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Jazz & Rib Fest

3.2 (51 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

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Andrea A.

Recently visited the Jazz and Rib fest and the food and music was great! This yearly event is definitely worth going to! They have the best ribs to choose from but also delicious corn on the cob, fresh lemonade funnel cakes and more!

Nik L.

Unlike Indy's Jazz fest, Columbus, Ohio's is FREE! Free 99. No cost. The only thing that will cost you is parking, food and beverages, if you don't bring your own food and drinks. You are encouraged to support local food vendors and dragging food with our party was something I just wasn't feeling this summer. We did take water and ice because it was decently toasty each day we went to the Fest. Do you want Ribs? Oh, they are in abundance but know you may have a long wait, so plan ahead on who you will have to get the food while someone secures an area to sit. Bring chairs, little tables, and blankets if you do not want to try to vie for a seat on one of the few sparingly available benches. I recommend downloading the Jazz & Rib Fest official app to plan who you want to see as there are 3 stages with musical acts happening all day long until at least 9 pm at night. I do not recommend trying to pay for parking in advance in the app because I found that it did not work and I was still charged. Had to file a dispute against ParkMobile about that which was a pain to do. The fest is a nice event to hang with friends for an evening in downtown Columbus so I definitely recommend going. If you are still on the fence about being around large crowds due to COVID-19, know that this event was packed at the stage that drew the big acts so you may want to check out the smaller stage acts.

Be ready for lines
Ellen M.

I've been to this festival for several years and usually enjoy it. As of late, however, it's getting super crowded and you wait in long lines for food that can be meh. It's hard to decide which truck to visit and don't be swayed by the trophies displayed. Prices are high and crowd management can be better. We may skip next year. Food truck festival is better IMO.

Robert B.

Great music fun atmosphere for friends and families. Oh did I mention ribs, ribs and more ribs

Crystal B.

I was actually here for the color run, not the rib fest but the color run ran directly through the rib fest. So afterwards I got some Schmidt's. A bratwurst, sauerkraut, and German potato salad. Yummo! My only complaint is that there weren't enough drinks. They had a few lemonade but I didn't want lemonade. When I finally found one selling coke products and water she told me there are only 6 beverage places in the entire fest. That's just not enough when 4 our of the 6 are all highly sugared up lemonade.

Ryan S.

This festival was at the riverside in 2016 where I guess most festivals will be for now on. For vistors from parts unknown it is key to look up Scoito Mile, Bi-Centennial, and Genoa Parks to get a sense of the surroundings. Another key: bring water. Ohio, I am starting to be convinced, is Shawnee for 'humid as hell,' and it is sure to be a sweltery sweaty mess in coming years as it was the last. Take my three stars as no insult. It is a-ok and worth the trip. It doesn't though rise above neither other festivals in town, nor other towns jazz-rib celebrations. I am going to critique it via its new environs by pros and cons. Pros. The riverside newly refurbished is visually clean and spacy. There are three main stages: the amphitheater at Bicentennial, a stage at Rich Street, and another main stage at Genoa. Vendors of food, drink, and trinkets line up Marconi Ave, the closed-off Rich Street bridge, and behind COSI--a science museum above Genoa that may interest any looking for a break. Here are found multiple rib stands with their monolithic multi-panel front facades looking much like the ad boards at drag strips. There is plenty of space. Bicentennial has turf allowing umbrellas and a designated area for tents--collapsible gazebos. The scattering of trees to the north makes decent shade for afternoons. The foutains behind bring quick relief from heat stoke and entertainment to children. The Genoa set has less shade but is more open. The steps rising to COSI allows for more viable angles for viewing. The music is diverse with the each area playing something different: latin, bossa nova, hard bop are some genres I enjoyed. In the sweltery dazzle I did not try ribs this year, nor am I a connoisseur of it, but in previous years I have and love the offerings for my limited experience with the dish. They had about 20 vendors from all over the country. Cons: Being out in the open the acoustics are not ideal. Some tones seem flatted out, other too muted where in more enclosed, say between buildings, has a better thickness of sound. It's something you trade for scenery and space. Parking, it is a tough one. Prepare to walk. There are several garages in the Arena District, and there is the former mall garage east on Rich Street. These are from 1/2 mile to several blocks away. COSI parking is there too, and closer, but I am unsure if they allow festival parking. Free spots my be open off street in Frankleton to the west, but they are rare during big events in the area. The vendors don't take cards, but there are ATMs that will, but they will take five-percent themselves. Bring cash.

Nice
Danielle L.

My husband and drove from Baltimore for this event. We love BBQ!!! We attended 2x over the rainy weekend. Friday it was about 4 pm, lines were not bad. It was Friday and folks are still at work. . However the sun was hot and heavy with little shade in the area this festival is held We devised a plan. Come later Saturday avoid the super sonic sun. So we come back Saturday at around 7pm. The sun situation was much better! However the lines were crazy. And listen, I am a realistic person when it comes to these things. So, we were well aware the lines would be long, but I didn't think Id be waiting 45 minutes for one stand . The Good : - No entry fee - While's a BBQ festival, there are a wide range of types of BBQ and other types of vendors ( Funnel cake, Corn, Drinks, Pizza, Halal, ) The Bad: Lack of shade Lack of seating ( we bought a blanket, but the frequent rain soaked right through from the ground)

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Review Highlights - Jazz & Rib Fest

The fest is a nice event to hang with friends for an evening in downtown Columbus so I definitely recommend going.

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North Market Ohio Wine Festival - Grab a glass & jump in!

North Market Ohio Wine Festival

3.9(18 reviews)
1.1 miShort North

Soooo much fun!!!…read more As my first year in Ohio, this was a great experience for me!! Not being familiar with any of the local wineries, this was a great way to introduce me to them and find out which ones I want to actually go visit. I LOVE wine... remember, you need several servings of fruit a day... grapes are a fruit... wine is made from grapes!!! Therefore, wine is good for you!!! As for the location at the North Market... what a great combination!! After tasting 20+ wines, one does need a bit of a snack to go with all those grapes... Can't wait to go again next year!! Thanks Columbus for making moving here so much fun!!

I was pretty excited when I realized the wine festival was happening the weekend I had planned a…read moretrip to Columbus. I love wine and I love the North Market so this seemed like the best combo possible, right? Not so much. There was just now enough room between stands to stand, socialize, drink wine, and then move on. Had the event been held in the massive parking lot owned by the North Market, I easily would've given it 5 stars. Honestly the wine and merchants there were AWESOME but you just couldn't enjoy anything you were drinking unless you totally left the vendor areas between every single sample. Perks that totally made it worth going: 1) Great vendors-- I especially loved the Wisconsin hard cider booth. Bangin' sangria! And honestly you can never go wrong with Ohio wines! 2) There was a free photobooth sponsored by Crave 3) Entry came with a $5 coupon for the North Market...which basically gives you an excuse to get Jeni's ice cream. And any excuse to get Jeni's is a great excuse. All in all, yes if I was ever in Columbus the weekend of the wine fest, I'd go again. But the wine fest sponsored by Giant Eagle in Cleveland is much better.

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North Market Ohio Wine Festival - Get beer at the Barrel and Bottle.

Get beer at the Barrel and Bottle.

North Market Ohio Wine Festival
North Market Ohio Wine Festival

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The Columbus Food Truck Fest - Peach Ice cream (Johnson's Real Ice Cream)

The Columbus Food Truck Fest

3.3(19 reviews)
0.3 miDowntown

Live Music, Food trucks galore, and various Art & Crafts, Vintage and other vendors everywhere! Got…read moreto love it. What an awesome time and recommend going if you can. Located downtown Columbus on The Scioto Mile or Scioto Peninsula or whatever we are calling it but it's downtown positioned around Cosi. We took a ride share in but there was plenty of garages around for parking. I found it easy in and out of the festival. We enjoyed a variety of delicious foods, including burritos, empanadas, crunch wraps, nachos, funnel cakes, popsicles, and ice cream. We visited: Big Pappy's BBQ Spanglish Latin Street Food Empanadas and More Rime Time Pops Glaze'em Gourmet Funnel Cakes Johnson's Real Ice Cream Music was great, the crowds were tolerable but very busy. Only complaint is that you could not just get a water or pop. You had to purchase tickets and it had to be purchased just like the beer and alcohol. All beverages required a ticket, individual trucks could not sell drinks, and the lines were long at the beverage tents. Not a fan of this design. My pro-tip is to bring cash. You can save money as the vendors we went to factored card charges and there were two sets of prices upon payment (cash vs card). Also, several beverage ticket areas - i recommend the one by Junto. It never seemed to have the crowd the others did. Check it out. The festival is here through Sunday. For more info, check out https://columbusfoodtruckfest.com/

I'm a bit late with this review but the festival was kind of underwhelming this year. It was in…read moreHilliard and lacked the atmosphere and vibrancy of it being downtown. We went on a Sunday and honestly it was pretty boring, just walking around in a circle looking at the trucks and vendors. We tried some food from a Brazilian truck and that was probably the best food we had all day. Everything is super pricey now and most of the food was okay at best. I spent close to $30 on a plate and beef patty from ire jam grill and it was probably my least favorite thing I ate. Idk man Caribbean/Jamaican food in Columbus is not it. Also any time I go to a festival the first thing I look for is funnel cakes. No offense to the ladies with the glaze em gourmet funnel cakes truck there, but sometimes the classics are the way to go, just a normal funnel cake with some powdered sugar, without all of the frills. I wound up ordering one from them anyways for my son at close to $16, all of the toppings, glaze and extras just made it soggy. The icy paw and empanadas and more food trucks were probably the best ones I tried. I'm kind of torn about going next year, spent way too much on food I didn't like.

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The Columbus Food Truck Fest - Chris H. & Les R.

Chris H. & Les R.

The Columbus Food Truck Fest
The Columbus Food Truck Fest - Les R., Sean C., Jeremy G., & Chris H.

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Les R., Sean C., Jeremy G., & Chris H.

Comfest - ComFest 2025

Comfest

4.3(75 reviews)
1.3 miVictorian Village

With the festival taking place at Goodale Park, it's pretty much in my backyard and impossible for…read moreme 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.

This year was my first time going to ComFest and I had a great time! It's perfect for families and…read moreall 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!

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Comfest - The Ark Band

The Ark Band

Comfest
Comfest - Music

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Music

Egyptian Festival - Cookies and more desserts

Egyptian Festival

4.6(5 reviews)
6.3 mi

Excellent, fairly small but busy festival. Parking is tight- there's a lot across the street and…read morewe lucked into a spot, but many people were parking around the corner. Food was the draw for me, and there was plenty and a good variety. I ended up with a combo: steak kebab, macaroni bechamel (a sort of lasagna made with penne, bechamel, ground meat, and no tomato sauce,) a meat pie (ground beef in phyllo dough,) tabouli, hummus, etc. I asked for cabbage rolls, and I think they were extra. They were thinner than I'm used to but pretty much the same thing, filled with meat and rice. All this and a drink was $17, and I couldn't finish it (I came close.) There were lots of kids there, and kid activities, so Baby K was happy. She started dancing as soon as we got there, to the Egyptian music playing. There was a petting zoo and horse rides. There was face painting. She loved it all. We missed out on dessert, but it looked good: baklava and other pastries. We toured the church, also small but very nice. Everyone was very friendly. For a free community festival, it was great. Mostly church members, probably, but eager to show off their culture. I'll be back.

Fast, friendly service. Reasonable prices. Great atmosphere. Lovely church. Super nice people…read more Safe environment for families. Excellent food

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Egyptian Festival - Inside the church before the sanctuary

Inside the church before the sanctuary

Egyptian Festival - Bousbousa which is like the best coconut cream pie cake with nuts you ever had in your life!

Bousbousa which is like the best coconut cream pie cake with nuts you ever had in your life!

Egyptian Festival - Food tent left.  Dessert tent right

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Food tent left. Dessert tent right

Lithopolis Honeyfest

Lithopolis Honeyfest

4.8(6 reviews)
14.8 mi

Always a fun time, and although this year it was a little gray, it seemed at it's largest so far. I…read morehave been 3 times I think now and I always walk away with lots of honey and bee-themed goodies, being as we keep bees at our house too (its a lifestyle, just bee :). The end of the summer is a perfect time to stock up on beeswax candles for the upcoming cozy, mystical autumn days-- I'm so glad I did that this year! After we shopped, we checked out a mead tasting in the library just off of the main road and had a blast trying all the different flavors. I walked away with a bottle of orange blossom honey raisin mead for myself plus an extra bottle to include in a wedding gift. A new vendor addition was a shaved ice truck that had honey drizzle for all of the shaved ice. Yum! It's, of course, always a little more fun if it's sunny given the theme, but I still had a great time this year too.

Super fun, quite a large festival for a small town. Loved how involved the whole fest was…read more Attractions, educational demonstrations, honey samples galore, meade tastings, popcorn, corn dogs, bubble tea, artisinal crafts, and face painting, live music, and Im sure I am forgetting a lot. Great traffic averting as well because it was blocked off in a way that didn't disrupt the flow of traffic. Lithopolis Ohio showed itself off with this honey festival.

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Lithopolis Honeyfest
Lithopolis Honeyfest
Lithopolis Honeyfest - Cheeky vendors are the best! Vendor is "Trinket Designs for You" of Canal Winchester!

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Cheeky vendors are the best! Vendor is "Trinket Designs for You" of Canal Winchester!

Jazz & Rib Fest - festivals - Updated May 2026

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