Join us at the downtown riverfront in the Scioto Mile!
June 7, 8 & 9, 2024
11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
General Info
The Columbus Arts Festival has grown into one of the most highly acclaimed arts festivals in the nation!
We will be featuring over 250 visual artists, four stages of performances and dozens of food vendors. Produced by staff with the help of over 90 year-round volunteers and hundreds of weekend volunteers, the Columbus Arts Festival attracts the nation’s top artists as well as art enthusiasts from all over the country. However, the event remains FREE as always to attend, thanks to your donations, space fees and the Festival’s many generous sponsors!
COTA
COTA will be running all weekend with stops along High and Front Street throughout downtown. Pick your route at https://ride.cota.com/#/ and come on down!
Ride Share Drop Off
We recommend providing either the COSI address, 333 W. Broad St. 43215, or The Junto, 77 E. Belle St., 43215 for drop off/pick up. Both of these locations provide multiple points of access to the Festival (see our map here!).
Parking
Parking around Columbus’ Scioto Mile is PLENTIFUL! There are numerous parking structures, metered spaces on surrounding city streets and surface lots on both the east and west side of the River.
Street Parking: The city of Columbus uses mobile and kiosk parking. When you park you can pay at the nearest kiosk or with your mobile device by either downloading the ParkColumbus app, texting “park” to 77223 or scanning a QR code, found on signage throughout downtown, to pay online.
The ParkColumbus/Park Mobile app provides two easy ways to park: If you would like to reserve a space in a garage during the Festival, click the reserve button at the bottom of your app and then select the Arts Festival as an event to see what garages are available and their cost. If you choose street parking the app will show you available zones and can send you text notifications when your meter is running out. Please note that temporary no parking signs must be obeyed even if the app shows the zone as available.
Garage parking: There are additional garages downtown that may not show on the ParkColumbus app. Please note that parking garage rates change from day to day and often go up significantly during large events.
The closest garages on the east side of the river are the Columbus Commons, RiverSouth at Front and Rich, and the LeVeque Tower Garage at Broad and Front. On the west side you can park in the River & Rich garage off McDowell Street, the Gravity Garage on McDowell south of Broad Street and the Starling Garage at Starling and State streets.
Bike Parking: Columbus Bike Valet, courtesy of Franklinton Cycle Works, will be providing bike corral services at the Columbus Arts Festival. The bike corral is located at the corner of Rich Street and Civic Center Drive near the Scioto Mile trails. The bike racks will be set up so bikers can self-park. While an attendant will be onsite at various times throughout the weekend, bikers are encouraged to secure their bikes and park at their own risk.
Parking for People with Disabilities: Unfortunately, there is no map of accessible spaces or way to reserve an ADA space in a garage. If feasible, you may want to consider using the ride share drop off location for people with mobility concerns. Additionally, ADA spaces on the street are still marked and parking garages also provide ADA spaces on a first come, first served basis.
Parking Tip: If you are able to walk a few blocks, street, surface lot and garage parking is generally less expensive farther out from the Festival. Use the ParkColumbus app to find options.
Electric Scooters (Lime, Bird or Spin)
Electric scooters will enforce geofencing, a zone detection technology that rapidly informs riders of safety information concerning their geographical location. Riders will see a “no scooter zone” that encompasses the footprint surrounding the downtown Riverfront during the times of the Festival. The scooter will safely stop, and locking will be disabled. Riders must walk the scooter out of this zone prior to walking into Festival grounds.
The Columbus Arts Festival is a great place for people but not for pets. Heat and crowded conditions make the Arts Festival a stressful and potentially unhealthy place for animal companions. We love pets too, and that’s why we ask that you please leave yours at home.
Everyone is welcome to take photos while they are at the Columbus Arts Festival, and we love seeing them on social media. Please, before taking photos of an artist’s booth, make sure that you have permission from the artist and look for any “no photos” signage. If a patron asks that you not take their photo (or a photo of their child) please be respectful and do not take their photo. The Festival hires professional photographers to take photos for marketing purposes. These photographers will have visible credentials on them.
Learn about this year’s Arts Festival offerings on the go! Download the Columbus Arts Festival App through the iTunes Store or Google Play Store and find information on the 2024 Guidebook here.
Please consider our fantastic hotel partners during your stay with us for
the 2024 Columbus Arts Festival.
Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown – Capitol Square
https://www.hicolumbusdowntown.com/
Situated in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, this hotel’s location is close to everything! The Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown-Capitol Square not only provides an excellent location but also wonderful features like on-site gated parking for a $12 nightly fee.
Booking Link: Columbus Arts Festival 2024 Booking Code: CAF
Hotel LeVeque
https://www.hotellevequecolumbus.com/
Discover the sophisticated luxury of Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection. Housed inside the LeVeque Tower in the heart of downtown Columbus, this pet-friendly hotel effortlessly blends historic and contemporary designs and adds a bold silhouette to the city skyline.
Click here to book online at the reduced group rate, starting at $159. Guests may also call Marriott reservations directly at 1-877-688-3696 and reference the Columbus Arts Festival block. The discounted group rate is available until Monday, May 6th, subject to availability.
The Junto
The Junto is an independent lifestyle hotel and modern-day club for mutual improvement.
Sonesta Columbus Downtown
https://www.sonesta.com/columbusdowntown
Our Sonesta Columbus, at just $149 per night, is minutes from the airport and centrally located Downtown! With beautifully refreshed and newly renovated spaces, sleek social lounges, and tasteful modern guest rooms, suites, and Lofts, Sonesta Columbus Downtown exudes Midwest warmth and elegance at every turn.
Don’t forget our Vine + Forge, a sleek restaurant and lounge featuring modern decor, floor-to-ceiling natural light, and elevated cuisine – open daily from 7am to 1am!
Columbus Arts Festival GUESTROOM LINK
Guests can also call 1-800-SONESTA and ask for the dates and group name Columbus Arts Festival to book a room.
South Wind Motel
Conveniently situated near Columbus’ trendy and walkable German Village and Brewery District neighborhoods, the South Wind Motel provides a uniquely local home base close to the city’s best restaurants, shops, and nightlife. With its iconic cedar wood and stone exterior showcasing mid-century modern design, the South Wind Motel’s 22 guest rooms exude retro charm and style. Inside, guests discover amenities like free WiFi, flat-screen smart TVs, mini-fridges, Chemex pour-over coffee makers, free parking, EV charging, and vintage-inspired décor for a cozy, memorable visit. With 10% off for Columbus Arts Festival artists and a free shuttle to the festival, the South Wind Motel is the perfect place to stay.
Artists and arts festival visitors can use the promo code “artsfestival2024” when booking through our website at southwindstay.com
The Westin Great Southern Columbus
A historic feel mixed with modern amenities awaits you at The Westin Great Southern Hotel in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Ideally situated near the German Village in a historic red brick building, our hotel offers a relaxing getaway in the heart of downtown. The newly renovated guest rooms with mini-refrigerator, HDTV, and Westin Heavenly Beds® offer a blend of timeless elegance and modern sophistication to help you eat, sleep, move, feel, work and play. Collaborate or celebrate in our gorgeous Grand Ballroom, consistently acclaimed as the premier event venue in Columbus. Hit your stride in the state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio. The all-new Bar Cicchetti will fuel your days and enliven your evenings with signature cuisine and vibrant ambiance. Whatever brings you to the area, our hotel in downtown Columbus is the perfect home for your travels.
Something fun for the whole family! Click here to discover what our Kids Hands-On Activities Village has to offer.
Great food is one of the highlights of the Columbus Arts Festival, from tasty barbecue to lobster tacos to buckets of chocolate chip cookies. Click here to find a tasty treat for you and your family!