Its possible there just might be too much to do in Columbus this weekend...

• The 2011 Park Street Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday on Park Street (where else?), just north of the Arena District.  A bevy of bars, outdoor concerts and entertainment await.

• The people responsible for Park Street are also reopening The Long Street District with a festival of their own on Friday and Saturday.  The new owners of The Long Street District previously started it in 2000, sold out and started Park Street in 2006.  After Long Street fell on hard times, the previous owners are now returning.  The new(previous) owners are profiled at Columbus Underground and in today's Dispatch.

• If that wasn't enough entertainment, Franklinton's Go West! 2011 Festival is taking place at Tommy's Diner parking lot on Saturday.

• If you want a more sedate downtown scene and want to view some expensive downtown residences (and you've got $75 to burn), the City Hop Preview Party is also Saturday.  But since its sold out, so you'll need to know someone to go.

• If you want to see some less expensive homes for much less than 75 bucks, the Westgate Home & Garden Tour is also taking place on Saturday.

• And if you want something non-bar, non-real estate to do, there's always the Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire MLS Game on Sunday.

Saturday was quite nice. Go West! was quality and afterward Ohio's turnout for the World Naked Bike Ride actually had a good number of participants: lots of confused motorists and pedestrians. I also got more than my dose of the Park St festival when I was subjected to some blaring Ke$sha while taking the High St detour.

Another big weekend for festivals and events in Columbus: 

• The Columbus Pride Festival is celebrating its 30th year.  There will be the traditionally massive parade through downtown on Saturday, two days of events and entertainment at Goodale Park on Friday and Saturday, and the Bat n’ Rouge Softball Tournament at Dodge Park on Sunday.

• The 21st Annual Juneteenth Ohio Festival will be at Franklin Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• The Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival will be in downtown Gahanna on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• The Columbus Symphony 2011 season of Picnic with the Pops begins on Saturday.

 

And three movie series - both indoor and outdoor - begin this weekend:

• The Wex Drive-In series begins tonight on the plaza outside the Wexner Center For The Arts with a free screening of 'Lost In Translation'.

• The Columbus Commons Movies + Music series begins on Saturday with live music and a free screening of 'The Goonies'.

• And finally, the always popular CAPA Summer Movie Series begins with a screening of 'The Wizard of Oz' on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the beautiful Ohio Theatre.  Unlike the other two outside movie series, its not free.  But for only $4 you gain admission into one the original movie palaces - complete with movie, air conditioning and the “Mighty Morton” theatre organ for pre-movie, intermission and post-movie entertainment.

Its ComFest weekend in Columbus: 

• COMFEST (aka The Community Festival) is celebrating its 39th year on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Goodale Park.  Plenty of music and a little of everything else.  For the complete ComFest lineup you can view their 64-page program guide.

 

But if you're looking for an alternative to the alternative festival, there's always these events:

• The 52nd Annual German Village Haus & Garten Tour is going on at the opposite end of the downtown from 9AM to 6PM on Sunday.  A great chance to view some expensive urban homes.

• The 2011 BIA Parade of Homes is finishing its two-week run in Delaware.  A great chance to view some expensive suburban homes.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets are hosting an NHL Draft Party today on the floor of Nationwide Arena starting at 6PM.  Free admission, free parking available, free t-shirts for the first 500 fans along with player autograph sessions, street hockey on the arena floor and tours of the team locker rooms.

• And on Sunday, the Columbus Crew have their 3rd Annual Red, White and Crew game.  The Crew host the Colorado Rapids for an 8PM match plus special events before the game and at halftime - and with fireworks after the game.

 

 

If you're looking to fill your Fourth of July fireworks and parade fix, why not go to Friday's RED, WHITE & BOOM.

 

But if you're looking for something different, there's this month's Short North Gallery Hop on Saturday.  And if you want an alternative to the usual community sanctioned Fourth of July parades on Monday, go to the Short North instead for The Doo Dah Parade.

Photos from last week's Red, White and Boom and the DooDah Parade:

 

RED WHITE AND BOOM PHOTO SLIDESHOW

 

DOO DAH PARADE 2011

Another weekend of festivals and events in Columbus: 

• The North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival through Sunday at the North Market.

• The Columbus Music Co-op Parking Lot Blowout is Saturday at the Surly Girl Saloon parking lot in the Short North.

• The Schelotto and Padula Soccer Academy will be at the Columbus Commons downtown park Saturday to host a free soccer training camp with former Crew MLS Champions Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Gino Padula.

• The newly opened Scioto Mile will begin its Movies On The Mile with a screening of 'Despicable Me' on Saturday night.

• Picnic With The Pops features jazz instrumentalist Chris Botti with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night.

• And this weekend's Home and Garden Tours feature The Olde Towne East Summer Tour of Historic Homes on Sunday and the Merion Village Garden Tour and the Hungarian Village Garden Tour, both on Sunday.

 

The hottest weekend of the year so far will also be a hot time for festivals and events in Columbus: 

• The Jazz & Rib Fest, one of the major downtown festivals, will be at the North Bank Park along the riverfront and at McFerson Commons in the Arena District on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• The Columbus Symphony will host Popcorn Pops on Friday and Picnic With The Pops on Saturday on the lawn of Chemical Abstracts Service (2540 Olentangy River Rd.)

• The newly opened Columbus Commons will have a Luau at the Commons with a free hog roast on Friday night.

• German Village ArtCrawl will be held Saturday night.

• There's also a bunch of outdoor movies: Tonight, The Wex Drive-In features the 1959 Japanese movie 'Battle in Outer Space' - in Japanese with English subtitles.  Friday, 'Glory' will be screened on the Statehouse grounds.  Saturday, 'Airplane!' will be shown at Goodale Park in the Short North and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' at Whetstone Park in Clintonville.

• And if all that wasn't enough, the Columbus Crew will be hosting the Portland Timbers at Crew Stadium on Saturday night.

It's that time of the year again...

 

Ohio State Fair 2011 - July 27 through August 7

 

Great events on Gay Street and around the Short North this weekend:

 

- 4th Annual Independents’ Day Seizes Downtown Columbus This Saturday:  The fourth annual Independents’ Day takes place on Saturday, September 17 from noon to midnight at Gay Street and Pearl Alley.  This free all-ages celebration features an explosive array of local artists, bands, food vendors, crafters, dancers, street performers, and small businesses.

 

- City Hop to focus on Gay Street:  Columbus Landmarks Foundation's annual tour of downtown residences focuses on five Gay Street locations this year.  This year's version also includes an architectural tour of six other Gay Street buildings: such as the Atlas Building - the 1904 high-rise designed by Frank L. Packard; the Ohio State Savings Association building - an art deco gem; and the Diamond Exchange building - billed as the first fireproof building in Ohio when it was completed in 1912.

 

- Short North Tour of Homes and Gardens:  The Shorth North Civic Association is featuring a tour of 12 homes and gardens on Sunday, September 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  The general tour can be walked or ridden in by trolley bus.  The Cycle Tavern will also be providing transporation between some of the stops.  Preview of the 2011 home and garden stops.

 

 

This weekend! Don't miss the largest new age and alternative information expo in the midwest - the Universal Light Expo!

 

This year's theme is "Gathering Light"

 

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8-9th

Saturday 9 am - 8 pm -- Sunday 10 am - 6 pm

Veterans Memorial Hall, Columbus, Ohio

Admission $10 - All tickets sold at the door

 

Be sure to see the Tibetan Monks, Naisha Ahsian, Raymond Buckland,

Barbara Evans, Tricia McCannon, William Meader, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, Freddy Silva,

Kevin Todeschi and many, many more!

 

Over 330 vendors booths! Over 100 workshops!

 

Check out the web site at http://www.universeexpo.com/ for a complete list of speakers and events. Come Join Us and enjoy the Light!

From http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/experiencing/downtown-illumination-11

 

 

Downtown Illumination 2011

 

Downtown Columbus will be at the heart of the holiday season once more when the Columbus Commons, The Lazarus Building and the entire Scioto Mile from Broad Street to Bicentennial Park, are lit up in a spectacular urban light display from December 2 to January 15.

 

Grand Illumination, December 2

 

Join Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Santa to kick off the Downtown Illumination at Bicentennial Park December 2nd at 6pm.  Find more information at www.SciotoMile.com.

 

Following the Grand Illumination at Bicentennial Park, walk from The Scioto Mile to Columbus Commons for free carousel rides and hot chocolate from 5pm-8pm.  On the way, check out the Lazarus Window Displays, and stop by the OSU Urban Arts Space for a Book and Paper Art Sale from 6pm-8pm.

 

Downtown Illumination Highlights

 

Columbus Commons

• Over 100,000 multi-colored lights on 127 trees

• 35 foot Holiday Tree on the Grand Lawn

• Four Holiday Displays in the Garden

• A 15 foot Fountain of Light at High Street Entrance

 

Lazarus Building

• Six holiday display windows along High and Town Street featuring Santa, Reindeer, a Holiday Train and the original Twelve Days of Christmas Lazarus Displays

 

Scioto Mile

• Over 40,000 lights on more than 60 trees

• Holiday Light Show at the Bicentennial Park Fountain

 

 

Columbus Commons Holiday Fair, December 16-18

 

Save the Date for the Columbus Commons Holiday Fair, December 16 - December 18.  With rides, activities, visits with Santa and tons of family-friendly fun, the Commons will be the place to get in the holiday spirit.  Visit www.ColumbusCommons.org for more information.

 

The voters at Columbus Underground chose their Top 10 Festivals of 2011:

 

Best Festival of 2011: ComFest

We're not quite to the summer festival season yet.  But it feels like summer outside today.  And there's a bunch of big events happening today in Columbus that are colliding together.  So it's an appropriate time to restart the festivals and events thread.

 

First, the big one.  President Obama will be holding a campaign kickoff rally this afternoon at the Schottenstein Center on the Ohio State University campus.  While the Obama for President rally is going on, other events are also happening at OSU.  The previously scheduled State Science Day will be attracting thousands of participants to the campus.  A baseball doubleheader between Ohio State and Northwestern will be going on next door to the Schott.  And if that wasn't enough, part of the Capital City Half Marathon will be running though the campus in the morning.

 

All that, and there's also the Short North Gallery Hop tonight!  More about the President's visit and how to navigate in and around the OSU campus from the below linked Dispatch article:

 

Obama, runners will roil traffic Saturday near Ohio State

The Capital City Half Marathon had a record crowd of over 13,000 people on Saturday.  More about that with photos at the Columbus Dispatch.  Over at Columbus Underground, Walker (who was also a runner!) also posted some very scenic photos of the race and some great photos of a crowded Columbus Commons - which was the finish line for the race.

 

 

 

 

MORE PHOTOS: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/cap-city-half-marathon-may-5th-2012

Hey does anyone care to post a nice little timeline or at least a rough draft - general idea of when the big events are? Columbus has some great outdoor events and I'm looking forward to going to them. The collective energy at festivals in Columbus just can't be beat, compared to other cities, IMO. I've been having a lot of fun hanging out with my brother and his Local Union Pipefitter and Welding friends; I have a feeling ComFest is going to be off-the-hook this year for me, when I go  I'll need to stock up on Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey :drunk:

Hey does anyone care to post a nice little timeline or at least a rough draft - general idea of when the big events are? Columbus has some great outdoor events and I'm looking forward to going to them.

Columbus Underground usually produces a Summer Festival Schedule before Memorial Day weekend (if I'm remembering this correctly).  When they do this I'll post a link to it here.  In the meantime, here's a few complications of some downtown summertime event series from Columbus Underground:

 

Ohio Statehouse Announces 2012 ‘Summer Fridays at the Statehouse’ Season

 

Columbus Commons 2012 Events

 

Downtown Live Summer Concert Series at Columbus Commons 2012

 

Rhythm on the River 2012 Season - Bicentennial Park Performing Arts Pavilion

I have a feeling ComFest is going to be off-the-hook this year

Speaking of ComFest.  The very first ComFest was held 40 years ago today.  As part of the Columbus Bicentennial, the Dispatch has been running a series of articles about significant past events that have occurred on each calender day.  Today's May 12th date was dedicated to ComFest.  And given its origin and the headline of the article, it's come a long way in 40 years!

 

Columbus Mileposts: May 12, 1972 | Enduring festival that is ComFest started with a hippie street party

Columbus Underground is kicking off their first summer weekend festival compilation.  Below is the link:

 

Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 1

 

Two of biggest weekend events are for music lovers.  If your music tastes are of the hand-banging variety, then head over to Crew Stadium for the Rock on the Range.  If your music tastes are more 'Austin City Limits', then head southeast for the Nelsonville Music Festival.

Columbus Underground is kicking off their first summer weekend festival compilation.  Below is the link:

 

Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 1

 

Two of biggest weekend events are for music lovers.  If your music tastes are of the hand-banging variety, then head over to Crew Stadium for the Rock on the Range.  If your music tastes are more 'Austin City Limits', then head southeast for the Nelsonville Music Festival.

I neglected to highlight the Komen Race for the Cure event that happened last Saturday.  This year the race ending was at Columbus Commons.  Here are some photos from Columbus Underground at 20th Annual Komen Columbus Race for the Cure, May 19, 2012:

 

 

 

 

And speaking more about Columbus Commons.  The opening of the new Bicentennial Pavilion at the Commons is being celebrated with a weekend full of free events.  Starting with a free Michael McDonald concert on Thursday night at 7:00PM and ending with a free performance of Shadowbox's Back to the Garden musical on Sunday night at 8:30PM.

 

More about the Bicentennial Pavilion Opening Weekend Events from May 24 to May 27 at http://columbuscommons.org/happenings/opening-weekend/.

Hey does anyone care to post a nice little timeline or at least a rough draft - general idea of when the big events are? Columbus has some great outdoor events and I'm looking forward to going to them.

Columbus Underground usually produces a Summer Festival Schedule before Memorial Day weekend (if I'm remembering this correctly).  When they do this I'll post a link to it here. 

Here it is.  From Columbus Underground - a list of festivals from this Memorial Day weekend through November:

 

CU: The 2012 Columbus Festival Season

The big festival news for this weekend is the Columbus Arts Festival returning to the downtown riverfront for the first time since construction of the Scioto Mile began in 2008.  Below are two postings from Columbus Underground about it.  One is a posting from the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) about this year's event.  The other is an on-going thread about the 2012 event.

 

CU: GCAC Presents: Columbus Arts Festival Returns to the Riverfront

 

CU: Columbus Arts Festival 2012

 

Lots happening in the Columbus area this weekend with some of the biggest events happening downtown. 

 

The biggest will be the Pride Festival and the Pride Parade though downtown on Saturday.  Picnic with the Pops kicks off their new season at their new downtown location (Columbus Commons) with Three Dog Night on Friday and The Temptations on Saturday.  And right next door in the beautiful Ohio Theatre, CAPA’s Summer Movie Series starts Friday.

 

That and much more is complied by the wonderful folks at Columbus Underground in their Mega Summer Weekend round-up (linked below):

 

CU: Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 5

The summer festival must be in full swing - because its officially summer now.  Columbus doesn't disappoint on the festival front.

 

• ComFest is Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Goodale Park.  Here's their entertainment list.

• At Columbus Commons, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra has its Popcorn Pops on Friday and its Picnic With The Pops on Saturday.

• The 53rd annual German Village Haus und Garten Tour is Sunday.

 

That and much more is complied by the wonderful folks at Columbus Underground in their Mega Summer Weekend round-up (linked below):

 

CU: Columbus Mega Summer Weekend Vol. 6

 

Hot weekend leading up next week's Bicentennial Red, White & Boom on Tuesday.  But if you can't wait til Tuesday for your fireworks fix - the Columbus Crew will have fireworks after their Saturday night match against Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Clippers will have fireworks after their Saturday and Sunday night games.  However, there are plenty of non-fireworks events coming up this weekend:

 

On Friday, MORPC presents Riverfest at COSI, while Columbus Rec & Parks presents Music on the Scioto Mile across the river at Bicentennial Park.  And the Columbus Landmarks Foundation revamps their annual City Hop with a progressive dinner through three vintage downtown clubs - The Columbus Club at 181 E. Broad Street, The Athletic Club of Columbus at 136 E. Broad Street and The Capital Club at 41 S. High Street.

 

Saturday has breakfast at the Dinin Hall in Franklinton, Cafe Brioso hosting a Barista Jam, Picnic with the Pops at Columbus Commons and the Grandview Hop in Grandview Heights.

 

Sunday has the Tour de Grandview bike race through Grandview, a Food Truck Hop at Hal & Al’s on Sunday and Artisan Sunday at the North Market.

 

That and much more is complied by the wonderful folks at Columbus Underground in their Mega Summer Weekend round-up (linked below):

 

CU: Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 7

I have a friend in Columbus who complains that their 4th of July fireworks never, ever seem to be held actually on the 4th of July! :x She lives downtown and suspects its because doing so would inconvenience the vast majority of attendees--suburbanites--into making an unecessary trip downtown on--gasp!--a holiday! So much for patriotism.

Red, White, and Boom! is always held on the 2nd or 3rd so as not to overlap on the suburban displays held on the 4th. I think it's a fantastic setup; the entire metro and beyond celebrates Independence Day downtown the day before, then can enjoy the 4th each in their respective communities. I have very fond memories of heading downtown on the 2nd or 3rd for Red, White, and Boom! and then enjoying the Upper Arlington parade and fireworks at Northam Park on the 4th.

I have a friend in Columbus who complains that their 4th of July fireworks never, ever seem to be held actually on the 4th of July! :x She lives downtown and suspects its because doing so would inconvenience the vast majority of attendees--suburbanites--into making an unecessary trip downtown on--gasp!--a holiday! So much for patriotism.

I would be willing to suspect that holding the festivities that include 500,000 -750,000 people downtown on the weekend closest to the 4th has much more to do with logistics then the inconvenience it would cause to suburbanites. I also wonder how exactly you could discern whether or not the attendees are suburbanites or city residents considering the city of Columbus has over 790,000 residents and the suburbs have about 1 million. Or is the term suburbanite in reference to anyone who doesn't live in downtown proper? I live in German Village and am perfectly fine with the timeframe that the festivities occur in.

^I understand the "logistics" argument, I think :|, but the 4th, like Christmas, is one of those holidays which can't magically be changed into a long weekend. In NYC the fireworks are always on the 4th, regardless of which day of the week it falls. Then again they're sponsored by Macy's, and we all know how patriotic they are--lol. I don't know, I just think the 4th of July is as sacred as a secular American holiday can be and a major celebration should always be on that day, that's all. Then again when I lived in Columbus in the mid-70's I don't even recall a huge downtown fireworks display. It was just a bunch of small suburban ones.

Then again when I lived in Columbus in the mid-70's I don't even recall a huge downtown fireworks display.

 

Come back and visit! My suggestion as to when would be this upcoming Tuesday ;)

He could have stayed around for Wednesday's Fourth of July Doo Dah Parade in the Short North too.  The Doo Dah Parade is always a hoot because you can be entertained by timely social commentary like this...

 

 

 

And just plain weirdness like this...

 

 

 

More Doo Dah Parade photos at http://www.columbusunderground.com/photos-doo-dah-parade-2012

Don't be afraid of Friday of the 13th.  There's plently going on in Columbus and Central Ohio.  One is the return of one of last year's most talked about events - The Food Truck and Cart Festival at Columbus Commons.  The reason it was talked about was good and bad.  Good because it attracted an estimated 12,000 people for its debut at the then just opened Commons.  Bad because the mass of people resulted in very long lines and some places running out of food.  The organizers say they're better prepared for the crowds this year.  More about that at Food Truck and Cart Festival Returns to Columbus Commons.

 

Also on Friday is the Mayor’s Twilight Ride that is a part of the Bike Columbus Festival.  The Mayor's Twilight Ride will begin and end at COSI in downtown.  By the time the ride finishes at sunset, Waterfire will be starting up along the Scioto River next to COSI.

 

The Franklin County Fair starts on Saturday.  Downtown's Topiary Park will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.  The Columbus Crew will be hosting Sporting KC and having $1 brats and beer night.  And in Columbus Commons, Picnic With The Pops will feature Dennis DeYoung performing The Music of Styx. (No word on if Eric Cartman will be guest singing 'Come Sail Away")

 

The Olde Towne East Tour of Homes, Goodale Park Music Series and Lynyrd Skynyrd playing at Columbus Commons will close out the weekend on Sunday.  Free Bird!

 

CU: Columbus Mega Summer Weekend Vol. 9

 

Dang it!  I've been completely non-posting some of biggest late summer events in Columbus like the Ohio State Fair and the Jazz and Rib Fest in the Arena District.  I'll try to get some recaps and such for these later on this extra-long weekend. 

 

And its an extra-long weekend because it's the Labor Day Weekend.  The unofficial end to summer.  So we may as well get a look from Columbus Underground at Columbus Mega Summer Weekend – Vol. 16.  Go to the CU link for the complete listing of this weekend's festivals and events.  But the highlights include:

 

- The 40th annual Greek Festival at Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Downtown Columbus

- The monthly Short North Gallery Hop

- And some event at the OSU campus involving 105,000 people in a Shoe :wink:

Recapping two of the biggest annual festival events in Columbus from the past months that I didn't get around to posting for 2012.  First, in late July was the 33rd annual Jazz & Rib Fest presented by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department.  The Jazz & Rib Fest got moved from its previous downtown riverfront location three years ago during construction of the Scioto Mile.  Other festivals moved back after Scioto Mile construction was completed.  But it looks like the Arena District riverfront parks are going to be the new home for the Jazz & Rib Fest.  The Jazz & Rib Fest occupies the Arena District parks of McFerson Commons and North Bank Park as well as closing off Spring and Long Streets during the three day festival.

 

Read more about the Jazz & Rib Fest from Columbus Underground at Jazz and Rib Fest Offers Something for Everybody, check out the festival’s website at www.hotribscooljazz.org and enjoy some photos from the festival below:

 

 

 

 

 

Recap #2: The Ohio State Fair

 

A stretch of good summer weather helped boost attendance at the 2012 Ohio State Fair - which ran from July 25 to August 5.  As reported by the Columbus Dispatch and the Ohio State Fair, 840,306 people who went through the gates for this year's 12-day event.  This was up from last year's attendance of 833,304.  And it was the most attendance since the Ohio State Fair was shortened from 17 days to 12 days in 2004.

 

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State Fair attendance tops 840,000 in 2012

 

Ohio State Fair Press Release: Estimated attendance figures released

 

I'm not sure if this is the right thing for this, but here's an event that should get a ton of exposure in Columbus in 2 weeks.

 

http://www.beardteamohio.com/beardcon/

 

BeardCon is going to be awesome. If you saw anything about the Beards of Science event last year at CoSI, then you should know that this event is the sequel to that great time.

 

Any questions you may have, i'll endeavor to answer.

^ Sure.  We accept all kinds of people. :wink:

Speaking of accepting all kinds of people.  Though it may not get much love over at this thread, Independents’ Day celebrated its fifth anniversary a couple of weekends ago.

 

 

Independents' Day has become a pretty big late summer/early fall downtown event - closing off of Gay Street from High to Third and some adjoining alleys.  Below is a link to a Columbus Underground photo thread of Independents' Day.  Also below is a link to a Dispatch article about it, or as Big D calls it "The Hipsters Holiday"!

 

Columbus Underground: Photos: Independents’ Day 2012

 

Columbus Dispatch: Independents’ Day fills Gay St. with Pabst, bands, food

A Short North event tonight that's been getting bigger and been getting more corporate support and been getting more institutional support since it's inception in 2008. - HIGHBALL HALLOWEEN - Although it's officially called "The Fifth Annual HighBall Halloween Masquerade on High" and it bills itself as "A bit Mardi Gras, A bit Carnivale and A lot Halloween".

 

I really wish you could read the entire Business First article - "HighBall Halloween backers push to make annual bash a signature event".  Unfortunately it's a subcription required article.  But here's a pertinent passage:

 

HighBall started in 2008 with a quickly constructed stage at High Street and Buttles Avenue and a crowd of around 8,000.  Five years later, an estimated crowd of 20,000 will get a wider array of attractions, 100 models, 30-foot video projections on the Greater Columbus Convention Center, and a show bigger than ever.

 

The growth comes behind the scenes as well with corporate sponsorships on the rise and planning already under way for an even bigger 2013.  “HighBall has an opportunity to be a national event,” said Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer.  “It’s a manifestation of our branding of Columbus as ‘open and smart.’  This is the essence of what we’re doing with economic development and tourism.”

 

---

Here are some highlights of tonight's upcoming HighBall:

 

Columbus Underground:  The List: 5 Reasons to go to Highball Halloween

 

Event Website:  HighBall Halloween

 

In downtown, the Scioto Mile and Columbus Commons are having their 2nd annual Grand Illumination and Holiday Fair.  Below is a map of the event.  It looks like City Hall and the Statehouse have been added to the tour.  More about it at http://www.sciotomile.com/

 

Here's a few photos from the Facebook page of the event from last night's opening:

 

Christmas Tree display in the indoor-outdoor courtyard of the renovated Lazarus Building. 

For many longtime residents, a touch of Christmas past, when it was the Lazarus Department Store.

 

The new fountains in Bicentennial Park are part of the holiday lighting this year.  Minus the water, of course!

And the final Short North Gallery Hop of the year is tonight.  More about it from the Short North Arts District at Holiday Hop - December 1, 2012.

Since the UO server ate the previous posting, here's the link to Columbus Underground's 2013 Festival Season rundown:

 

CU: The 2013 Columbus Festival Season

Columbus gets pigeon-holed as a "college town".  And while there's nothing wrong per se with that (and certainly nothing wrong with being associated with the Ohio State University), a city of over 800,000 with a metro area of 1.85 million is much more than just one school.  That is on display this weekend.  The OSU football team is on the road at Northwestern, so Ohio Stadium is empty.  But Nationwide Arena was filled to capacity last night for the Blue Jackets home opener.  The Crew are in middle of a playoff race when they host KC tonight at Crew Stadium.  The nationally broadcast Presidents Cup is taking place at the Muirfield golf course in Dublin.  And the month-long All American Quarter Horse Congress began yesterday at the Ohio State Fairgrounds - which might not mean much to you or I - but brings an estimated 650,000 visitors and $180 million economic impact into Central Ohio.

 

And that doesn't include the normal events like the popular Short North Gallery Hop or the opening of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra season at downtown's Ohio Theatre which can also be watched live and free next door at the Columbus Commons park.  More about those and smaller event from Columbus Underground at http://www.columbusunderground.com/columbus-mega-fall-weekend-2013-vol-5.  The Dispatch also recapped this at  http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/10/04/one-big-weekend.html.

Since today is Halloween night, here are some photos of last weekend's Highball Halloween held in front of the Convention Center on High Street in downtown.  This was the 6th year for HighBall Halloween Masquerade on High - a mash-up of Halloween, Mardi Gras, Day of the Dead and a New York runway show.  This year the event was expanded to two days (Friday & Saturday).  Two quite cold days this year.  But attendance wasn't negatively affected. 

 

Below are also some links to slideshows from various local sources.  The final photo is from the Columbus Foundation's Spirit of Columbus facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheColumbusFoundation#!/TheColumbusFoundation/photos_stream

 

Columbus Underground: Photos: Highball Halloween 2013

 

Business First: HighBall Halloween – SLIDESHOW

 

 

Christmas Corner in downtown Columbus by State Auto Schedule of events.

 

 

State Auto Choir Schedule:

2013 Christmas Display Choir Schedule

Wednesday, Dec. 4 (5:30 p.m.) Columbus Children's Choir*

Friday, Dec. 6 (7 p.m.) Alliance Chorus

Friday, Dec. 6 (8 p.m.) Columbus State Gospel Vocal Ensemble

Saturday, Dec. 7 (7 p.m.) East Side Grace Brethren Church Choir

Sunday, Dec. 8 (7 p.m.) Columbus Maennerchor/Damenchor

Wednesday, Dec. 11 (6:30 p.m.) Grove City Christian High School Sudden Impact and Chimes

Friday, Dec. 13 (7 p.m.) Dublin Coffman High School Choir

Friday, Dec. 13 (8 p.m.) State Auto Choir

Saturday, Dec. 14 (7 p.m.) Powell United Methodist Church Choir

Sunday, Dec. 15 (7 p.m.) Signs of Christmas Choir

Wednesday, Dec. 18 (6:30 p.m.) Cristo Rey Chorus

Thursday, Dec. 19 (6:30 p.m.) Nelsonville York High School Choir

Friday, Dec. 20 (7 p.m.) Grove City Chamber Singers

Saturday, Dec. 21 (7 p.m.) Meredith Temple Church of God in Christ Choir

Sunday, Dec. 22 (7 p.m.) His Word Chorus

*Columbus Children's Choir will perform at 5:30 p.m. during the lighting ceremony.

 

Here are some shots of Christmas Corner in downtown Columbus - Decorations almost ready!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EKIB8vhki8

 

Welcome to Urban Ohio, CyclingExplorer. 

 

Active central ohio posters are very welcome here.  Thanks for the State Auto Christmas Display information.  Their annual downtown display is always amazing!

The Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting

 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

 

Ohio Statehouse; 1 Capitol Square; downtown Columbus

http://www.ohiostatehouse.org

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It’s that time of the year again to grab your entire family, your friends and bring some holiday cheer to celebrate the Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting. This year’s celebration will take place Tuesday, December 3, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This free family-friendly event is open to the public!

The festival marks the beginning of the holiday season on Capitol Square and throughout all of central Ohio. The indoor ceremony will take place in the Statehouse Atrium and consist of a short program, welcoming Santa and Mrs. Claus, followed by the lighting of our historically decorated holiday tree. The festivities will then continue with refreshments, arts and crafts activities, games and special performances by local bands and choirs. There will also be a free photo station available to capture your families’ moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Refreshments courtesy of Starbucks on Capitol Square, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council and the eight exclusive caterers of the Ohio Statehouse.

Scheduled activities include:

Ongoing Activity Stations:

Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, Ohio Ornament

Highlights Magazine Activity Table

Office of the Treasurer Activity Table

Office of the Secretary of State, Vote for your Favorite Holiday Tradition

Office of the State Auditor, Reindeer Hats

Office of the Attorney General Activity Table

American Red Cross, Writing Letters to Soldiers

COSI, Fun with Physics

Make Snowman Treats

CAMA, Face Painting

Make a Hand Print Wreath

Ohio Paper Folders, Holiday Origami Station

Writing Letters to Santa

Play Pin the Nose on Rudolf

Play Santa Says

Holiday Bookmark

Performances on the Museum Gallery Stage:

Kristina D’Onofrio and Brandon Whited performing Sugar Plum pas de deaux

Highway Patrol Bomb Dog demonstration

Pickerington High School Chamber Orchestra

Choir Line Up:

The Alliance of Greater Central Ohio

Con Brio Children’s Choir

Mad River Dulcimer Society

Worthington Chorus

Mascots:

Holiday Cardinal

Clara and the Nutcracker- BalletMet Columbus

Lou Seal- Columbus Clippers

Krash- Columbus Clippers

Salvation Army Bell Ringers