SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE By Andy downing And Joel oliphint
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
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ComFest photo By MeghAn RAlston
e’ve lost some festivals this year. PromoWest Fest is taking a breather. The Juggalos aren’t gathering. Juneteenth Ohio hopes to return in 2018. 4th & 4th Fest (which ended up on High Street at Ace of Cups last year) is dead. Bluestone Promotions stepped away from WCOL Country Jam. And Independents’ Day announced 2017 as its final year. But! There’s still plenty of music to be had in festival form. The brand-new Melanincholy Festival promises fresh experiences and perspectives while highlighting mu-
sicians (and other artists) of color. The 2x2 Hip Hop Festival, now in its third year, has quickly become a must-see event of the season, ComFest is still ComFest, and short treks to Logan, Thornville and Nelsonville expand the worthwhile music festival options even further. What follows here, while not comprehensive, offers a curated overview of the music festivals scheduled to hit city streets/parks/ venues, with a quick detour examining five relatively nearby events worth the cost of gasoline. Good luck, and stay hydrated.
SUMMER GUIDE 2017 ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
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SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER GUIDE // MUSIC FESTIVALS Nelsonville Music Festival
PHOTO BY JODI MILLER
Columbus Arts Festival
PHOTO BY FRED SqUILLANTE
Columbus Arts Festival
PHOTO BY ERIC ALBRECHT
MELANINCHOLY FESTIVAL
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
May 26-28 Milo-Grogan Community Rec Center 862 E. Second Ave., Milo-Grogan melanincholy614.com
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COST: Free PERFORMERS: Betsy Ross, Correy Parks, MojoFlo, Jacoti Sommes, Counterfeit Madison SUMMARY: This newborn arts and music festival, gearing up for a grand coming out as a three-day event after a soft launch as a one-day affair last year, features musicians, artists, poets and filmmakers of color. Expect a mash-up of art forms, with poets reading in between bands and short films screening during downtimes, with an eye on exposing attendees to new experiences. Best of all? Admission is free, since organizers want as few barriers to entry as possible for anyone who wishes to partake.
DARK STAR JUBILEE
May 26-28 Legend Valley, Thornville darkstarjubilee.com COST: $149 PERFORMERS: Dark Star Orchestra, KWahtro (Keller Williams), Greensky Bluegrass, Hot Tuna, Railroad Earth SUMMARY: Sure, you could travel north to Blossom in late June to catch Dead and Company, but then you’d also have to witness John Mayer’s guitar face. Opt instead for Grateful Dead tribute act Dark Star Orchestra, which has been channeling Jerry Garcia’s revered jam-band tunes for 20 years now. This year DSO will perform three full two-set shows in Legend Valley, plus performances from fellow patchouliscented acts, like Keller Williams’ acoustic dance band KWahtro and Greensky Bluegrass, which offers an irreverent take on its namesake genre.
NELSONVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 1-4 Robbins Crossing, Nelsonville nelsonvillefest.org COST: $150 weekend pass, day passes $55-$90 PERFORMERS: Ween, They Might Be Giants, Emmylou Harris, Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis, Rodriguez, Cloud Nothings, Son Volt, John Fullbright SUMMARY: Quite possibly the best music fest in Ohio, Nelsonville’s picturesque home on the campus of Hocking College manages to maintain its intimate vibe even as organizers bring in big names in rock, folk and country every year. The legendary Emmylou Harris will grace Nelsonville’s main stage this year, as will the recently reunited Gene and Dean Ween.
COLUMBUS ARTS FESTIVAL
June 9-11 Main Street and Civic Center Drive, Downtown columbusartsfestival.org COST: Free PERFORMERS: Grassinine, Sean Carney, The Shazzbots, Anna & The Consequences, The Muppet Mayhem Band, Dave Buker & The Historians, Andy Shaw Band SUMMARY: Music isn’t the main draw for most people who head Downtown to the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s local festival, which will bring in visual artists from 37 states (including 55 from Ohio), Belgium and Canada. But the Arts Festival also features more than 150 performances over the course of the weekend, so be sure to check out the rotating acts on six stages.
SUMMER GUIDE 2017 ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
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BUCKEYE COUNTRY SUPERFEST June 10 and 11 Ohio Stadium 411 Woody Hayes Dr., Campus buckeyecountrysuperfest.com
COST: $40-250 per day PERFORMERS: Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban SUMMARY: Now in its third year, the Buckeye Country Superfest is already experiencing a bit of deja vu due to the return of year one headliners Kenny Chesney (think Jimmy Buffett in cowboy boots rather than Hawaiian prints) and Keith Urban (a better guitarist than you realize). Still, the must-see name this year is Miranda Lambert, a sharp songwriter touring behind a great 2016 album, The Weight of These Wings. The undercard is a bit lacking, if we’re being honest, but newcomer Frankie Ballard is one to watch.
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER GUIDE // MUSIC FESTIVALS
PHOTO BY TYLER STABILE
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WASHBOARD MUSIC FESTIVAL June 15-17 Downtown Logan washboardmusicfestival.com
COST: Free PERFORMERS: Washboard Hank and the Washboard Players, Steel City Rovers, the Sodbusters SUMMARY: You may not recognize many of the names at this annual community festival that takes over the streets of downtown Logan, but you can rest assured there will be many acts making use of an instrument that Tide truthers don’t want you to know about.
Buckeye Country Superfest
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival
FILE PHOTO
DUCK CREEK LOG JAM
CREEKSIDE BLUES & JAZZ FESTIVAL
COST: $90 for two-day pass and $50 for one day, both with camping; $35 for one day no camping PERFORMERS: Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Billy Strings, Henhouse Prowlers, Caamp, Old Salt Union SUMMARY: This Southeast Ohio fest’s aesthetic is consistently down-home and rootsy, and 2017’s version continues to maintain Duck Creek’s dynasty. Fest-goers should expect an intimate vibe, with acoustic stringed instruments galore.
COST: Free PERFORMERS: Willie Phoenix, Sean Carney, Terry Davidson & the Gears, Flippo, The Spikedrivers, Angela Perley, Mojoflo, Tony Monaco Trio SUMMARY: This community festival lives up to its name, featuring two of our city’s best blues guitarists (Willie Phoenix, Sean Carney) and jazz tributes to Chick Corea (by Flippo) and Billie Holiday (by the Lisa Clark Trio), but there’s plenty of rock and Americana, too.
June 16 and 17 Duck Creek Camping and Outdoor Events Area, Logan duckcreeklogjam.com
June 16-18 Creekside Plaza, Gahanna creeksidebluesandjazz.com
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SUMMER GUIDE // MUSIC FESTIVALS SUMMER GUIDE 2017
PHOTO BY CHRIS RUSSELL
STONEWALL COLUMBUS PRIDE FESTIVAL June 16-18 Bicentennial and Genoa parks 233 Civic Center Dr., Downtown columbuspride.org
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
PHOTO BY BARBARA J. PERENIC
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COST: $5 per day suggested donation PERFORMERS: TBA SUMMARY: Pride is swelling. With the annual LGBTQ celebration’s continued growth, organizers relocated from Goodale Park in Victorian Village to the riverside park Downtown. And while the fest is first and foremost a celebration, it is adopting a more political/social edge this year, requiring parade applicants to show proof of an in-place anti-discrimination policy before allowing them to march.
ComFest
June 23-25 Goodale Park, Victorian Village comfest.com COST: Free PERFORMERS: Watershed, Ekoostik Hookah, Souther, Jae Esquire, Sean Carney, New Thousand, Foley, Nes Wordz, Willie Phoenix, Dominique Larue, Mas Bagua, the Floorwalkers, Hugs and Kisses, Megan Palmer, Bridesmaid, Corbezzolo, Big Foot, Bush League All-Stars, Pale Grey Lore, Suffering Praying Hands, Cherry Chrome, KT Ramsey, Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra SUMMARY: Organizers behind the annual “party with a purpose” appear to be more focused on the “purpose” angle this year, judging solely by the more aggressive image gracing the festival’s new poster (a fist gripping a broken olive branch, accompanied by text reading “rise up”). Still, expect a majority of attendees to be more enthralled by the experience of sipping beer in colored plastic mugs while taking in sets from an impressively wide range of local musicians.
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
COMFEST
PHOTO BY ABIgAIl SAxTOn FISHER
RED, WHITE & BOOM
Monday, July 3 Various venues, Downtown redwhiteandboom.org COST: Free PERFORMERS: TBA SUMMARY: A couple quick numbers: The annual Downtown Fourth of July extravaganza draws more than 400,000 attendees for a fireworks display that employs more
than 48,750 pounds of explosives, or nearly a pound of ammunition for every eight people. Oh, and there’s music, too, with local favorites gracing stages set up throughout Downtown and the Arena District. Pro tip: Park outside Downtown and be willing to walk a ways rather than dealing with snarled traffic and overpriced lots.
Red, White & Boom
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
PHOTO BY FRED SquIllAnTE
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SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER GUIDE // MUSIC FESTIVALS
JAZZ & RIB FEST
July 21-23 Bicentennial, West Bank and Genoa parks, Downtown hotribscooljazz.org COST: Free PERFORMERS: Local and national jazz artists to be announced SUMMARY: The 38th edition of this festival returns to the revamped Downtown riverfront for the second time, enabling you to take in some jazz from renowned locals and touring acts on both sides of the Scioto River while trying to determine if wet wipes are needed or if licked fingers will suffice for that barbecue sauce.
PHOTO By FREd SquILLAnTE
2x2 HIP-HOP FESTIVAL
Saturday, July 22 Rice Paddy Motorcycles 1454 N. Grant Ave., Campus 2x2fest.com COST: $10 ($15 at the gate) and kids under 15 can attend free PERFORMERS: TBA SUMMARY: Now in its third year, 2x2 boasts one of the most unique locales of any fest in Rice Paddy, a campus-adjacent motorcycle shop as colorful as the 2x2-artist-painted murals adorning its brick exterior. (Be sure to take in a set at the Roofless Stage, a brick, roofless building that was still structurally sound enough to withstand Nes Wordz’s full-on assault of a performance in 2015.) Also, bonus points for being arguably the most family friendly fest I’ve attended, with art and water play areas for the kiddos. Don’t miss this one.
OHIO STATE FAIR
July 25-Aug. 6 The Ohio Expo Center & State Fair, North Campus ohiostatefair.com
Jazz & Rib Fest
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
Ohio State Fair
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COST: Varies from free for Hometown Sounds featuring McGuffey Lane to $85 (pit tickets for Rascal Flatts) PERFORMERS: Pentatonix, Rascal Flatts, Alabama, Joe, George Thorogood, Cole Swindell SUMMARY: The lineup for the Ohio State Fair is generally a mixed bag, though usually there’s at least an act or two worth navigating fried Twinkie stands to check out (Dolly Parton last year, Patti Labelle in 2015 and so on). This year that honor goes to … You know what? I’ve got nothing. This year’s roster of retreads, not-quite-headliners and, uh, a cappella vocal groups (take a bow, Pentatonix) is one of the least-inspired lineups we’ve seen the OSF run out. You know that tired joke about fallen acts playing the state fair circuit? This is why it exists. PHOTO By AdAm CAIRnS
THE WERK OUT MUSIC FESTIVAL
PHOTO By JENNA WATSON
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
Dublin Irish Festival
DUBLIN IRISH FESTIVAL
Aug. 3-5 Legend Valley, Thornville thewerkoutfestival.com
Aug. 4-6 Coffman Park, Dublin dublinirishfestival.org
COST: $120 PERFORMERS: The Werks, Gramatik, The Floozies, Emancipator, Dopapod SUMMARY: As they do every year, Dayton foursome the Werks will play all three nights of the annual fest they host at Legend Valley. Likeminded jam bands join(t) together with the Werks as they all attempt to fill a Phish-sized hole.
COST: Adults: $10 in advance/$15 at gate; children 12 and under free PERFORMERS: Gaelic Storm, Mary Black, Dervish, Drowsy Lads SUMMARY: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Dublin Irish Festival, which it claims is the biggest of its kind, drawing in excess of 100,000 attendees over three days. In case you ever wanted to follow the money, the City of Dublin funds the fest through its hotel/motel tax and sponsors and estimates the Irish celebration’s local economic impact at $8.3 million.
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
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SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER GUIDE // MUSIC FESTIVALS
Festival Latino
PHOTO BY EAMON QUEENEY
FESTIVAL LATINO
PHOTO BY MEgHAN RALSTON
Aug. 12 and 13 Bicentennial Park, Downtown festivallatino.net
SAT & SUN
WEEKEND BRUNCH! 10AM-3PM
—THE PATIO AT TUCCI’S—
OUTDOOR DINING AT ITS FINEST ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
Join us for live music on the patio, every day, weather permitting.
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a clb | restaurant 35 N. HIGH ST. DUBLIN OH | 614.792.3466 | TUCCISDUBLIN.COM
COST: Free PERFORMERS: Charlie Cruz, Bachata Heightz, Tono Rosario, Tito Nieves SUMMARY: The two-day family-friendly fest returns to celebrate all things Latino. A three-time Grammy nominee and former lead singer in merengue group Los Hermanos Rosario, Tono Rosario has sold more than 100 million albums, and Charlie Cruz is a Puerto Rico-born salsa star.
FASHION MEETS MUSIC FEST
Aug. 18 and 19 Fortress Obetz 4020 Speedway Ln., Obetz fmmf.us COST: Single day ticket: $40 (early bird pricing); Two-day pass: $70 (early bird pricing) PERFORMERS: Third Eye Blind, DNCE, Fetty Wap, Tegan & Sara SUMMARY: Now in its fourth year, FMMF has continued to walk back its bold year-one goal
Fashion Meets Music Fest
of creating a sprawling, Columbus equivalent to SXSW. So what initially started as a multi-venue, Downtown-centric event is now being held in Obetz in the recently constructed Fortress Obetz. Attendance has been an issue in recent years, and a weak slate of headliners, plus the added drive time, likely won’t lead to an uptick this time around. Here’s guessing the fest is outdrawn by its Obetz neighbor the Zucchini Festival, which takes place Aug. 24-27, also at Fortress Obetz.
PARK STREET FESTIVAL Late August Park Street, Arena District parkstreetfest.com
COST: Free PERFORMERS: TBA SUMMARY: Originally scheduled to take place in June, the Park Street Festival was delayed until late August “due to extraneous circumstances beyond our control.” A makeup date and lineup are both forthcoming. Watch the website for details.
INDEPENDENTS’ DAY
Sept. 1 and 2 Maprfre Stadium One Black & Gold Blvd., North Side breakawayfestival.com
Sept. 16 and 17 Intersection of Town St. and Lucas St. in Franklinton thisisindependent.com
COST: $80 for a two-day pass ($130 for VIP admission) PERFORMERS: Travis Scott, Diplo, Lil Yachty and more SUMMARY: After a successful 2016 reboot featuring an epic performance from Chicago’s Chance the Rapper, Breakaway is making a return to Mapfre Stadium, where it debuted in 2013. Headliners Diplo and Travis Scott are joined by a smattering of hip-hop and EDM risers, including ascendant Atlanta rapper Lil Yachty, who teams with Scott heading up the Friday bill, and more lineup announcements are expected.
COST: Free PERFORMERS: TBA SUMMARY: With word coming out that this will be the final Independents’ Day, expect organizers to pull out all the stops. Last year, working with a budget of nearly $250,000, the ID team attracted national acts such as Cloud Nothings and Speedy Ortiz, along with a strong slate of local and regional performers. Expect more of the same this year, as well as a genuine surprise or two.
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
BREAKAWAY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Independents’ Day
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
PHOTO BY DAN BARBER
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SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER GUIDE // FEATURE Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
PHOTO COURTESY OF FILM MAgIC
5 FESTS WORTH THE DRIVE and
SUNDAY JUNE 4, 2017
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10AM - 4PM
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BONNAROO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
June 8-11 A farm in Manchester, Tennessee bonnaroo.com DRIVE TIME: 6-1/2 hours COST: $350 PERFORMERS: U2, Chance the Rapper, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd, Major Lazer, Lorde SUMMARY: If you’re willing to make the drive, shell out some cash and brave a sea of humanity, this mammoth festival provides a huge range of bands and styles with some of the biggest names in music and a giant undercard.
SUMMERFEST
June 28-July 2, July 4-9 Downtown Milwaukee summerfest.com DRIVE TIME: 7 hours COST: $20 general admission, and much, much more for American Family Insurance Amphitheatre headliners PERFORMERS: Bob Dylan, Migos, Chris Stapleton, The Chainsmokers, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
SUMMARY: The largest, longest festival in the US boasts a roster worthy of its size, packing in legit legends (Dylan, Petty), modern superstars (Migos, Stapleton, Future) and, uh, the Chainsmokers (don’t get the appeal, but clearly they’re huge). If you don’t want to spring for amphitheatre tickets, a single-day pass grants access to ground stages where you can catch the likes of Car Seat Headrest, The Shins, Atmosphere, Tegan & Sara, Bleachers and more.
PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL July 14-16 Union Park, Chicago pitchforkmusicfestival.com
DRIVE TIME: 5-1/2 hours COST: $175 PERFORMERS: LCD Soundsystem, Solange, Vince Staples, A Tribe Called Quest, PJ Harvey, Dirty Projectors, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, the Avalanches SUMMARY: Just like its tastemaking website, the Pitchfork Music Festival is not all indie-rock these days. Legendary rap group A Tribe Called Quest is a don’t-miss, and MC Vince Staples returns to the fest after a memorable set in 2015. LCD Soundsystem, though, is the perfect P4K headliner.
Weezer
PhOTO by OwEn SwEEnEy
July 14-16 Waterfront Park, Louisville forecastlefest.com DRIVE TIME: 3 hours COST: $170 PERFORMERS: LCD Soundsystem, Weezer, Sturgill Simpson, Run the Jewels, Spoon, PJ Harvey, Vince Staples, Conor Oberst SUMMARY: With a modest drive time and a great lineup (Run the Jewels, LCD Soundsystem and Sturgill Simpson, a country singer/guitarist who currently fronts one of the best bands in America), we’d give this Louisville fest one of our highest recommendations. Pro tip: If you can only attend one day, make it Saturday, where you can catch LCD and Simpson, as well as Vince Staples, Phantogram and Beach Slang.
RIOT FEST September 15-17 Douglas Park, Chicago riotfest.org DRIVE TIME: 5-1/2 hours COST: $189.98 PERFORMERS: Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, Jawbreaker, M.I.A., Wu Tang Clan SUMMARY: Over the years, the punk-leaning
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
FORECASTLE FESTIVAL
Riot Fest has gradually evolved into the best festival in the US, and this year is no exception. The threeday affair boasts monster headliners (scheduling Jawbreaker’s first performance in 21 years is the kind of coup Coachella used to land) and a deep undercard filled with gems (Beach Slang, Saul Williams, The Regrettes).
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SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER GUIDE // FEATURE Wag Fest
K C A P 4 N A F E N I H C A M O OHI 4 TICKETS -
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photo By NeaL C. LauroN
oDDBaLL FeStS By Matthew Lovett Not all summer festivals are centered on music. This summer also includes opportunities to check out fests focused on things like local art, man’s best friend and (especially) food and booze. See below for our guide to our area’s best alternative festivals — and consider your future weekend plans made.
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
Chicken and Beer Festival
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BOSTON
UPCOMING HOME GAMES DENVER CHESAPEAKE
NEW YORK
JUNE 10 • 7 PM
JUNE 24 • 7 PM
JULY 15 • 7 PM
JULY 29 • 7 PM
Ohio HS All-Star Game
First Responder Night
Shootout For Soldiers
Sheen Nation Night
TO PURCHASE, VISIT THEOHIOMACHINE.COM OR CALL 614-754-1973 EXT. 3 All home games are played at the nation’s first lacrosse specific stadium - Fortress Obetz. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Columbus on the site of the former Columbus Motor Speedway - 1841 Williams Road, Obetz, Ohio 43207.
The inaugural Chicken and Beer festival is, well, all about eating poultry and guzzling beer. But its true appeal is its community-cookout atmosphere. With a host like Land-Grant, there’ll be ample varieties of beer to enjoy, and word is the same goes for the chicken. Be prepared to vote for your favorite in both categories at the end of it all. Land-Grant Brewing Co. 12 p.m. Saturday, June 3 424 W. Town St., Franklinton chickenandbeerfest.com
Wag Fest
Let your dog run wild (within reason) at Columbus’ premier dog-friendly festival, WAG! at Prairie Oaks Metro Park. Though it’s a largely educational event with activities on how to best treat your pup, there are walking paths to explore and bodies of water for your pal — and soon-to-be new pals — to romp in. There’ll be free treats and plenty of sWAG, of course. Prairie Oaks Metro Park 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 2755 Amity Road, Hilliard wagfest.com
Tater Tots and Beer Festival
Tater tots and beer have gone hand-inhand since the dawn of the deep fryer. At the Tater Tots and Beer Festival, these goods are finally hitched — both arriving simultaneously from the same vendor. With one ticket to the festival’s Columbus edition, you get samples of around 30 craft beers, eight different tater tot recipes and an afternoon to remember. Columbus Commons 3 p.m. Sunday, June 11 160 S. High St., Downtown tatertotfestival.com
Urban Scrawl
PHOTO BY RYan MilleR
There’s no event more representative of Franklinton’s burgeoning art scene than Urban Scrawl. An annual affair since 2007, the focal point of this two-day festival is the numerous remarkable and diverse artists crafting murals live for all attendees to witness. Urban Scrawl offers the chance to not only see the creative process in person, but watch a neighborhood grow through the arts.
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
Urban Scrawl
400 West Rich Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 26 and 27 400 W. Rich St., Franklinton franklintonartsdistrict. com
North Market Ohio Wine Festival
Through all the hubbub over Columbus craft beer, the North Market has quietly been hosting a great wine festival dedicated to Ohio-produced wines for the past 15 years. If this year’s Ohio Wine Festival is anything like past years’ events, it’ll be both vast and eye-opening. Don’t forget you can keep yourself in order with some North Market grub. North Market Friday-Sunday, July 7-9 59 Spruce St., Downtown northmarket.com
This year’s Food Truck Festival moves from the Commons to the Scioto Mile, supplying visitors with a view as they debate which of the 50-something food trucks to try. Expect to see bar standbys as well as some seldomseen, unusual options. You’re going to need to
Bicentennial Park and Scioto Mile Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18 and 19 233 S. Civic Center Drive, Downtown columbusfoodtruckfest.com
Columbus Summer Beerfest
With hundreds of craft beers on tap from 100plus breweries nationwide, I think it’s safe to say that Beerfest is Columbus’ premier beer event. Beerfest’s summer session is comparable to the winter one, meaning you could be sipping a beer from Missouri one minute, a beer from New Hampshire the next, and then grabbing a Seventh Son third to ensure you know where you are.
Express Live Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25 and 26 405 Neil Ave., Arena District columbusbeerfest.com
Coshocton Ohio Hot Air Balloon Festival
For those with the willpower for a day trip, the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival is well worth the hour-and-ahalf drive. Coshocton has been hosting hot air balloon events for more than 30 years, and that experience shows with balloon launches scheduled every day of the festival (weather permitting). And yes, balloon rides are offered for a fee. Coshocton County Fairgrounds Thursday-Saturday, June 8-10 707 Kenilworth Ave., Coshocton visitcoshocton.com
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
Columbus Food Truck Festival
swing by for every meal on both days to fully take advantage of this festival.
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SUMMER GUIDE 2017
SUMMER GUIDE // FEATURE photo By toM DoDge
Meals on wheels By nicholas Dekker
ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
Omar D’Angelo and his Barroluco Argentine Comfort Food
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As
the festival season kicks into full swing, expect a growing rotation of food trucks to pop up around Columbus. From ComFest to the Arts Festival and Urban Scrawl to Festival Latino, keep an eye out for these good eats in truck form.
Buckeye Donuts Food Truck Yes, Buckeye Donuts has a food truck! The bright red truck will be popping up at festivals throughout the summer, serving breakfast sandwiches, gyros and the usual suspects from the donut line-up. The eatery has recently teased chicken and waffle sandwiches, too.
Cluckwagon
Kenny’s Meat Wagon
Ajumama
Cluckwagon bills itself as “Cluckin Awesome.” It puts fried chicken to good use during breakfast and lunch, offering breakfast burritos or chicken and waffles for the morning-eats crowd and Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches and Carolina-style pulled chicken for lunchers.
Kenny Donnelly upgraded his cart to a truck this year, which means expanded options from the bearded sandwich connoisseur. Find Kenny and his wagon for hearty bites like his Italian sandwiches, buffalo chicken, Chicago-style Italian beef and everything in-between.
Celebrating five years in the food truck business, Laura Lee’s Ajumama continues to please visitors with creative Korean street food finds like bulgogi cheesesteaks, kimchi hot dogs and more.
Explorers Club
Broke Johnny Food Truck
This perennial favorite runs the kitchen at Zauber Brewing, but its food truck brings all the greatest hits to other breweries and events, serving up everything from those zesty jerk-chicken tacos to mofongo sandwiches and fried plantains.
Broke Johnny brings breakfast to the streets, whether it’s morning, noon or night. Egg-centric specialties include burritos, huevos rancheros, hash and tostadas, while waffles also take center stage in sweet and savory varieties.
Barroluco Argentine Comfort Food Bringing Argentinian classics to the masses, Barroluco offers up everything from sandwiches to empanadas, paella bowls and churros.
Cupzilla Korean BBQ Cupzilla employs easy-to-carry cups containing Korean-style barbecue chicken,
Aloha Streatery
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The Angry Weiner Hot dogs are the original street food, and Angry Weiner rotates through both creative and classic flavors using Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, Italian sausages, brats and veggie dogs.
SUMMER GUIDE 2017
pork, beef or tofu. The menu is supplemented with sides such as pot stickers and spring rolls.
Challah! Catie Randazzo’s kosherstyle deli truck always pleases with creations like her crispy chicken sandwiches, reubens, schmaltz fried potatoes and pastrami wings.
Kinetic Kinetic works to take wholesome eating to the streets, building craveworthy bowls on pre-set combinations of sauces, veggies and cheeses, offering selections such as Caprese, West Coast, Cobb or Scorpion. Customers can then choose bases of grains, greens or sweet potatoes, plus proteins.
Mya’s Fried Chicken
Aromaku Aromaku is one of the city’s only Indonesian outlets, and its presence at a festival or brewery is always a welcome sight. If you’ve never tried Aromaku, add it to your list of food trucks to track down this season. Try the lumpia sayur spring rolls,
the bakmi ayam noodle dish and the rendang rice, for starters.
Dos Hermanos Having established a regular presence at North Market and the Convention Center, Dos Hermanos continues to please at festivals and breweries around the city with its selection of tacos, burritos and homemade salsas.
Street Thyme Street Thyme fulfills cravings with an eclectic menu of burgers, fries and shakes.
Mixing Bowl Asian Grill Mixing Bowl uses a simple fast-casual model of letting customers build Asian-themed bowls, tacos or burritos with their choices of proteins, hot and cold toppings, sauces and seasonings.
Aloha Streatery Aloha’s Hawaiian-inspired menu includes crowdpleasing favorites like Hawaiian fried chicken, a version of loco moco, steam buns and other shareables.
Sophie’s Gourmet Pierogis Sophie’s helps make up for Columbus’ lack of Eastern European roots (at least compared to other parts of Ohio) by slinging homemade pierogis at various events and breweries around town. Bonus: You can also buy its dumplings in bulk.
Maanas One of the few trucks serving Indian fare onthe-go, Maanas dishes up a small menu of curries, biryanis and sides.
Queen’s Table The “Home of the Fish Boat!” focuses on fried foods like fish (duh), wings, okra and more.
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ColumbusAlive.com | Thursday, May 25, 2017
Continuing to satisfy Columbus’ craving for fried chicken, Mya’s has returned to the regular food truck rotations, dishing up Southern-style fried chicken with biscuits and all the sides.
PHOTO BY MegHan RalsTOn
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SUMMER GUIDE 2017