13 August festivals you have to attend
Flip the calendar, it’s August! Here are all the local festivals you need to attend this month.
8.2 Dublin Irish Fest | Dublin | $15
Erin Go Bragh! If you didn’t get enough believing that Irish is an attitude, beer drinking, and yelling random Celtic phrases during St. Patrick’s Day, you’ve got another chance this weekend at the Dublin Irish Festival. This 32-year-old festival hosts over 60 acts for visitors locally, nationally, and even internationally each year.
8.10—Columbus Fiery Food Festival | Columbus Commons | $15-$30
This August, the festival game will be turned up a few notches at the Columbus Fiery Foods Festival. Here you can try all kinds of spicy treats from around the world with vendors like The Spicy Shark, Elijah’s Xtreme Hot Sauce, and SH’ That’s Hot.
8.10—Frontstage Fest | Big Room Bar | $12
It’s a party in the parking lot! Stop by Big Room Bar to hear the sounds of a variety of local acts including Ghost Soul Trio, label me lecter, and Girl Fox. This one-day music festival will run all of Saturday with food trucks and booze providing you fuel to get through it all.
8.10-11—Festival Latino | Genoa Park | Free
Celebrating all things Latino in Columbus since 1996, Festival Latino is the perfect way to experience culture in our city. The two- day, free-to-attend event will bring in a variety of Latino musicians and groups like La Reunion Norteña on Saturday and Los Rabanes on Sunday. And of course, you can get your fill of all the Latin-American cuisine you can handle from one of the many vendors at Genoa Park for the weekend.
8.16-19—Italian Heritage Summer Festival Coffman Park | Free
Just a week after Downtown celebrates Festival Latino, Dublin will be celebrating The Italian Heritage Summer Festival at Coffman Park. This three-day festival will boast all things Italian from families to music to food.
8.17—The Ohio Eggfest | Grandview Yard | $25
They might be small, but boy are they mighty. Dome-shaped barbeques have been dubbed egg grills and this festival is bringing these out in a big way. Your $25 ticket includes food from all of the participating cooks as well as non-alcoholic drinks. Additionally, all proceeds of egg grill sales as well as beverage and ticket sales will be donated to The James for cancer research.
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8.17—Wonderbus Music and Arts Festival | The Lawn At CAS | $20-$400
Stepping into Ohio as one of the newer festivals this season is Wonderbus Music And Arts Festival. This two-day event will showcase alternative, indie-pop, jazz-funk, and jam rock bands such as Walk The Moon, The Revivalists, and Chelsea Cutler. Whether you go with a general admission pass or ball out on the VIP passes, this weekend is for the music lovers.
8.17-18—Columbus Food Truck Festival | Bicentennial Park | Free
If every festival features food trucks of some kind, it’s only right we have a general festival of just food trucks, right? Come one, come all to the Columbus Food Truck Festival where you’ll have options galore to satisfy your indulgences, dietary restrictions, and anything else you’re looking for. We recommend trying something new this year, but let’s be honest, all roads lead back to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams on a hot summer day.
8.17—Crestfest | Crestview and Tulane Roads | Free
Festivals are always great chances to get the little ones playing outdoors and CrestFest might be your kid’s new favorite festival. Here they can play in inflatable areas, check out the skate park, or work on some arts-and-crafts. Meanwhile mom and dad can enjoy the local music and sip on a few adult beverages. Don’t even worry, mom and dad, we know what you’re after in an evening.
8.23-24—Breakaway Music Festival | Mapfre Stadium | $45-$85
The Columbus Crew will have to share Mapfre this August as Prime Social Group’s Breakaway Music Festival is returning to the city. Find out more about Breakaway Fest and PSG on the next page!
8.24—Columbus Summer Beerfest | Express LIVE! | $20-$65
Whether you prefer the hoppy IPAs or the heavy stouts, Columbus Summer Beerfest is sure to please your palate. This event is always loaded with breweries from Ohio, and beyond giving beer fans the opportunity to explore lesser-known brews, or simply enjoy their favorite pints. Grab your tickets, and more importantly, bring a DD.
8.30-9.2—Columbus Greek Festival | The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral | $5
The cultural celebrations keep coming in August and we round out the month with Columbus Greek Festival. Here you’ll find delicious Greek food like gyros or lamb chops as well as live entertainment, tours of the Cathedral, and a bit of a history lesson on the Greek traditions. Your $5 ticket grants entry for the entire weekend, and children younger than 12 get in for free!
8.31-10.27—Ohio Renaissance Festival | Waynesville, Ohio | $19
Come forth all ye proud jesters and commonfolk as we step back into the past at the Ohio Renaissance Festival, where you can munch on a giant turkey leg and watch a live jousting match. With a medieval marketplace suited for a king and events that bring a smile to the queen’s face, going back to a time without wifi or iPhones has never sounded so great.
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