Festivals and Events in Columbus, Indiana
Families are important in Columbus and every month there is an event for families. Winter months offer First Friday for Families at the Commons. Story telling, magicians, and puppet shows are geared to smaller children and are free. Neighborfest is held downtown throughout the summer with live music, food vendors, and always some form of entertainment to interest the little ones. The clown who creates cats, birds, dogs and snakes, swords, crowns, halos and almost everything else imaginable from balloons is fun for kids and grown-ups. Donner Park shelter house is the location for the monthly variety show, a place where local kids and adults can show off their talent. Also in summer are Fabulous Fridays, an evening of free music from local and regional musicians held at the amphitheater in Mill Race Park.
The end of May is the date for Salute!, a concert of patriotic music by the Columbus Philharmonic held on the courthouse lawn. June is the month for PopFest at Library Plaza, with two concert times and food vendors offering summer treats for those working in the downtown area. Come early for good seating and bring your lawn chairs. July is county fair time when everyone heads out to the fair grounds for good entertainment and tasty Indiana corn on the cob and pork chops.
September is the month for the Back-to-School Bash and the annual Hospice Concert, both at Mill Race. The Hospice Concert is an all evening event with food, fireworks, and music. Peter Noone and the 60’s and 70’s band Herman’s Hermits will perform in 2005 following Liverpool, a band dedicated to the music of the Beatles. The all volunteer event is fun for the whole family and food prices seem to be kept to a reasonable amount. Hot dogs always taste better when shared with the grandkids and the spread of donated homemade cakes and cookies don’t last long.
The Scottish Festival, also held in September, is devoted to all things Scottish…clans, pipers, dance, sheepdogs, and athletics. Athletes test their strength and skill in such events as the 22pound hammer throw, the 17 pound stone put, and the 56 pound weight throw, all the while wearing a kilt. 2005 will be the 14th year for the Scottish Festival and among the special events will be songs, storytelling, and music by performers from the United Kingdom.
A name change brings more variety to what had been the Chataqua of the Arts, now called Lazy River Festival of the Arts Weekend. Another September happening, this event will feature over 200 artists and craftsmen, craft activities for adults and children, a hot air balloons race, food, and live music. There is a fee for access to Mill Race Park for this event. In 2005 the Oldies Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert and Car Show takes place the same weekend. This is the 9th year for this stroll down memory lane, held in downtown Columbus.
Ethnic Expo, an exciting and anticipated event, is held in the city hall area of downtown Columbus the second Friday and Saturday in October. A community favorite since 1984, Ethnic Expo begins with a parade and goes on to feature food, music and entertainment from around the world. The festival runs from 11 AM until 11 PM each night and will draw an average of 30,000 visitors. Each year the event is hosted by a guest country, with Mexico being the host for the 2005 Expo.
November brings a bluegrass concert at the Commons and the Columbus Philharmonic at the First Christian Church. The beginning of the holiday season brings a variety show called Christmas Traditions to the Commons stage.
Early December brings the Festival of Lights parade and the lighting of the City Hall tree to downtown. There are free music concerts by the Columbus City Band at the Commons and there are always a few concerts at the high schools that are fee based. The huge display of lights in Mill Race Park begins late November and runs through the first of January. There is a nominal fee to enter the park to see this fabulous light show.
There is a real small town feel to Columbus when walking around the parks or blocked off area of downtown and seeing friends and neighbors, waving hi and shouting a “how ya’ been?” It’s the fun of dancing in the street with a grandchild and the chill that goes up the spine when troops from Camp Atterbury along with old men from the American Legion present the colors at Memorial Day services. It’s the ooh’s and aah’s from kids and adults admiring the holiday lights in the park or fireworks on a summer night. It’s Columbus, Indiana, and it’s a good place to be.
