13 fall festivals and fairs you won't want to miss, including Coffee Festival and more
Festivals may not be as plentiful in fall as in summer, but the weather is bound to be cooler, and festival enthusiasts will find inviting events to enjoy in Greater Columbus on weekends through the end of October.
Those looking for liquid refreshments can partake at the North Market Wine Fest at Bridge Park, BrewDog's Craft Beer and More Festival, the Creekside Hops and Vines Fest or the Pickerington Oktoberfest.
Prefer caffeine? The Columbus Coffee Festival will also be returning this year.
Foodies can head to the Circleville Pumpkin Show, the Columbus Mac and Cheese Festival, the Italian Festival or the Serbian Festival — or really, any of the festivals.
For information on these events and more, read on.
Serbian Festival
When: 5 p.m to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: St. Stevan of Dechani Serbian Orthodox Church, 1840 N. Cassady Ave.
Details: Enjoy live music and dancing along with delicious food and beverages. The church will be serving classic Serbian main and side dishes, including fire-roasted lamb, grilled sausages, homemade burek, salads and an array of pastries. Live music will accompany sing-alongs and dancing, church tours will be offered on Saturday, and the bookstore will be open with gifts, books and icons.
Admission: $5, or free for 17 and younger
Information: ststevanofdechani.org/
North Market Wine Fest at Bridge Park
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: North Market Bridge Park, 6750 Longshore St., Dublin
Details: More than two dozen wineries, distributors and importers will be offering samples of wine. Paying guests receive a souvenir glass, 10 tickets for samples and a $10 gift card for food from the North Market.
Admission: $40 for both days in advance, $45 at the door. Free for designated drivers. For those 21 and older only.
Information: northmarket.org
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Ohiolina Music Festival
When: 2 to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Infirmary Mound Park, 4351 Lancaster Road, Granville
Details: Enjoy three days of bluegrass and roots music, including headliners the Tillers, the Hogslop String Band and the Po' Ramblin Boys, along with music workshops and children's activities. Food trucks will be on-site.
Admission: $30 for Friday and Saturday, $20 for Sunday, free for kids 12 and younger. Weekend and camping rates also available.
Information: www.ohiolina.com
BrewDog Annual General Mayhem
When: 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday
Where: BrewDog, 96 Gender Road, Canal Winchester
Details: Enjoy free non-alcoholic beer, buy tokens to partake of your choice of more than 100 alcoholic beers, listen to music including Alkaline Trio and Foxy Shazam, shop at Not Your Mama's Craft Fair, sample food from food trucks and watch evening fireworks.
Admission: $39.99 for 21 and older, $20 for ages 10 to 20, free for kids younger than 10
Information: www.brewdog.com
Creekside Hops and Vines Fest
When: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday
Where: Creekside Plaza, 121 Mill St., Gahanna
Details: Sample craft beers from Ohio, wine from Ohio and other United States wineries and spirits from Ohio distilleries at this fundraiser for Gahanna Parks and Recreation programs and scholarships. Guests will receive 16 tasting tickets and complimentary food from local restaurants. Local musicians will be playing.
Admission: $60 to $65 in advance, $70 at the door, $35 for designated drivers
Information: gahannaprf.org
Pickerington Oktoberfest
When: 3 to 10 p.m. Sept. 23; noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 24; beer run at 10 a.m. Sept. 24
Where: Combustion Brewery Parking Lot, 80 W. Church St., Pickerington
Details: Participate in traditional games such as a stein-holding contest or barrel rolling, take part in a beer run (which involves drinking a beer and running a quarter-mile and then repeating three more times), or just relax and savor a beverage or food from trucks including Schmidt's Sausage Haus and Poppy's Roadside Diner while listening to music by the likes of the Polka Pirates and the Largemouth Brass Band. Minors are welcome but must be accompanied by adults.
Admission: free
Information: www.pickeringtonvillage.com
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Festival for Good
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 24
Where: Grandview Avenue from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue, Grandview Heights
Details: The annual festival celebrating “social enterprise” around the Greater Columbus area partners this year with Grandview Hop for an evening of education about local businesses dedicated to doing good in the community. Kids can enjoy a scavenger hunt and parachute games, while adults explore pop-up shops and food trucks.
Admission: free
Information: www.festivalforgood.org
Columbus Coffee Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 24 and 25. Timed entry, advance ticket purchase recommended.
Where: Ohio Village at the Ohio History Connection, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue
Details: Wander through Ohio Village while sampling as many 3- to 4-ounce doses of coffee as you'd like. More than two dozen local and regional roasters and vendors will be on hand. Take a break from caffeinating to listen to music or sample food from a couple dozen food vendors.
Admission: Starts at $20
Information: www.columbuscoffeefest.com
Columbus Italian Festival
When: 5 to 11 p.m. Oct. 7; noon to 11 p.m. Oct. 8; noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 9
Where: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 720 Hamlet St.
Parking: free parking and shuttle at Columbus State Community College, corner of Cleveland Avenue and Long Street
Details: Traditional and contemporary music will be playing on two stages, including a Frankie Valli tribute and the Rick Brunetto Big Band, and traditional food and desserts will be available all weekend. Guests can take part in a bocce ball tournament, enjoy carnival rides and on Oct. 9, watch the traditional parade and marching band competition.
Admission: $10 per day, or $15 for the weekend; free for kids younger than 12 with accompanying adult
Information: www.columbusitalianfestival.com
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Columbus Mac and Cheese Festival
When: 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 7
Where: The Yard at Easton Town Center, 160 Easton Town Center
Details: This fundraiser for the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute offers samples of mac and cheese from local restaurants as well as kids' activities and a raffle.
Admission: $30 for 13 and older, $10 for kids 3 to 12
Information: cbusmacandcheese.ticketbud.com/2022
Fairfield County Fair
When: Oct. 9 to 15; gates open at noon Oct. 9, and 7 a.m. Oct. 10 to 15
Where: Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster
Details: The final Ohio county fair of the year features a full slate of activities, including harness racing, junior animal shows, mule races, truck and tractor pulls, a Bon Jovi tribute band, high school band performances, demolition derbies and more. Carnival rides and multiple food booths will be on hand.
Admission: $7 for ages 10 and older, free for those younger than 10
Information: www.fairfieldcountyfair.org
Circleville Pumpkin Show
When: Oct. 19-22
Where: Downtown Circleville
Details: Besides a multitude of pumpkin goodies, guests can enjoy several parades, giant pumpkin-carving demonstrations, pumpkin pie-eating contests, rides and games and much more.
Admission: free
Information: www.pumpkinshow.com
HighBall Halloween
When: 2 to 11 p.m. Oct. 22
Where: Goodale and Park streets
Details: The celebration of creative costumes returns to an outdoor setting for the first time since 2019, this time with an afternoon component in which children and pets are welcome and can compete in their own costume contests.
Admission: $15 before Oct. 14, or $40 for two adults plus children
Information: highballcolumbus.org
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fall festivals feature music, wine, coffee, Halloween fun, more
