Updated: July 10, 2026
In this guide
- July At A Glance
- ⚾ Columbus Clippers
- ⚽ Columbus Crew
- 🎶 Scioto Mile Concert Series: Ruthie Foster
- 📚 Columbus Book Festival
- 🛶 Free Kayak Days
- 🎼 Picnic with the Pops: Guster
- 🎨 Westerville Music & Arts Festival
- ⚡ AC/DC Power Up Tour
- 🎸 An Evening with Wilco
- 🎤 Picnic with the Pops: LeAnn Rimes
- 🎶 Goodale Park Music Series
- 🎤 Lil Wayne
- 🍖 Jazz & Rib Fest
- 🎼 Picnic with the Pops: Alan Parsons Live Project
- 🎸 Band of Horses & Dinosaur Jr.
- 🎭 An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr.
- 🎡 Ohio State Fair
- 😂 Josh Johnson’s Comedy Band Camp
- 🍀 Dublin Irish Festival
- July in Columbus: Quick Answers
Summer is in full swing in Columbus, and July is packed with concerts, festivals, sporting events, outdoor adventures, and plenty of ways to enjoy the city’s parks and neighborhoods.
Whether you’re planning a weekend downtown, catching a show under the stars, or looking for a new festival to explore, there’s something happening across Central Ohio all month long.
We update this guide every month and verify every event before it goes on the list.
July At A Glance
| Event | When | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Clippers | July 17–19 & 28–31 | Huntington Park | Ticketed |
| Columbus Crew | July 22 & 25 | ScottsMiracle-Gro Field | Ticketed |
| Scioto Mile Concert: Ruthie Foster | July 10 | Bicentennial Park | Free |
| Columbus Book Festival | July 11–12 | Main Library | Free |
| Free Kayak Days | July 11–12 | Bicentennial Park Boat Launch | Free |
| Picnic with the Pops: Guster | July 11 | Columbus Commons | Ticketed |
| Westerville Music & Arts Festival | July 11–12 | Heritage Park, Westerville | $2, kids 10 and under free |
| AC/DC Power Up Tour | July 15 | Ohio Stadium | Ticketed |
| An Evening with Wilco | July 18 | Palace Theatre | Ticketed |
| Picnic with the Pops: LeAnn Rimes | July 18 | Columbus Commons | Ticketed |
| Goodale Park Music Series | July 19 | Goodale Park | Free |
| Lil Wayne | July 23 | Nationwide Arena | Ticketed |
| Jazz & Rib Fest | July 24–26 | West Bank Park & Bicentennial Park | Free |
| Picnic with the Pops: Alan Parsons Live Project | July 25 | Columbus Commons | Ticketed |
| Band of Horses & Dinosaur Jr. | July 26 | KEMBA Live! | Ticketed |
| An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr. | July 28 | Palace Theatre | Ticketed |
| Ohio State Fair | July 29–Aug 9 | Ohio Expo Center | $9 advance, $13 gate |
| Josh Johnson’s Comedy Band Camp | July 31 | Palace Theatre | Ticketed |
| Dublin Irish Festival | July 31–Aug 2 | Coffman Park, Dublin | Ticketed |
| FAQ | Quick answers about July in Columbus | ||
⚾ Columbus Clippers
About: Summer baseball is back at Huntington Park with home series against Indianapolis (July 17–19) and Toledo (July 28–31), plus promotions, ballpark favorites, and fireworks on select nights.
Location: Huntington Park
When: Home series July 17–19 and July 28–31
More info: Columbus Clippers Schedule
⚽ Columbus Crew
About: Cheer on the Crew as they host New York City FC on July 22 before welcoming FC Cincinnati on July 25 for another edition of the always-intense Hell Is Real rivalry.
Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
When: July 22 and July 25
More info: Columbus Crew Schedule
🎶 Scioto Mile Concert Series: Ruthie Foster
About: Grammy-winning blues, folk, and gospel artist Ruthie Foster headlines a free summer concert along the downtown riverfront.
Location: Bicentennial Park
When: July 10
More info: Scioto Mile Concert Series
📚 Columbus Book Festival
About: Meet hundreds of authors, browse local booksellers, attend panel discussions, and enjoy one of the Midwest’s largest free literary festivals.
Location: Main Library
When: July 11–12
More info: Columbus Book Festival
🛶 Free Kayak Days
About: Paddle the Scioto River for free during this popular summertime event, with kayaks available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Location: Bicentennial Park Boat Launch
When: July 11–12 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
More info: Free Kayak Days
🎼 Picnic with the Pops: Guster
About: Guster joins the Columbus Symphony for a unique outdoor performance blending the band’s biggest hits with full orchestral arrangements.
Location: Columbus Commons
When: July 11
More info: CAPA
🎨 Westerville Music & Arts Festival
About: Browse work from more than 125 artists, enjoy live music, local food trucks, and family-friendly activities at this longtime community favorite. Admission is $2, and kids 10 and under get in free.
Location: Heritage Park, Westerville
When: July 11–12
More info: Westerville Music & Arts Festival
⚡ AC/DC Power Up Tour
About: Rock legends AC/DC return to Columbus with The Pretty Reckless for one of the summer’s biggest stadium concerts.
Location: Ohio Stadium
When: July 15
More info: Ohio Stadium
🎸 An Evening with Wilco
About: Grammy-winning indie rock favorites Wilco bring three decades of acclaimed music to the Palace Theatre for one night only.
Location: Palace Theatre
When: July 18
More info: CAPA
🎤 Picnic with the Pops: LeAnn Rimes
About: Celebrate 30 years of Blue as LeAnn Rimes performs her biggest hits alongside the Columbus Symphony.
Location: Columbus Commons
When: July 18
More info: CAPA
🎶 Goodale Park Music Series
About: Pack a picnic and enjoy a free afternoon concert as indie folk group Mt. Air performs in one of Columbus’ favorite neighborhood parks.
Location: Goodale Park
When: July 19 | 12:30–2 p.m.
More info: Eventbrite
🎤 Lil Wayne
About: Lil Wayne brings his “20 Years of Carter Classics” tour to Nationwide Arena with special guest 2 Chainz.
Location: Nationwide Arena
When: July 23
More info: Nationwide Arena
🍖 Jazz & Rib Fest
About: One of Columbus’ signature summer traditions returns with three days of nationally recognized jazz artists, award-winning barbecue, and riverfront fun. Admission is free.
Location: West Bank Park & Bicentennial Park
When: July 24–26
More info: Jazz & Rib Fest
🎼 Picnic with the Pops: Alan Parsons Live Project
About: Hear classics like “Eye in the Sky” and “Games People Play” performed with the full Columbus Symphony.
Location: Columbus Commons
When: July 25
More info: CAPA
🎸 Band of Horses & Dinosaur Jr.
About: Two acclaimed alternative rock bands share the stage for a special anniversary tour at KEMBA Live!
Location: KEMBA Live!
When: July 26
More info: KEMBA Live!
🎭 An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr.
About: The Tony and Grammy Award winner brings music, conversation, and Broadway favorites to Columbus during the opening night of RTRX.
Location: Palace Theatre
When: July 28
More info: CAPA
🎡 Ohio State Fair
About: The fair returns for 12 days of rides, livestock shows, butter sculptures, and deep-fried everything, with a concert lineup that runs from Nelly to “Weird Al” Yankovic. Advance tickets are $9 through July 28; adult gate admission is $13.
Location: Ohio Expo Center
When: July 29–August 9
More info: Ohio State Fair
😂 Josh Johnson’s Comedy Band Camp
About: The Daily Show correspondent and one of comedy’s fastest-rising stars performs two stand-up shows at the Palace Theatre.
Location: Palace Theatre
When: July 31 | 7 p.m. & 10 p.m.
More info: CAPA
🍀 Dublin Irish Festival
About: The world’s largest three-day Irish festival takes over Coffman Park with seven stages, around 60 acts, and more than 800 performers, from touring Irish bands to local dance schools and pipe and drum corps.
Location: Coffman Park, Dublin
When: July 31–August 2
More info: Dublin Irish Festival
July in Columbus: Quick Answers
What are the biggest events in Columbus in July 2026?
The Ohio State Fair (July 29–August 9) is the big one, followed by Jazz & Rib Fest on the riverfront (July 24–26), AC/DC at Ohio Stadium (July 15), and the Columbus Book Festival (July 11–12).
What can you do for free in Columbus this July?
Jazz & Rib Fest, the Columbus Book Festival, Free Kayak Days, and the outdoor concerts at Bicentennial Park and Goodale Park are all free. The Westerville Music & Arts Festival is close: $2, with kids 10 and under free.
When does the Ohio State Fair start in 2026?
Opening day is Wednesday, July 29, and the fair runs through Sunday, August 9 at the Ohio Expo Center. Advance tickets are $9 through July 28.
When is the Hell Is Real match in July?
The Crew host FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 25 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, three days after a home match against New York City FC on July 22.
