Columbus' Family Friendly Festivals

Katie G.:  Visit The Dawes Arboretum to celebrate nature at the Arbor Day Festival. The event is sure to be fun for the whole family with hands-on activities, crafts, tree climbing, educational displays, entertainment, and more.

Cost: $5 per car for non-members

Katie G.:  The Strawberry Festival has become a tradition for the folks of Newark and the surrounding areas. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Newark, the festival provides families with rides, games, crafts, entertainment, and of course, food. Many of the festival food items are strawberry themed, including the strawberry shortcake topped with local Velvet ice cream.

Kelly R:  This annual event is part music festival, part camping trip, set in Ohio's beautiful Hocking Hills. The music lineup features a modern twist on Bluegrass, Americana, Folk, Roots, and Rock music, and the festival has a simple, respectful, and fun vibe. There are a variety of camping areas, with a conveniently-located family friendly area with limited noise after the music stops.

Katie G.:  What better way to kick off the start of summer and festival season than with the Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival. Held every year over Memorial Day weekend, the Ice Cream Festival takes place on the grounds of the Velvet Ice Cream company in Utica, just an hour southwest of Columbus. This festival offers fun for the whole family with contests for kids, pony rides, local arts and crafts (some ice cream themed), a classic car show and or course ice cream! Outside Velvet Ice Cream there is a small farm with animals for kids to pet and a playground.

Kelly R:  Lancaster Festival is a multi day celebration of music and the arts. Festivities include an ArtWalk, and Festival Fair Day with kid-friendly performances, COSI science spots, noise parades, and more. Don't miss the grand finale performance from Martina McBride with fireworks to follow.

Katie G.:  Nationwide Children's Hospital will be hosting a day of family fun. There will be hayrides, live entertainment, rides, bounce houses, face painting, balloon artists, crafts, games and more. All proceeds will benefit the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Nationwide Children's.

Kelly R:  The annual Lexington Blueberry Festival features a wide variety of fun for the whole family: Miss Blueberry Pageants, parades, kids' games and crafts, a blueberry bash, treasure hunt, rides, a variety of food vendors, a 5K run/walk, live entertainment, a car/bike show, volleyball tournaments, a Big Wheel race for all ages, and Saturday night fireworks.

Katie G.:  The Picktown Palooza is a community event celebrating the city of Pickerington. There is plenty of fun and entertainment in store for families throughout the four-day event. The festival includes carnival rides, a car & bike show, food vendors, entertainment and a fun kids corner.

Kelly R:  

Learn more about the importance of honey bees and enjoy what they have to offer at the unique Lithopolis Honeyfest. There are live music performances, demonstrations, a glass-walled observation hive, a food court with honey-made food, and an array of honey and honey products. Check out the honey bake-off, meet this year's American Honey Princess, and chat with local Ohio beekeepers. Adults can enjoy mead tastings and honey-brewed beer. For kids, there is a Busy Beehive crafting area, and they won't want to miss seeing a honey bee beard!

Brigitte Nohra Miller:  This family friendly summer street celebration located at the historic downtown of Canal Winchester is full of live performances for blues music fans! Enjoy the music and have a taste of world-class ribs and make the most of your outdoor summer nights with the family. The kids will have lots of activities to keep them busy, and a wide variety of other food is available as well. They have limited seating so be sure to bring your own chairs!

Katie G.:  Reynoldsburg, known as the birthplace of the commercial tomato, celebrates its heritage with the annual Tomato Festival. The festival includes all things tomatoes - displays, contests, concessions, arts & crafts, entertainment and children's activities.

Katie G.:  The Circleville Pumpkin Show is one of the premier festivals in central Ohio. This fall festival celebrates all things pumpkin. There are two parades held each day, several arts and craft vendors, amusement rides, music entertainment, huge pumpkin displays, Pumpkin Show beauty pageants and lots of food! Several food vendors serve pumpkin theme selections such as pumpkin pizza, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin burgers, pumpkin chili, pumpkin ice cream and of course, pumpkin pie. This festival gets crowded so be sure to get there early!

Kelly R:  Gahanna's annual signature festival offers 3 days of live blues and jazz music on multiple stages, great food and tasting events, and regional vendors. The Family Fun Zone and includes free crafts, activities, games, inflatables, and hands-on musical experiences. Amusement rides are available with wristband purchase.

Katie G.:  Celebrate the end of summer at the Sunbury Sizzle & Sounds Food & Music Festival. This family-friendly, one-day festival is filled with food, crafts and music vendors and lots of entertainment. The Kid Zone has free activities for all ages including a petting zoo, giant slide, small carnival rides, bull riding and more.

Katie G.:  The city of Galena hosts its annual Summerfest in downtown Galena as a way to celebrate history, support local businesses and promote the community. The Summerfest draws over 10,000 visitors with over 70 food, business, arts and non-profit vendors, as well as live music and entertainment. The Kids Zone includes bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, caricature drawings and pony rides.