With the festival taking place at Goodale Park, it's pretty much in my backyard and impossible for me to avoid. Last year I was out of town but, this year I made sure to give it a visit. The weather was sunny and hot all weekend but the spirit of Comfest rang true. Food, drink, music, art, local businesses, and good people having a damn good time. What's not to love? I spent most of my time lounging under a tree with friends on patched together sheets and blankets. That was definitely the best part, just passing time with good friends. Yes, we saw naked folks and the smell of weed was rather consistent, but this is the perfect atmosphere to just let go and not worry about everyone else. Just do you! When it came to the food, I enjoyed pizza from Late Night Slice, fries from one of the fair food stands, and hummus and falalel from Lavash. There were so many choices it was hard to settle. I also saw ice cream, baked goods, funnel cakes, etc. A good mixture of local restaurants and fair food stands. There was a little something for everybody. On top of all that, I also loved seeing how clean the park was kept and how much programming there was for the kiddos. Living in the neighborhood, it's nice to see that its taking care of and family friendly. Pro tip - make sure you find safe parking. I saw way too many cars getting towed in front of my house for silly things like parking in front of a fire hydrant or handicap ramps. read more

This year was my first time going to ComFest and I had a great time! It's perfect for families and all ages. There were tons of food trucks, vendors, and bathrooms. I loved the live music and everyone was there to have a good time. It's a good group of people that go and tend to all have similar interests. Definitely will be back next year! read more

Another great year for Comfest! Lots of sun and no rain! Lots of bands and vendors to choose from! Loads of food to choose from from anyone's appetite. Parking could be a challenge so plan to walk a bit. read more

Comfest - Nice tan - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great festival to go to if you're a hippie and you're into free love. You get to hear some good local music and have some good local eats. Make sure you come early so you can find some parking because there is no parking available you have to park on the street or pay to park somewhere so be prepared to spend about an hour to find parking. Make sure to bring some extra money with you to explore the local crafts that are on display and available for purchase. You can bring a blanket so you can sit down for a while and enjoy as many bands as you want in a row or bring your stroller if you have children it's all allowed. read more

Comfest - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

When I go to Comfest, I have flashbacks to the South Park episode where all the hippies take over town during the Hippie Jam Fest... well, this isn't quite that extreme, but it has it's moments. I quite embrace this festival for what it stands (peace, love, and justice) AND for the weekend full of contunuous live music. I love live music, so this is the perfect opportunity to experience the array of awesome (and not-so-awesome) musicians central Ohio has to offer--- and for FREE. You pay out the wazoo for parking and beer, but if you don't drink, you're in luck... but, it's safe to say most people who attend Comfest DO drink (or are anesthetized by other substances). It's peaceful. Loving. Mellow. And often very stinky (think B.O.)... and don't even get me started on the port-o-johns... With that said, I don my earthiest outfi, pack up my wooly blanket and cooler of drinks and head over to Goodale Park. I am patient with parking, which is helpful as we like to attend during peak times, when it is near impossible to find easy parking in Victorian Village. I don't mind walking either and usually end up parking in Harrison West or near campus. The people-watching alone makes it worth the trek! Community Festival (hence Comfest) is first and foremost a platform for the organization to spout off about social and political issues- but this is done against the backdrop of a free music festival. Most folks just come for the music, which is contunuous on a number of stages throughout Goodale Park.... but despite being free, I usually spend a ton of money parking, eating and drinking, but it is totally worth it. Money goes to good social causes, like local homeless shelters. If my drunkeness can help a fellow in need, all the better! The musicians also volunteer their time and music, playing for free. This is a Columbus festival to the core. Love or or hate it, you can't help but appreciate its uniqueness. Despite my poking fun and generalizing, I love Comfest! Can't wait for it to come around again! I went twice this year. It was a great to ring in the weekend, watching The Randy's play a happy hour show on the Gazebo stage. It was even better to end the weekend at the jazz stage Sunday night. A torrential downpour Sunday afternoon did not deter the faithful. If anything, it lent to the "woodstock" mood. A word of advice: I'm not sure I'd bring my kids, but to each their own. I also want to note that some women tend to stroll around topless (many who have no business being without clothes!) but again, to each their own. In fact, last Comfest I saw a stoned, topless woman pulling her kid around in a red wagon... go figure. Aside from those minor critiques.... what you leave with is a good message and fabulous music! HAPPY COMFEST! read more

Comfest - Comfest, Goodale Park - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I found this festival to be overhyped. It's something to say you've been to in Columbus. It's got art, music, and other orgs tabling. For the most part, it's just about socializing. Grab some food and a drink to cool yourself down. I also saw a lot of people smoking. I'm guessing it's allowed for Com Fest? Since the secondhand smoking ban passed in Ohio a few years ago, I didn't expect to see that. Maybe they go easy on rules for Com Fest. I know people go topless or barefoot here but I definitely didn't see any of that, although a lady did tell us she saw one lady topless. It seems like a hippie type of experience. I also saw lots of high schoolers, families, and young adults. Goodale Park is pretty nice though. It's a nice space to hold a festival. It just sucked to find parking. We drove around for more than 30 minutes and settled at a parking garage in Short North. It was only a five minute walk from the park though. read more

Comfest 2022 was a blast, I'd only been one other time and loved it then, too. The biggest drawback is there's no wine (but it IS a BEER festival!). Goodale Park becomes packed and the surrounding area does, too, so if you can carpool or catch a bus, I recommend doing so because the streets are jam packed. There are plenty of awesome hippie-ish like vendors setting up booths. Get coins on the border of the park at the designated booths to purchase beer. The smell of weed hangs in the air. There are multiple concerts going on throughout the park. Different events are scheduled for different days so check if you're interested in anything specific. Or just bring a blanket and lay around in the park like me and my friends, admiring the chaos and fireflies (oops- lightning bugs!). read more

Short for Community Festival, Comfest has happened every summer since '72. Its purpose is to push ideas: for people over profit, the equality of all people, and that basic necessities of life are rights, not privileges. That's all well and good; but do we actually take those values from the fest and activate them in the rest of our lives? From a cynical prospective Comfest can seem like nothing more than a hippie St Pats Day; on a day in March we are Irish, in May we are Hispanic, October Zombies, and the last week in June we are Dead Heads, Hare Krishna peaceniks, and Hot Topic layered flower children. Just a dress up playtime before we toss off the psychedelic threads and return to our hyper-consumerist, my-me-mine, dog-eat-dog, rat race world. I hadn't been there since 2000, but circled it as a must do after I finally secured summer weekends off. I remembered my wild times in the '90s, when it still had an edge. I could employ the old canard "It's become popular, now it sucks," but I am not going to because I enjoyed my Sunday trip this year. Delightful art tents and venders, steaming food trucks, and a variety of music found in every corner energizes and gets you swaying. The people that pack the old park are the main entertainment, though it really is just the same old crowd you'd find at the fair, they just act different. There's the business man in flea marked scruffy finds, the pharmaceutical rep in floral dresses and suede vests, the dude-bros in a Rastafarian hats, mothers in loose puffy blouses and beads, the frat girls with fury boots, the geography teacher in tie-dyed tees, teenybopper and a number of babe in strollers all letting loose in the smog of rag weed and the constant bubbling water of bong. There is lots to do and see here. They close Park Street past Goodale and vendors and trucks run into the Arena District. The crowd can be huge, so it takes some skill to transverse it fluidly. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on--I forgot to do so and my friend and I had to sit on dirt (It's been awhile.) You can not bring your own beer anymore, so you have to buy it there; the choices sucked this year; Miller Light or Paps, or a $7 overpriced Columbus Brewery IPA where the choices. Bring cash. The ATM here do not value people over profit. For all the peace and love theme of the event it does cast a dark Jungian shadow. I did feel the subtext of conflict and aggression. It seems a rift is brewing between the city, careful of a park in it gentrified Short North jewel, the promoters, the acts, and the attendees. They had to tape off the area in front of the main stage due to the rains and the damage thereof. With a strangely place sound box blocking most peoples view of the stage many jumped the tape. You could feel the tension about that. The feeling I get is that Comfest at Goodale is not long for the world. I can see it being moved to the Ohio State Fairgrounds, or another less urban and less cool place in the future. That would be a shame. In a positive view maybe Comfest does influence people. My last stop was to view a poetry reading from a African inspired poetry troupe. With drums and swinging dancers the performance was divine and missed by almost everyone else, as only about 20 watched it. In front was a young girl who had more fun there than most of us do all year. Topless, and with out any self-consciousness she dove in the mud, hug, danced and took the free-spired nature of the event to its full level. It made me think, seeing her suck the marrow out of life in a manner I seldom had in the last few decades, how up-tight this society is. Too up-tight and anxious and bland beyond belief. I think I'll try to be more easy going and let loose a little more. Life is too short the to spend it as a square. read more

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First time, I came on a Friday night. Pretty much, weed is the norm, drunk bros are everywhere, lots of guys on guitars trying to play next to all main traffic areas. Yes, women get their boobs painted, and that's a "thing" that evidently is reserved for Comfest as an "empowerment" thing, despite it being legal year round. I guess Comfest makes it "extra special" since it was once a hippie festival - kind of like how Woodstock was once a hippie festival. Also, a few fights break out, randomly, and you'll see parents getting hammered while their baby in a stroller is screaming bloody murder at 10pm. So, you know, yay! Community! Also, "Legalize weed, love, labor" and they charged $5-6 for beer. It may not be "concert prices" considering the free music (with well-placed stages - the bands played concurrently, and you could get a good listen without the bands being on top of each other, aside from the bros playing next to the food lines). The vendors were... okay? It's not much different than the vendors that usually show up at "whatever"-fests that happen throughout the year. Basically, it used to mean something, I hear. Nowadays? It's "dude, look at that chick, she's topless!" followed by "you got any weed? I smoked my last jay..." and wondering if the little girl doing cartwheels in front of you was dropped off, lives nearby, or is secretly hoping someone adopts her for being so damn adorable at 10:30pm. So... yeah. Woo, Comfest. read more

I came to Comfest not knowing what the hell it is, and I left even more confused! But damn it was fun! Okay, so we had a pretty rainy day on Saturday of this year's Comfest. Right as my friends and I entered Goodale Park, we were greeted with topless ladies with drawn in flowers and some not-so-flattering imagery (except for Super Women, that was bomb!). Going further inside, you can see all the fun groups of people, half naked and dancing in the overcast sunlight. Bands playing ,cheap beer a flowing, and so many random vendors... Comfest was an overload of senses. After a good twenty minutes though, the real downpour came and everyone got soaked beyond belief. But the party lived on and the people danced on. Perhaps if it was sunnier, more human bits would have been popping out. Sad to say I didn't see anything hangin' from nobody, but there's always next time. I would go to Comfest just to satisfy your curiosity. It's not for everyone, but if you're in, you are in it for the long term. read more

I like festivals and Comfest is the best one in Columbus. It has often been said it's not as fun as it was. That is true because now everyone wants to be there and the assholes ruin it for the rest of us. It's free so you can't complain about it because you're not forced to buy anything. The music is not always good but it's nice background noise while passed out under a tree, and the vendors sell lots of cool local products. If you haven't been there you should know a few things. It's in Goodale Park, a really nice park any time of the year. There's lots of space to stretch out and watch bands or people. It gets crowded around the stages and on the streets. People walk so fucking slow. Another problem is getting there. It's better to not drive if you can. Busses go past the park. There's parking along several streets if you can walk. On Sundays the city has free parking at meters. The people in charge say you shouldn't bring pets. Attendees are like fuck that, and bring their dogs, pigs, and whatever anyway. It's not a good place for them. There are loud noises and many people so they go crazy. The beer process is kind of weird. First you buy tokens then you use them when you buy the beer. This means you have to wait in line twice. It also can be a long wait. The beer is also expensive. A 20 oz. of something is about $7. It also has other alcohol options like wine. A review of Comfest is not complete without talking about the boobs. Yes, there's a few topless chicks there and many of them shouldn't be. Many like the attention but some get offended if stared at. There's some you should ask before taking pictures. I think Comfest is good for the city of Columbus. It's a fun way to blow the weekend and to act like an idiot. There are lots of music and people to see and it's all free so get there. read more

Comfest - Some Band There - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I am becoming more and more of a barefoot free spirit. So when it comes to ComFest, I feel like these are my people - mostly, besides the ones who ONLY come for the beer and the painted boobies. It's not that beer and boobies aren't part of the charm of ComFest, but they shouldn't be your sole reason for going. The Community Festival started way back in 1972 and was the project of a group including the likes of Libby Gregory. The group was looking for a way to advocate issues like human and animal rights, and they understood the importance of community involvement when it came to solving problems. When the festival got too large, it moved off campus and to its current location in Goodale Park - the perfect place to have such a festival. ComFest has maintained much of the same spirit, but I can definitely see that it's being tainted by people who just don't get it. At least they're there, being exposed to the messages, even if they're not consciously absorbing the reason for the party. If you go, you'll find this is more of a holiday than a festival. People look forward to it all year, and on ground, you'll hear people telling each other 'Happy ComFest!' At ComFest, you'll find a healthy assortment of vendors selling everything from politically minded T-shirts to original artwork to Vegan burgers. The food is great, and the beer that's poured into iconic cups so large they can hold an entire bottle of wine is even better (minus the Pale Ale). But the real reasons to go to ComFest are for the music and the energy of the crowd. There are multiple stages in the park and simultaneous performances happening at each. The bands are pretty much all local. Some are really good, some are meh. They all go through a screening process, so it's not like you're going to see a band out there that's downright awful, maybe just not you're style. One of the stages features performing arts; it's a great place to find Anna and the Annadroids. The crowd is so laid back. I love seeing barefoot guys tossing a Frisbee around while a dread-locked group takes a nap under a shade tree and a couple of teenagers dangle their legs into the pond. I love all the dogs and the kids running around. I can usually spend the whole day there, as long as the festivities aren't cursed by the weather, which is typical. But even when it rains, even when it pours, people stick around. Parking can be tough if you don't beat the rush. I do feel awful for people who live around the park and can't move their cars for fear they won't have a spot when they come back home. If you go to ComFest, make sure to drink up. DON"T bring your own beer. They make all their money off of beer sales; think of yourself as a do-gooder. read more

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Oh, Comfest. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I just spent 10hrs Friday and 5hrs today at Comfest. The boy and I showed up Friday morning before anything was even open, and it was kind of... holy. The vendors were just setting up, and you can't buy beer until noon, so we just walked around and checked everything out - barely any people were in the park. It was almost surreal. We weren't going to stay all day but... it's COMFEST! Its power compelled us. We later ended up at Betty's after 10pm, so I'm guessing we were there at LEAST 10hrs. And the best part was, it wasn't even that hot on Friday - it was mostly sunny both days, though today was more and more opressively humid as the day wore on (culminating in a crazy thunder storm tonight after Comfest closed down). I'm one of those people that's mainly into the music and beer (seriously? It's like tons of shows, jammed into one weekend... for FREE?). Some highlights of yesterday's music included the Phantods, Lacousta, and Jenny May, while today I didn't get to see as many bands, but really dug Fox and Hound. One of the main reasons I love Comfest is that the bands don't get paid - sure they get beer tokens, but they'd get a beer tab at a bar anyway. No one at Comfest really gets paid - it's all local people volunteering to create this amazing, self-sustaining annual experience for the community. Cbus uber alles! Of course the other fun parts of Comfest are the food, the people watching... and yeah yeah the girl-boobs, but I'm pretty sure we saw a junior-high-age topless girl with a painted chest today, and aside from feeling like a total creep, I pretty much decided I am done looking at Comfest boobs - 99.9% of the time they're ones you don't want to see anyway. I didn't sense much of a crackdown on recreational activities... even though that's been the talk of the town since winter. I did like the signs that said, "please don't break the law," though - polite and to the point. While I could care less about regulating drug use, I understand their point - no one needs to be stabbing themselves to death at Comfest. Again. I think that sort of warning but not overbearing surveillance is what's cool about Columbus, and I hope it stays that way for Comfest. I'm no fan of The Law, but all of the police I saw were being respectful and un-intrusive. So now it's Saturday night. My feet HURT and I'm three shades tanner than I was Friday morning. I've seen some amazing bands and done an incredible amount of daydrinking. I've sweated, used scary bathrooms, and got grass permanently stuck to my legs from sitting in a circle with my friends on the Off-ramp lawn for hours. I've seen everyone I know and love in Columbus plus their moms (all of whom were also slightly drunk). I'll be back tomorrow evening to catch Righteous Buck and then Micah Schnabel, but honestly... as of tonight, I am content with my Comfest 2010 experience, and my heart is happy. I finally know where I belong - so thank you, Columbus. Apparently that place is somewhere near a highway, a beer tent, a outdoor stage, and surrounded by people who truly matter. *Roll credits* read more

Years ago I would have given this event a 5 star, back when it was less crowded and more laid back and chill. Early in the day and Sunday's are still a good day to attend, but as Friday and Saturday progresses the crowd changes. Over the years it seems to bring in a different type of crowd. What once was a local community festival has turned into a State Fair minus the rides. Crowds are coming in that have no idea how to just sit back, maybe put a little buzz on, and listen to some good music and feel the positive vibes. I'm starting to see way too many that want to be noticed, cause a scene and unfortunately get into fights and/or help themselves to your property. It's not too late for Comfest to get ahold of this and turn it back to where it once used to be. Maybe get back to the music that used to be played rather than that which brings in a bad element. read more

There's nothing quite like Comfest. I've been attending for the past couple of years and even though it's crowded and expensive, I just keep on going back. I think there's something there for everybody, but it keeps drawing more and more people every year and it's so crowded that it can get pretty uncomfortable. The plus side of that is it's a great place to meet up with friends or run into people you haven't seen in a long time. It seems like everyone in central Ohio ends up at Comfest at some point each year. The bands and entertainment are cool - there's something for every musical taste and the crowds are too big so you can get pretty close to the stage if you wish to. Performances continue all day and all night during each day of the three-day festival, so there's always some tunes to listen to. The food is good, but it's so expensive and can be like your typical fair food. Last summer we tried a huge turkey leg for the heck of it and it was awesome with the hot sauce on it, but it was messy and had a lot of bones in it. It was also pretty costly. The best thing about Comfest is the beer. You buy tokens to get a big souvenir mug and keep refilling it all day. Most people do this and walk around drunk all day. Here, that's totally acceptable. It's cool to be able to walk around outside and drink yourself silly if you want to. But once you leave the Goodale Park grounds, you have to finish or dump out your beer. It also is expensive, so I know a lot of people who sneak their own beers in, but you're not supposed to. However, a lot of things seem to go on at Comfest that are brushed under the rug for that one weekend. The people are all pretty friendly and laid back, and here and there you'll find topless women, drug use and overall craziness. So while it's not advertised, I probably wouldn't bring the whole family. I think Comfest is more of a place for adults to drink and have a good time in the summer sun. And you can bring your dogs! Last summer it rained a lot one day, and that wasn't fun because it was solid mud all over the park. Some people loved it, but we had my boyfriend's dog and we had to clean her up afterwards. The biggest drawback of Comfest, and why I took a star away, is the bathroom situation. There are Port-a-pots (which are always gross and dark inside) everywhere, but everyone is drinking beer all day, so everyone has to go to the bathroom all the time. I've waited in line for half an hour before and find it easier just to walk home everytime I have to go since I'm a 10 minute walk away. That being said, I also don't have to deal with parking, another drawback, I'm sure. The area is so crowded during this weekend that finding a good place to park that doesn't charge an arm and a leg has to be a challenge. I recommend that if you have a friend that lives in the area, stay with them, or park where you can and be prepared for a walk. It's free to get in at least, so at least you can come and go as you please to go find a decent bathroom or something. read more

Comfest - Just one of the crazy things you can do at Comfest - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Wow, I was pretty suprised how big and full this got! We parked at Giant Eagle which worked out pretty well after searching for half an hour, sucks that rididng a bike is to far for us, that would be by far the smartest way to get here. We went on sunday where you would think would be the least going on, but it was packed and very interesting to see the sorts of people that were there. Love people watching.... Food and drink vendors really had nothing interesting, neither did the others really. Everything was overpriced and not appealing, I did get a $4 snowcone to bare the heat and it was horrible. Still it was fun, I'd go back again. read more

This is a great time. There are some things that they could do better, like not requiring patrons to wait in two separate long lines to get a beer, but it's still a blast. A couple of notes. It's not a communist agenda. It's liberal/progressive with some socialist views. If you don't know the difference you should look it up. Secondly, the toplessness isn't about nudity. It's about equality. Men can do it, so women can do it. Good-looking men with shirts off turn heads, so do women. It has nothing to do with anything below the waist. The food and the merchandise are awesome. Most of the bands are decent. And yes, people are "partaking" while there. Part of the agenda of legalization. It might not be for everyone.That's ok. It's much more of a hippie vibe. But if you fit into this niche it's the best of times. read more

Top 5 reasons I love Comfest: 1. The generally accepted open use of marijuana 2. The very accepted open exposure of breasts 3. Your boozing supports the community and doesn't create unsustainable waste 4. Some of the neatest vendors you'll see anywhere, with awesome handcrafted goods 5. Hella good music, all day long, multiple stages Top 5 reasons I hate Comfest: 1. Smelly portapottys with long lines 2. Saggy boobs 3. The haunting smell of fried food, which may contain crack, because it is impossible to resist 4. The uncertainty of whether your 1 beer token will get you the "one token bonus" - a beer filled up more than halfway with only one token used - or whether you should give the volunteer 2 tokens and possibly end up wasting your money just so you know you won't have to wait in the lonnnnnnngggg beer line again soon 5. The inability to use credit anywhere (and the lack of ATM's in the immediate vicinity.) I know I know, most festivals are like this. But hey, I don't carry cash. And this is MY review. BAM. But the top 5 hate ones are negated by the general awesomeness that is Comfest. I'll deal with your saggy boobs ANYDAY for this festival :) read more

Well, since I'm the "Duke" of Comfest (How in the HELL did that happen?!), I guess I should finally write a review! Comfest should be one of those must-dos on everyone's Columbus bucket list. You're either going to LOVE it or HATE it, but you just have to go - at least once. I am on the LOVE IT side - even though there are a lot of things that can be pretty miserable. For a bitchy, comprehensive list, check out this review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/comfest-columbus#hrid:A2wuPcReUUiLq_dCWjJSBQ I can't disagree with a single thing said in that review; she leans more on the HATE IT side. But, I'm more a glass-half-full kinda guy, and I try to see the bright side of everything. Here's what I love about Comfest: *The people watching is the best. Ever. *The food ranges from awesomely bad to amazing. Here are some favs: fried cheese, lemonade, bourbon chicken, Spinelli's Deli, Pattycake Bakery, Jeni's Ice Creams. *Having no signal or wifi to power your devices is kinda liberating. For three days you can completely disconnect. Priceless. *The vendors are completely ridiculous. And I love them with all my heart *You can pretty much consume anything you want for three days. Look it up. Here are some tips to help make your Comfest experience better: *Take cash - the ATM lines are ridic. *Don't drive - walk, take the Cota, or ride your bike. But for the love of Mary Jane, don't drive. Parking at Comfest is the biggest of all bitches. *If you're not really the relax & bake kind of person, then volunteer or help with a booth. *Don't try to look hot. It's going to be hot and nasty, so just wear something light and comfy. *Expect complete craziness. And love it. *Watch what you eat. Trust me, you don't want to have to poo in those portapotties. So, do yourself a favor and give Comfest a try. It's not for everyone, and that's okay too! read more

This was my first Comfest, an event I have been hearing about since I moved to Columbus. I went on Friday night. The layout was great, the booths fun, the food and music ranging from great to meh. Observations: I was surprised that the crowd was so young. A majority of the attendees seemed to be high school and college students. A few of my friends felt it had a Spring Break kind of vibe. I had a few moments of feeling out of place, as I am over the age of 25. Would have loved to see more adults there. I was glad to leave at 9:00, before the kids got drunker and started acting like eejuts. Despite every piece of literature, media outlet etc begging people not to bring their dogs because it's fricken cruel to the dog, people brought their dogs. En force. Cuz what dog doesn't enjoy a very loud, very hot, super crowded, chaotic event? The boob thing: I'm not sure what statement is supposedly being made by the topless females. It's certainly not a feminist one. Let's face it, this country is not mature when it comes to female nudity. The females I saw walking around topless seemed to be in it for attention, plain and simple. Posing for pics, etc. I'm as progressive as they come, but I actually found attention seeking topless women being ogled (and enjoying it), quite offensive. And where were the pant less men? Why is the tradition at Comfest only boobs, and not peni? Right there, it's sexist. All in all, a fun event. A trying to be Woodstock sort of affair, that works if you don't question it too much... read more

The best festival in Ohio... it's free, local, and independantly run. 70 some bands on 6 or so stages for 3 days. Local foods and beer. And the best people watching this side of Burning Man. Now for some tips.. 1) Parking can be a pain. Walk, bike, COTA or cab it if possible. If you have to drive use the arena district parking garages for a small fee. 2) Get your beer and food fix early. As the sun starts to set the beer and food lines can become unbearable. 3) Volunteer! take a 4 hour shift helping out. I have done the beer booth twice and it is blast. Plus you get a free tshirt and some beer tokens. 4) bring water... this weekend is always hot as heck. 5) If you get hot check out the bars in the SN.. I can only take so much sun so we ususally find ourselves taking a breather in the AC at Macs or Park St Tavern. 6) Leave your dog at home... no place for Fido. Happy Comfest! read more

Oh Comfest, I finally figured you out. I had a good ole time this year on TWO different days even. I just made up my own rules. I didn't wait in the long, tedious looking beer lines, I had something better to drink both days. Now, I cannot go giving away my secrets on here because someone will surely get careless and totally eff things up for me. Basically, I got to listen to free live music and party like a rockstar with my friend who was up from Brazil. Of course there had to be some things I didn't like, and one would be the ubiquitous "Comfest is not a free zone" signs. You know, it's hard enough to keep from getting up some place high with a rifle already knowing that the "land of the free" has the highest per capita incarceration rate on the planet, higher even than those "evil" Russian commies (um, why'd we "fight" the cold war again?) and rivaling those of South Africa under apartheid, but I am absolutely fucking sure I don't need signs every 15' reminding me to not have too much fun here. WTF? Seriously? Also, why must you guys serve up CBC's mediocre swill? Why did you have to have Labatt at ALL? Couldn't Elevator or Barley's fill in for them? How the fuck is a Canadian brewery even remotely part of the community? The other unmitigated bullshit was noticing the legal dicklaimer on the set list online. Um, if you actually want people to know who's playing when, why WOULDN'T you want people to be able to freely reproduce the set list? I think my friend hit it right on the head when he said it's more important that an aging cabal of hippies issue fiats to make themselves feel important and powerful than what the festival's original mission statement was: for the community to come together and have a blast. I suggest we all revert to that original sentiment and say FUCK the stupid rules and have fun together. read more

Comfest is great. It's the one time and place of the year in Columbus where you can let your boobies hang out, support a bunch of local businesses by eating wayyy too much, and feel at peace with everyone in Columbus. It may sound corny, but Comfest really is the one event in C-bus where you can embrace your inner hippie and forget about it all. It's a very refreshing change from the sometimes stifling football-and-cameron-mitchell-vibe that Columbus has. There is music and entertainment aplenty, but for me the best entertainment has always been the people-watching. If you're not into shopping in all the marvelous little kiosks or listening to local bands, you can just park your fat hippie butt on the grass, gnaw on a gigundous turkey leg, and revel in the sociology. I've been going for a number of years, and pretty much experienced all kinds of weather: Last year was absolutely perfect, the year before was, like someone else here said, a monsoon (wet, drunk hippies are hilarious), and the year before THAT was oppressively humid. As long as you come prepared, you'll have a good time. Comfest is one of the things I am proudest of in Columbus. read more

Simple: It's like a music festival much across the country where people sell wares, eat,drink and be merry. Most of all listen to some terrible and not so terrible local musicians/bands. In essence a lower scale music festival in Central Ohio. What's not to love? From the homeless guy that yells "I just want money for beers and Malt Liquor..." to the "hippies" (loosely used) that are bare breasted some with enhanced painting/artistry for dramatic effect to the Marley (matted locs) heads black and white that are smoked out in the park there are bound to be good times had. I am a mother and although pretty liberal and bohemian I always elect to take the kiddos earlier in the day before the foolery and adult activities begin around 2-3 PM. I did this Comfest alone this year and had a good time. read more

I have been going to Comfest since the the mid 90's. At first I found it to be just another festival, but after a while I started understanding what the festival stands for. Building community. I don't think I completely fell in love with Comfest until I started volunteering, you get beer/food tokens for helping out. It is probably the best festival in Columbus by far, and I have heard that there are no better music festivals in the State that can compare. I think the best thing about the festival is the almost complete lack of hostility toward others. That is just not the Comfest way. Is it hot? Yes, its late June. Are the food and drinks expensive? Yes if you pay cash, no if you volunteer. Are the lines for beer long? They can be, but other times they are quite short. Parking? They are within walking distance of the Arena parking so it is plentiful, but I say take the COTA and save yourself the hassle. Trash? The volunteers do a wonderful job of cleaning this park up, they do a great job. read more

Love it or hate it, there's nothing quite like Comfest. A free festival of music, community, progressive political issues, and food and drink, Comfest is one of the best highlights of the Columbus Summer. It only goes on for one weekend but the buzz surrounding it goes on weeks in either direction on the calendar. Everyone talks about Comfest! There's a very wide variety of talent on the various stages around Goodale Park, from classic-sounding rock to the cream of the hip world du jour. Local music legends shine, people get drunk and stoned, everyone has a good time. Comfest is where Columbus flips its collective wig and reminds itself what a weird, heterogeneous, crazy town it is. A little bit urban, a little bit hippy, a little bit redneck, a little bit political: it's all the things we are existing more or less in harmony. Aw, ain't that nice! People bitch about the beer every year on account of the hassle of the way it is sold (buying tokens and then exchanging the tokens for beer) and the price it commands, but the reality is the beer, from what I understand, is the hidden price of admission- that is, the proceeds are what support the whole free shindig. So I say buy a beer or two- it ensures the festival will be back next summer. Suck it up- there's worse deals on beer on the planet. Would you sit through a whole ballgame without grabbing an overpriced cup of piss-warm lite beer? Of course not. There's probably something for everyone- as well as something to offend everyone. Bring as open a mind as you can and remember, a situation is as fun as you will let it be. read more

This was my first ComFest and , while I had a GREAT Saturday, I am a little indifferent about the actual festival. This has the makings of my favorite type of weekend day. Daydrinking with friends in the sun and listening to some music. So on that count, ComFest was a win. But overall, the festival is limited by that. The vendors were boring and while the people-watching is undeniably up there with Cedar Point, people aren't doing anything. Just sitting and mellow which gets blah very quickly. Happy with the beer selection - and while the beer process is a bit of confusing (those signs boggled my mind for like 4 minutes) and the 2 lines can take awhile, I appreciated the CBC and every beer I had was very well poured by friendly volunteers. Also, for such a "legendary" festival - Where is the good food??!!! I had the most underwhelming chicken gyro sandwich. All of the interesting food was from the North Market which I attend frequently - and I didn't want funnel cake or corndog. I will eat at home next time because none of that food was worth festival prices. read more

I volunteered this year, and my only annoyance (hence minus 1 star) was for all the free-loading dbags who complained about beer prices. Pretty sure no one had to pay any sort of admission to get into the festival, so deal with your $8 (or $10) beer. Props though to the nerds who thought it'd get them my number by tipping "me". Sure, I did the "Yay for Tips for the Homeless" dance, but my number you did not get. And BTW, who is voting "good for kids"? I may be childless (you're welcome) but topless chicks and an abundance of weed? What is wrong with you yelpers?? read more

I would give ComFest 10 stars if I could! It's weird writing a review for ComFest because, well, it's freakin' COMFEST! I will try my best. Free. Three days. Goodale Park. I've been going to ComFest for years and just started volunteering a few years ago. I figured it was time to give back. Volunteering is a great gig; you get tokens that can be used for beer or food and a t-shirt. Music: live and free music on multiple stages. It gives you a chance to check out lots of local acts. Yeah, yeah, it's hard to get in if you don't know someone, haven't played it for years, it's always the same people blah, blah, blah. Food: there is the typical midway fair-food stuff and then local places like Nida's, Whole World, etc. I always have to get a fish boat from Queen's Table. Beer: usually Labatt's and then some Columbus Brewing Company offerings. GIve them one token and you'll get an almost full mug of beer. Buy all your tokens your first day so you don't have to wait in the token line again. Tokens can be used multiple years so if you don't drink though them all, save them for next year! Vendors: it seems to be the same vendors every year. Some are awesome, some aren't great, but you can always find some sort of glass paraphernalia. Seating: bring a camp chair or a blanket Ambiance: the past few years Saturday night at ComFest has made me crazy. There are a TON of people, it's hard to get beer, the lines at the porta-potties are frightening, etc. I feel like the "Peace, Love and ComFest" mentality is missing on Saturday nights now. Friday is awesome and Sunday is fantastic and chill. Parking: take the COTA. I'm not spilling my secret ComFest parking spot location. You'll find me on my Neat Sheet by the Off-Ramp stage. I gladly accept tokens if you find this review helpful. Happy ComFest! read more

I went last year. I kinda felt a little skeevy walking around. There were some women walking around topless, and you'd see middle age men oogling at them. A bit creepy. Also, its been mentioned in other posts, but there is a fair bit of pot smoking going on. I'm not against others partaking in the occasional joint, but I think there is a time and place. Considering families and their little children visit comfest, I think the topless women and potheads should stick to the Nelsonville Music festival. That's the schizophrenic thing about Comfest, ostensibly its aimed at the community, but it seems to skew more towards adults. Beyond these observations, the music is pretty good. I like checking out local bands. Although it'd be nice to hear from more local hip hop acts. read more

By far one of the BEST festivals in Columbus! Great people! Great local causes! Great beer & wine & GREAT local free music! Yes, it's hot it's outside in the summertime. Yes parking sucks. Everyone loves to go for the free music & events! Get over it! If you don't like Comfest... you don't like having fun or people much! read more

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Greetings everyone. This will be short and sweet, here it goes. I'm an older guy and I can dig the free spirit of comfest and the craziness that goes with it. Is it a place to bring your little kids, ah, NO. Why expose them to over-loud bands, tits, weed, occasional fights and occasional arrests by CPD? Me, I like the young women walking around half naked, love the tits, love to smoke a tad of weed and drink a beer or two or three or four.... or more. Yeah, that's comfest, a place you go to look over band after band seeking glory and that's cool. I honestly find it a hip place for young and old hippies to go and meander around and the music is nice with variety! Again, keep the kids at home PLEASE, it's not a place to have your cake and eat it too, REALLY IT'S NOT. Obviously you can expect to park a mile away, but that's Columbus -- great with no close parking without paying through the roof for it. So go park, walk, have some libations and weed, gawk and do what lonely people do in Columbus -- it beats the hell out of red white and boom. Peace read more

I have lived in Cbus for a long time and FINALLY made it to Comfest. It is a fun and safe environment, and I enjoyed my day in the park. Not being a Short Northian, I always wondered how they fit such a reportedly big festival into such a little park. Well, it turns out that Goodale isn't a little park. While if you were halfway between the stages, it would get a little oddly dissonant, there was plenty of room to roam and enjoy all of the music, vendors/groups, and people-watching. The only place there is not lots of room is in front of the beer trucks. It was sweltering this year, and the hottest commodity seemed to be shade. The most overpriced commodity was parking. We paid $10 south of Nationwide, which seemed steep. Good times were had by all. I'm already looking forward to hanging at Comfest again next year. read more

I've been going since 94 and I just love it!! The vendors, the food, the entertainment and the amazing people you get to meet along the way.. read more

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I look forward to Comfest every year, and every year it delivers something. And never the same thing. This year it delivered to me great music, great food (and some mediocre food), and a day that was supposed to be stormy from beginning to end but never spilled more than a few drops of rain at a time. I know there are some who spend the entire weekend in Comfest's bosom, but I can usually spare only one day. And one day is enough to soak in the atmosphere, get enough people-watching in to last the next 364 days, and hear more new-to-me bands than I can hope to remember without keeping the program to remind myself. The only major complaint I have is that it's hard to find good sitting spots by most of the stages without some kind of smoke or another breezing right past you. I go to other music festivals. They prohibit smoking in those areas. It works out. I imagine it would be harder to institute that at Comfest, but it would be nice. I love the fact that an event like this can be put together without enormous corporate sponsorship banners festooning the park. The organizer deserve a huge hand for getting this together every year the way they do. read more

Comfest is nothing less than an institution. You will walk around and do some AMAZING people watching and likely run into a few familiar faces. There's also music all over the park, and, best of all, it is free! I wouldn't recommend going there to drink a ton. First off, it's often hot and you can get dehydrated quickly. Beer is pretty pricey, and the lines for beer and the bathroom can get very long. Comfest is great for spreading out a blanket, talking with some friends, and listening to some chill music. This festival can be a lot of fun for big groups, but make sure you have a good plan because your cell phones may not work. My personal advice is to establish a meeting place beforehand, and then throw down a blanket somewhere near a stage and use it as a base of operations. This way, some people can leave to go get food or hit up another stage, and you'll always have place to meet back up. There's so many people that it's easy to get separated. Comfest always reminds me of the classic Yogi Berra quote, "Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded." But you can navigate the insane crowds and still have an awesome experience. read more

I agree a lot with Christina C's review . I heard so much about this event and was really pumped to be going for the first time this year. Unfortunately, I felt it was kind of like any other Columbus Festival, the only exceptions being publicly exposed weed and boobs. I believe there was a time when Comfest truly was this amazing hippy dippy "Party with a Purpose." But I didn't get that message this year. The whole idea may be getting lost as the years progress. I did LOVE that all the tips from the beer booths go to homeless shelters. And the diversity and people watching cannot be beat! read more

Comfest is my favorite holiday! Other reviewers have done a great job describing the laid-back, hippie, fun, eclectic vibe, but there is something indescribable about how good it can make you feel to be part of something like Comfest. It's like a vacation from "the real world", but one that energizes you and makes you come back to your real life happier and more passionate. Or at least it feels like that to me. If you've never been to Comfest before, I have a few tips for making the most of your experience. Don't drive if you can avoid it. Parking isn't as bad as you might think, but it's still a bit of a pain, plus if you drive you can't drink, and beer sales are an important revenue source for the festival. Walk or bike if you live close, or take the COTA bus. If you do drive, make sure you obey all parking signs because nothing will end your evening on a down note like finding your car was towed. You'll be outside in the park all day so wear sunblock and appropriate clothes and shoes. I always see women walking around in spike heels and expensive clothes, and I think they can't possible be having that much fun. Expect to get dirty; it's fun! If you need to get out of the sun for awhile, there are plenty of trees for shade, and you're only a block from High Street where there are plenty of local restaurants and shops who'd appreciate your business and offer you an air-conditioned respite from the sun. Drink lots of water, especially if you're drinking beer too. I confess to bringing outside water with me, though I buy all my food and beer at Comfest, so that's my suggestion, just to save a little money. Make sure to pick up any trash and recycle your plastic bottles! Pick up a schedule and map when you get to Comfest; you'll be able to find the various stages easier and know when different bands or performers are going on. Be patient while waiting in line for beer tokens and beer. Yes, there are two separate lines. The easiest way to approach this is when you get to the festival, buy your mug and all the tokens you'll need for the day or the weekend. Keep them in a safe place, and then you'll only have to wait in the beer line next time instead of going through both lines. Try some food vendors you've never tried before. I recommend Dragonfly's booth for the best vegetarian festival food you've ever imagined. Flavors of India is another one I always hit once during Comfest. Jeni's Ice Cream goes great in hot summer weather. There's something for everyone, including the old standby "carnival foods" like funnel cakes and what-have-you, but go ahead, be adventurous! Expect the unexpected. From the weather, and just in general. Expect to see topless women; be respectful. Expect to see hippies, yuppies, and everyone in between. Expect lots of children, expect dogs, snakes, ferrets, birds, and probably other pets. It's less stressful if you leave your animals at home though. Most of all, just have fun! read more

Parking is always bad/crazy and always taken up so most likely you'll be walking a little from your car and even more when you get to the festival. Kids are allowed but I wouldn't bring them since they may get lost in the crowd plus some of the adults can get wild especially if they over drink. I always come on Saturday since more performances happen but I feel no matter what day you come it'll always be crowd and hot. I don't know much about the food since I eat before I go since most of it's looks kinda pricey and has long lines but I didn't look around much either. They have mostly food trucks and a few food stands. There are lots of bands, dancers, artists and cool hippy facts about Ohio. They also have booths where you can buy things or donate to amazing causes; most of the booths are from very crafty locals. Some booths can be pricey so make sure you look at other booths before deciding on what to get in case it's cheaper somewhere else. A henna tattoo or body art is also always a must. Always bring a blanket or chairs so you can sit; I tried sitting on grass and ended up sitting in something wet o.O Bring lots of water/snacks if you don't wanna buy food like me but they do have free water stands. read more

I have memory of hosing my half naked lesbian roommate because someone handed me a hose and I thought..."what do I do with this?" That's how it goes at Comfest. read more