After nearly three decades at Genoa Park, one of Columbus’ biggest cultural celebrations is getting a new home.
Festival Latino, the largest Latino festival in Ohio, will take over Columbus Commons and the Ohio Theatre on August 22 and 23, the festival’s first major venue change since it settled in at Genoa Park. Organizers say the move is designed to give the free festival more flexibility and better infrastructure, with room for an expanded lineup.
The Ohio Theatre is part of the festival this year
For the first time, Festival Latino programming will extend inside the historic Ohio Theatre. Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers can step inside to cool off with free screenings of Coco on Saturday and Encanto on Sunday, along with activities hosted by local performing arts organizations.
The rest of the festival will still deliver everything longtime attendees have come to expect: live music, incredible food, dancing, local artists, family-friendly activities, and dozens of vendors celebrating cultures from across Latin America. Admission is free both days, and the festival is one stop on a crowded summer festival calendar around Central Ohio.
So who’s performing?
This year’s entertainment lineup includes Dominican merengue legends Oro Sólido on Saturday night and Grammy-winning salsa icon José Alberto “El Canario” closing out Sunday’s festivities. Columbus favorites like DJ Cale, Los Borirengues del Swing, and Chupeta de Ajo will also take the stage alongside artists from across the Americas.
Beyond the music, visitors can browse a marketplace featuring Latino artisans and entrepreneurs, grab dishes from food vendors representing cuisines from across Latin America, take free salsa lessons, or spend time in the expanded children’s area with crafts, games, and face painting. Emerging local business owners from the Mercadito Raíces program will also debut their businesses during the festival.
Festival Latino runs from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 23. Admission is free, and organizers encourage guests to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy performances at Columbus Commons.
For more info, head over to festivallatino.net.
