Columbus Arts Festival Invites Art Fans of All Kinds To The Downtown Riverfront
June 7-10

Art Fans, join the Greater Columbus Arts Council at the 46th annual Columbus Arts Festival presented by Chase June 7-10 along the downtown riverfront.

This year's Festival, recognized as one of the best in the nation, will feature 270 accomplished artists from across the country, Canada and Israel; a variety of musical performances; and the return of the Ohio Magazine Poetry Corner, where spoken word performers will share their talents.

Begun in 1962 as the "Downtown Festival of the Arts" on the Ohio Statehouse lawn, the Columbus Arts Festival showcases the best visual arts, music, poetry and local food for four days each summer to a crowd of between 250,000 and 500,000 each year. Strolling musicians and entertainers and a relaxed, gallery-like setting provide the perfect ambiance for browsing and buying the best selection of art.

This year's festival attracted over 1,200 artist applicants from across the country for 270 spots.

"Artists recognize the Columbus Arts Festival as one of the premier events in the country," said Katie Lucas, Festival Director. "And for 46 years, Columbus residents and visitors have made our Festival the city's favorite summer event. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and sponsors, the Festival continues to be a success."

Festival visitors can even create their own art to take home through hands-on activities in the Adult Art Activity and Giant Eagle Children's Art Activity areas. All activities and performances are free and open to the public.

Plus, the Columbus Arts Festival is easy to find. Columbus' downtown offers cheap, accessible meter parking, dozens of above ground lots, and parking garages close by – all inexpensive and within walking distance of the Festival. Wheelchair-accessible parking is available on the north side of Rich Street between Ludlow and Front streets, and on the Town Street Bridge. Wheelchairs are available for use by the public at the information/volunteer tent on Town Street just east of Civic Center Drive. COTA will operate regularly scheduled bus service during each day of the Festival.

This year's Festival sponsors are Chase, Time Warner Cable, NBC 4, Ohio Magazine, Giant Eagle, Salon Schools Group, SWACO and Bud Light. Additionally, the Columbus Arts Festival would like to thank the following: The Westin Great Southern Hotel, Design Communications, The Other Paper, Sunny 95 (94.7 FM), 104.9 The River, CD101, 93.3 FM, WOSU Public Media, 610 WTVN, Talk 1230, 103.9 WTDA, WMNI AM 920 and Smooth Jazz 103.5 & 104.3.