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, kid’s area, Italian food from various restaurants, cooking demonstrations, a bocce ball tournament, and a lot of information about Italian traditions and culture. The festival that has been held since 1980 attracts about 35,000 attendees every year. Located in the heart of Italian Village it is the largest annual celebration in the neighbourhood.
Columbus Day Italian Parade and High School Marching Bands Competition is one of the highlights of the festival. The Parade starts at 1 p.m. on Dennison Ave., west of Goodale Park. The parade goes through Victorian Village, Short North, and Italian Village. After the parade, marching bands head to the Carfagna Stage to take part in a competition.
A ticket to the festival allows unlimited sampling of food from 18 restaurants, two drinks of your choice and a day pass to festival activities. It includes cooking demonstrations taking place for the whole day in a cultural tent.
