COLUMBUS – The unofficial Scioto Riverfront “festival season” gets underway this weekend with the Columbus Arts Festival, traditionally the first major downtown festival as well as one of the largest.
More than 450,000 people will crowd the downtown streets from W. Broad Street to Main Street on both sides of the river for three days, strolling along and looking at the works of 260 artists in 15 different disciplines, including: painting, glass, clay, sculpture and photography to name a few.
Columbus Arts Festival
Friday (11 a.m-10:30 p.m.*Artists booths close at 8 p.m.) Saturday (10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.) Sunday (10 a.m-5 p.m.)
This year’s festival includes a few new attractions and changes to some old ones.
A giant frame has been set up on the west side of the Scioto River near the intersection of the Rich Street bridge and Washington Avenue (left) where festival-goers can stand and take a selfie with the Columbus skyline.
The Big Local Art Tent has been transformed into the Big Local Art Village and moved to Rich Street between Washington and Starling. Local artists and arts organizations will put on doing live demonstrations in chain maille and wire art Japanese calligraphy, woodturning, wand-making, leathercrafting, clay throwing and blacksmithing. The tent also features make-and-take projects and art for sale.
The Virtual Realty Tent presented by White Castle allows visitors can engage in virtual and augmented reality experiences as well as the latest in high-tech games with presentations.
The Hands-On Activities Village in Dorrian Green returns to the west side of COSI.
MORPC is hosting the Riverfest Saturday and Sunday. Kayaks and canoes will be launching on the east side of the river, just north of the Main Street bridge.