The Columbus Italian Festival is a great way to enjoy delicious food and live music on two stages. Held every October at Saint John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio, the three-day celebration features an open-air market, Italian dancing, a kid’s area, Italian food from various restaurants, cooking demonstrations, a bocce ball tournament, and a lot of information about Italian traditions and culture. Located in the heart of the Italian Village, it is the largest annual celebration in the neighborhood.
Schedule
The 2024 Columbus Italian Festival is set to kick off on Monday, October 7, from 6 pm to 10 pm with a delicious Italian dinner at the Berwick, featuring live music by Ray Massa's Eurorhythms. The festivities continue over the weekend, with events scheduled for Friday, October 11, from 5 pm to 11 pm, Saturday, October 12, from 12 pm to 11 pm, and Sunday, October 13, from 12 pm to 7 pm.
Italian Festival Parade (October 13th, 2024)
The Columbus Day Italian Parade and High School Marching Bands Competition is a highlight of the festival. The parade kicks off at 1 p.m. on Dennison Ave., just west of Goodale Park. It follows a route from Goodale St. to Warren Ave, culminating at the Columbus Italian Festival grounds. After the parade, the marching bands head to the Carfagna Stage to participate in a spirited competition. This year’s Grand Marshals are Tom Bosco from ABC6, with Dino Tripodis of SUNNY 95 serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
Activities
The festival offers a variety of engaging activities for everyone to enjoy. Attendees can participate in Italian cultural events, including the Cugini Law Bocce Tournament and various kids' events. There's also the exciting Jackpot Split for those looking to win big. Throughout the day, cooking demonstrations in the cultural tent add to the festivities, making it a delightful celebration of food and culture.
Stages & Performers
The festival features two stages: Carfagna’s Traditional Stage and Rosati Windows Contemporary Stage. Attendees can enjoy performances by the San Giovanni Dancers, Cory Pesaturo, Tom Carroll n Strings and Things, the Italian Concert Band, the Linda Dachtal Quartet, Lisa Dellarosa, Radio City, and the Sicilian Tenors with the Rick Brunetto Big Band, which will also perform multiple times throughout the event.
Tickets
Admission to the festival is $10 at the door, and children 12 and under enter for free with an adult. For those interested in a deeper experience, the "All About Abruzzo" tickets are available for $50. Each ticket includes unlimited sampling from 18 participating restaurants, two drinks of your choice, and a day pass to all festival activities.
History of Columbus Italian Festival
The first Italian Festival took place in 1980 at the Lausche Building on the Ohio State Fairgrounds. Organized by Mr. Frank Oliverio and his committee, the event exceeded expectations, drawing over 10,000 attendees and generating a profit of $26,000 for the church. The overwhelming crowd caused traffic jams and even led to the fire marshal temporarily closing the venue. To accommodate future festivals, organizers moved to the Multipurpose Building starting in 1981. In 1999, the Festival relocated to St. John The Baptist Italian Catholic Church, where it now attracts over 35,000 visitors each year, celebrating Italian culture and community over Columbus Day weekend.
