Food festival Columbus $$
Oktoberfest at the Ohio Expo Center
Tents, brass, pretzels, and beer-hall energy at the Expo Center when Columbus fall festival season opens.
Awards
Why Oktoberfest at the Ohio Expo Center why was this picked
Columbus Oktoberfest charges nothing at the gate, and parking at the Ohio Expo Center costs $15. This year's festival ran Sept. 11 to 13, opening Friday at 5 p.m. and staying open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Its Gemutlichkeit Games include strongman and amateur contests, and a Marktplatz holds the vendor stalls. Kids get their own event list, and a $40 paint and sip session had guests painting a pumpkin on a 12 inch canvas with one drink included.
- Expo Center scale without leaving town
- Beer-hall energy for mixed groups
- Easy entry to fall festival season
Know before you go
Oktoberfest at the Ohio Expo Center is the September German festival weekend built around tents, bands, and Schmidt's-scale food service on the fairgrounds. Admission has typically been free while parking is paid on site; confirm the next edition dates and tent hours before you go. It suits groups who want a festival beer hall without a private banquet booking.
The 2026 weekend ran September 11 to 13; watch the Columbus Oktoberfest site for 2027 dates and parking rates. Park on the Expo lots off 17th Avenue rather than hunting nearby curb space. Read the Expo area on our Columbus page. Then compare seasonal weekends on our best festivals and fairs list. Call or check the business site the day you go because seasonal schedules and posted hours change.
- Parking
- Paid Expo Center parking; 2026 parking was $15 per car via the 17th Avenue entrance toward Gate 3.
- Reservations
- No table reservations; admission has typically been free with paid parking.
- Tip
- Enter from 17th Avenue and follow Gate 3 parking signs rather than circling side streets.
