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
Columbus Farmer’s Market
Every Saturday thorugh September
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.
Exhibition Reception and Arts Alley Parklet Opening Celebration
SAVE THE DATE for one extraordinary night: Experience the unveiling of an iconic space reimagined—brought to life through live music, local creativity, and radical hospitality. A bold preview of the vibrant, artful community we’re building together.
SEE THE SHOW
Exhibition Dates: May 22–July 18, 2025
A Country Gathering Antique Show and Sale
Featuring Over 25 Antique Dealers!
Explore a wide selection of antiques for the hearth and home, with a focus on Early Americana, country, and primitive furniture—featuring original surfaces and paint. Discover early lighting, textiles, treenware, quilts, china, baskets, stoneware, ironstone, garden and architectural accents, and more. Enjoy delicious food while you browse!
BCPL Renaissance Faire
Hear ye, hear ye! All are invited to BCPL’s Renaissance Faire at the LEX! Enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Mandolin Orchestra in the forum, laugh at the antics of Quibbleflop the magician, marvel at the animals from Utopia Wildlife Rescue, and learn about a knight’s armor from North Vernon Vanguard among countless other activities. Costumes are encouraged, but not required.
Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators Guided Tours
Join us for a guided educational tour of our rehabilitation facility. Learn about our wild neighbors and get to meet some of our ambassador animals. Plan to bring some water and a good pair of walking shoes. Be aware that the walking paths are gravel and that the terrain is uneven.
Downtown Columbus Food Truck Festival
Join us for a fun and flavorful evening in Downtown Columbus!
14 Delicious Food Vendors – Something for everyone!
Live Outdoor Music at Hotel Indigo from 5:00–7:00 PM
Seating Available
Free Parking
Bartholomew County Fair
This Annual event includes food, family fun, events, rides, and even more.
Lavender Daze 2025
It’s that time again! Join us for this once-a-year lavender-filled celebration perfect for the whole family.
🌿 Shop Local – Browse our many vendors, including the charming Lavender Boutique.
🍷 Sip & Savor – Cool off with a lavender wine slushie or lavender lemonade, and enjoy tasty bites from food trucks.
🎶 Live Music – Relax and listen to local musicians as you soak in the beauty of the fields.
📸 Scenic Moments – Capture the moment with selfies among the blooms and pick your own fresh bundle of lavender.
Come make memories in a beautiful, fragrant setting you won’t soon forget!
2025 Indiana Renaissance Faire
✨ What to Expect:
- Multiple stages of entertainment
- A vibrant village market with merchants from across the U.S.
- Food fit for royalty, plus adult libations & tasty drinks for all ages
Movies in the Park – FREE Wonka
Blankets and snacks are all welcome to enjoy movies under the stars once a month at Mill Race Park this summer! Movies start at darkfall so sit back and enjoy the feature! Official start times will be announced on Facebook. Add them to your calendar at cbusinparks.com/movies.
Upcoming:
July 18: Moana 2 (Movie in the Pool!) at Donner Aquatic Center
September 20: Lilo and Stitch (2025) at Mill Race Park
October 4: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at Mill Race Park
Hog Stock 2025: A Day of Live Music & Cold Beer
Hog Molly Brewing Company and Scott Wilson State Farm are teaming up to host their 5th Annual Hogstock: A Day of Live Music and Cold Beer.
- The event is family-friendly until 8pm, tickets are required for everyone including children.
- Please bring a lawn chair
- Small Pop Up Tents will only be allowed while space permits and cannot obstruct others views, only allowed along the edge of the parking lot
- Everyone will receive a wrist band for the duration of the event, so come and go as you please
- No outside food or drink permitted
- Water bottles are FREE and there will be a water station provided by Burt’s
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
Fiesta Latina
September 12
Downtown, 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.
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!
