Upcoming Events
From family fun, to live music, to fantastic festivals, there is always something happening in and around Columbus. Bring your friends and family and join in the fun at these upcoming events!
2025 Planning Ahead
Always Ready for Chocolate
Feb 8
The Commons, 300 Washington St, Columbus, IN 47201
The annual Always Ready for Chocolate event, continuing a cherished tradition of more than 25 years, returns on February 8, 2025, at The Commons in Columbus, Indiana. Join from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for an afternoon of delicious treats, creativity, and community—all for a great cause!
Join The Arc of Bartholomew County in support of their mission to help local individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, as well as their families.
BourbonFest 2025
Feb 22nd
The Commons, 300 Washington St, Columbus, IN 47201
Whether you prefer your bourbon neat, on the rocks, with a splash, or perfectly shaken and strained, don’t miss the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s 9th annual Bourbonfest! This event invites you to get your “Phil” of bourbon while sampling offerings from top local and national bourbon distributors.
This one-of-a-kind fundraiser celebrates the artistry of bourbon-making and the rich history behind the industry. Explore booths from bourbon distilleries and local establishments, enjoy drink samples, and take home some fun swag as you immerse yourself in this spirited experience.
Yes And: The 2024 Exhibit Columbus Design Presentations
Phot by Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation
Feb 21 & 22nd
The Commons, 300 Washington St, Columbus, IN 47201
Get an inside look at the creative process behind Exhibit Columbus 2025! Join us as the 2024-25 Miller Prize Recipients, University Design Research Fellows, High School Design Team, and Communication Designer share their vision for Columbus’s future. Each participant will present their design concept and welcome audience feedback—offering a rare glimpse into how ideas evolve into installations that shape the downtown experience. Admission: Free!
Meet the creative minds behind the project:
- Miller Prize Recipients: Adaptive Operations, AD—WO, Studio Barnes, Studio Cooke John
- University Design Research Fellows: Chandler Ahrens, Constance Vale, and Kelly Van Dyck Murphy; Sarah Aziz; Akima Brackeen; Andrew Fu, Aaron Goldstein, and Aleksandr Mergold; Michael Jefferson and Suzanne Lettieri; César Lopez, Jess Myers, Amelyn Ng, Germán Pallares-Avitia
- High School Design Team: Spencer Steenblik, Darin Johnson, and C4 Students
- Communication Designer: Sing-Sing (Adi Goodrich and Sean Pecknold)
Ideal for students, designers, and anyone with a passion for downtown development, this event offers a unique opportunity to engage with forward-thinking design. Stay tuned for more details on dates and times!
Mar 7
North Christian Church, 850 Tipton Ln, Columbus, IN 47201
More about Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes
More about MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger
Doors open at 7:00 pm and music begins at 8:00 pm.
This is a 21 and over show.
Columbus Farmer’s Market
May – September
123 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201
On Saturday mornings from 9:00am to 12:30pm enjoy tons of vendors, different brunch options, and musical entertainment to help perk up your morning!
The Farmer’s Market brings the rural and city communities together – it’s fun, family-friendly, entertaining, while featuring healthy foods and adding to the quality of life for the Columbus area.
Columbus on Tap
May 10
Custer-Nugent Amphitheatre & Festival Field at Mill Race Park, 50 Carl Miske Drive, Columbus, IN 47201
This first-year event will feature UNLIMITED POURS from an estimated 50+ craft breweries, distilleries & wineries from all over the state and ~250+ different beers, wines & spirits! There will be incredible live music on the big stage, great local food, local art, games and more from 1:00pm – 5:00pm. It’s going to be one of the biggest parties of the year and is expected to sell out in advance!
What better way to spend a summer Saturday than drinking great Indiana craft beer, wine, and spirits with friends, listening to great live music and enjoying local food.
Smoke on the Square
May 16 & 17, 2025
Hope, IN
Get Fired Up for a Weekend of BBQ, Friends, and Fun!
Mark your calendar for an unforgettable weekend filled with mouthwatering BBQ, great company, and plenty of fun. Whether you’re a BBQ pro or just a fan of fantastic food, this event welcomes competitors from near and far to showcase their skills. Judged by experts and certified judges from the Kansas City BBQ Society, this promises to be a flavorful showdown you won’t want to miss.
Chuck Taylor All Star Days
June 6 & 7
Downtown Columbus, IN
This first-year event will be a fun way to celebrate the legendary Chuck Taylor and his All Star tennis shoe. The celebration will include food trucks, basketball themed activities, speakers and the history of Chuck, notable basketball stars from Indiana, kids zone, live music, and so much more. Everyone is encouraged to wear their Chucks!
Juneteenth Jubilee
June 21
Downtown Columbus, IN
The Columbus branch of the NAACP invites everyone to join the 2025 Juneteenth Jubilee, a day dedicated to honoring the strength, resilience, and cultural legacy of the Black community.
A variety of events will highlight how food, music, art, and movement have served as sources of healing and connection through centuries of adversity and triumph will be happening all day.
Tough Mudder
August 2 & 3
CERAland Park, 3989 S 525 E, Columbus, IN 47203
Tough Mudder Classic is an 8-10 mile loop of mud-soaked mayhem loaded with 25 best-in-class obstacles. Tough Mudder creates hardcore obstacle courses designed to test your all around strength, stamina, and mental grit. With the most innovative courses and millions of participants worldwide to date, it is the premier challenge series in the world.
This is is your chance to get outside your comfort zone, discover what you’re made of, and cross that finish line stronger than you started.
Columbus, IN Pride Festival
September 6
Mill Race Park, Carl Miske Drive, Columbus, IN 47201
Scottish Festival
September 13 & 14
Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, 750 W 200 S, Columbus, IN 47201
A weekend of Scottish entertainment including: Celtic concerts, Ceilidh, Highland dancing competition, sporting competitions, clan tents, sheep dog trials, European car show, music, bagpipe marching bands, re-enactors and living history, children’s activities, Scottish dancing, merchandise, and food vendors.
Fiesta Latina
September 13
Mill Race Park, Carl Miske Drive, Columbus, IN 47201
Ganesh Festival
September
The Commons, 300 Washington St, Columbus, IN 47201
Hot Rods & Rock ‘n’ Roll
September 20
400 Washington St, Columbus, IN 47201
Enjoy classic cars, trucks, hot rods, motorcycles, and more at this family-friendly event! There is no registration fee and no trophies – just pride, passion, and a good time, with music at night so don’t forget to bring lawn chairs. Food and merchandise will be available.
Mill Race Marathon
September 27 & 28
500 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201
Don’t miss one of the largest Kids Fun Run events in the Midwest. Open to all children up to 6th grade, and it’s completely FREE!
On Saturday, lace up your sneakers as the full marathon begins! Powered by Cummins, the Marathon course is a flat Boston Qualifier that runs through downtown Columbus taking participants past the architectural sights of the city and through the parks. Still looking for a challenge, but maybe not 23.2 miles worth? Sign up for the half marathon or 5k!
After the races, enjoy family fun downtown with food and music…even if you do not run! Register early for a discounted entry fee!
Hope Heritage Days
September 26 – 28
Hope Town Square, 326 Jackson St., Hope, IN 47246
Hope Heritage Days is entering its 57th year. Long considered the quintessential Hoosier Celebration, the event is Bartholomew County’s largest and oldest multi-day festival.
From the always excellent musical entertainment to the over 125 food and vendor booths, this autumn festival is wonderfully Hoosier…. and uniquely HOPE!
Photo by Larry Simpson
ETHNIC EXPO
October 10 & 11
123 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201
Ethnic Expo is a weekend of events celebrating cultures that come together to call Columbus home to create a vibrant, welcoming community – and also one of the largest and most beloved local festivals.
Enjoy international food and marketplace, continuous entertainment and children’s activities.
Exhibit Columbus Yes And
August – November
Downtown, Columbus, IN 400 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201
Déjà Vu Arts & Fine Craft Fair
November 8
300 Washington Street, Columbus, IN 47201
Leave it to an artist to see the beauty in worn leather coats, mismatched silverware, broken dishes, and old sweaters.
Many of the work at the show includes collage, jewelry, book arts, home décor, mixed media, sculpture, wearable art, woodworking, mosaic, and glass art – all created from scrap materials or items that have been repurposed.
Columbus Festival of Lights
December 6
400 Washington St, Columbus, Indiana 47201
Columbus Festival of Lights is an annual event where the community gathers to watch illuminated floats grace the street of the City of Columbus. Thousands gather to create new traditions and remember nostalgic times from their childhood.
The Lights Festival is an event where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can come together to have an uplifting, positive, and unforgettable experience!
