusartsfestival.org/engage/volunteer/.

For more information on the Columbus Arts Festival, call (614) 221-8625 or visit columbusartsfestival.org.

Download the Columbus Arts Festival app through the Apple app store or Google Play at guidebook.com/app/cafg/.

For a selection of high-res images, visit the Festival’s press media page.

The Columbus Arts Festival is produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

The 2023 Columbus Arts Festival is presented by the American Electric Power Foundation. Additional sponsors and partners include Art for Life, Bank of America, Bath & Body Works, Battelle, Cardinal Health, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, COSI, Deloitte, Encova, Graeter’s, High Bank Distillery, Holiday Inn Downtown, Hotel LeVeque, Huntington, IGS Energy, JP Morgan Chase, The Junto, King Business Interiors, ML Concessions, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, OSA Technology Partners, Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust, Pepsi, Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center, Rhinegeist, Toyota, The Westin Great Southern Columbus, White Castle and Whole World Lemonade. Media sponsors include ABC6/FOX28, CD92.9, Dispatch Media Group, Lamar Outdoor, Ohio Magazine, Orange Barrel Media, RSVP, WCBE, WOSU Public Media and WSNY/Mix 107.9.

Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org

The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the city of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, Ohio Arts Council and The Ohio State University. There are no funds from the city of Columbus, Franklin County or Ohio Arts Council used to support the production of the Columbus Arts Festival.

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