For "Big" Kids!

The Columbus Arts Festival, presented by Time Warner Cable will celebrate its 51st year of bringing the best in fine art and fine craft to Columbus, June 1, 2 & 3, 2012. To celebrate our move back to the Riverfront, we’re creating a BIG festival experience—diverse, inclusive and creative with an emphasis on engaging a broader spectrum of the community and creating more fun activities and special programs for everyone to enjoy.

Following are some of the new and exciting initiatives adults can enjoy at the 2012 Columbus Arts Festival:

Savor the Arts with Dine Originals

In partnership with Dine Originals, Savor the Arts will showcase cuisine as an art form and bring gourmet fare back to the Festival. The Savor the Arts tent will feature special menus developed by local restaurants, wine and beer tastings and more. Participating restaurants in 2011 included:  Barcelona, Barrio, Black Creek Bistro, Deepwood, Due Amici, The Elevator, G. Michaels, Katalina's Corner Cafe, Mozarts, The Refectory, Rigsby's, Skillet, Tasi's and The Top.  Restaurants participating in 2012 will be announced in May.

All Hands On Art

Just for "Big" Kids.  In 2011 the Columbus Arts Festival expanded the Hands-On Art Activity offerings with the addition of All Hands On Art, a hands-on area for big kids, that is open noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-6 p.m Sunday. A perfect gathering place for young professionals' groups or friends, art games and performances presented by local independent arts groups are featured.  Check back in spring of 2012 for a full schedule of events and performances.

Expose Yourself

To art, that is! Juried artists as well as local artists will demonstrate how they create their work at the Expose Yourself demonstration tent in the All Hands On Art area.

Festival Mobile App

The Festival Mobile App will allow visitors to locate artists, food vendors and menus, watch the latest weather report and much more. The app will also be used throughout 2011 for the festival’s move to the Riverfront, keeping patrons up to date with the new layout, timeframe and special events.

Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Join us on Facebook and Twitter and we’ll keep you up to speed regarding news and contests going on before and during the Festival. We’ll send messages out on the hour through Twitter all Festival weekend, June 1, 2 & 3, to keep you posted about all of the special events going to celebrate our move back to the Riverfront!  Take part in our #tweetandgoseek scavenger hunt before and during the event!  Local artist and originator of the idea, Matthew Richard Barnes (aka misterbarnes) will create tiny original collages containing prizes and will tweet out clues to followers as to where they are hidden around town and on the Festival site.  Click here for more information on how to join in the fun and follow the scavenger hunt on Twitter.

VIP Lounge Package

The VIP Lounge will be open to VIP ticket purchasers to come and relax in comfortable atmosphere at the Festival.  More details to come.