Cultural festival Italian Village $$
Columbus Italian Festival
Pasta, procession, and parish tradition on Saint John the Baptist grounds, the Italian Village weekend that still tastes like history.
Awards
Why Columbus Italian Festival Is Our Best Overall Pick
The Columbus Italian Festival has run since 1980 on the grounds of St. John the Baptist in Italian Village, and this year's edition ran Oct. 9 to 11. Admission is $15, children 12 and under get in free with an adult, and parking and shuttles are free. Sunday opens with Mass under the main tent at 10:15 a.m., followed at 1 p.m. by a parade and high school marching band competition hosted by the Columbus Piave Club, stepping off from Goodale Park down High Street. A bocce classic and a kickoff dinner round out the weekend.
- Food, culture, and parish history together
- Saint John grounds feel like tradition
- Dense enough for a full October weekend
Know before you go
The Columbus Italian Festival takes over the streets around Saint John the Baptist Church in Italian Village each October. Buy general admission online or at the gate ($15 in 2026; ages 12 and under free with an adult) and build the day around parish food booths, stage music, and the Sunday parade that steps off from Goodale Park at 1:00 p.m. It suits multi-generation groups who want a festival day, not a quiet dinner.
For 2026, gates run Friday, October 9, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 10, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; and Sunday, October 11, 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Park free in the Columbus State Community College garage at 534 E. Long St. and ride the festival shuttle; neighborhood street parking is permit-only and towing is enforced. Skip bringing pets; they are not allowed on the grounds. Start with our Italian Village page for the surrounding blocks. Then use the standing Columbus Italian Festival Things to Do entry for the annual overview.
- Parking
- Free parking in the Columbus State Community College garage at 534 E. Long St. with complimentary festival shuttles; limited accessible parking on 4th Street; neighborhood permit streets are towed.
- Reservations
- No table reservations; buy festival admission online or at the gate.
- Tip
- Park in the CSCC garage and take the yellow shuttle rather than hunting Italian Village curb spaces.
In the news
This Weekend in the 614: Oct 9-11
Italian Festival and Urban Scrawl wrap up Sunday, Homecoming kicks off at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, and Fall Fest, Día de los Niños and DJ Shadow round out the weekend. Status: This weekend.
Mezcla Owner Plans Coldbar Cocktail and Cold Tapas Spot in Italian Village
Garrett Talmage's Coldbar at 1049 N. Fourth St. will lean on chilled plates and Jackson Proctor cocktails, with no firm public open date yet.
