This Ohio city is home to 5 of the country's best festivals

USA Today

10-05-2025

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The best gourmet food trucks in the Midwest rally in Columbus, Ohio – Photo courtesy of Columbus Food Truck Festival
Columbus, Ohio, is known to most as a capital city and home to The Ohio State University, one of the 10 best colleges for sports fans in the U.S. Take a closer look, however, and you'll discover this Midwestern gem is multifaceted, offering a wealth of cultural and culinary treasures — to include some of the best festivals in America.
For instance, every spring, indie filmmakers from around the world descend upon the city to attend Cinema Columbus, which celebrates the diversity of contemporary film. And, in August, the Columbus suburb of Dublin kicks up its heels to host the Dublin Irish Festival, a three-day homage to Irish food, music, and dance. Both events ranked first in the nation — for film and cultural festivals, respectively — in the 2025 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards.
Whether in town for a week or a weekend, there are limitless ways to spend a day in Columbus, Ohio. To help narrow the possibilities, we compiled a 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards guide to Columbus, which highlights all the nationally ranked places to play, eat, and stay in the city. When you're in Columbus, you might as well experience the very best.
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Best things to do in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio, is one of the best places to visit in the fall – Photo courtesy of Schmidt's Sausage Haus
Columbus' track record for hosting world-class festivals extends beyond indie films and Irish heritage. While Dublin throws a great Irish bash in the summertime, come fall, locals and visitors alike are known to raise a stein (or three) at one of the best Oktoberfests in the country. Schmidt's Columbus Oktoberfest has been going strong for decades, with hilariously impressive Gemütlichkeit games and a marktplatz overflowing with German arts and crafts. It's a great time to be in Columbus too, as the city is among the 10 best places to visit for fall. The foliage in Schiller Park is reason enough to book a trip, but you'll also find plenty of pumpkin patches and apple orchards throughout town.
The capital city is also home to the award-winning Columbus Arts Festival, which draws thousands of painters, sculptors, and artists to town every summer. The annual event takes place along Columbus' picturesque Scioto Mile, an award-winning riverwalk. Center of Science and Industry
You'll find the best science museum in the US in Columbus, Ohio – Photo courtesy of COSI
Museums are to be enjoyed year-round, and Columbus offers plenty of them — including the No. 1 science museum in the country: the Center of Science and Industry (COSI). You easily could spend an entire day at this world-class institution of learning. There are more than 300 interactive experiences, plus a full calendar of traveling exhibitions. COSI's permanent exhibitions do a deep dive on the ocean, outer space, and everything in between. The COSI Planetarium, the largest in Ohio, also happens to be one of the 10 best planetariums in the U.S.
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Many people know about Cincinnati's nationally ranked zoo, but the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium holds its own among the 10 best zoos in the U.S. Here, you can "travel" to Asia, the Congo, Africa, Australia, and beyond. For an additional fee, the zoo offers incredible experiences, like twilight zoo tours and playdates with Frankie the Elephant, in which you get a behind-the-scenes look at the elephant's training and feeding. Huntington ballpark
Catch a Clippers game in Columbus, Ohio – Photo courtesy of Ben Cole
If you love baseball, be sure to catch a Columbus Clippers game at Huntington Park, one of the 10 best minor league ballparks in the U.S. Ready to knock one out of the park? Head over to Mannino's Grand Slam USA, a nationally ranked batting cage in the Columbus suburb of Dublin. Best places to eat and drink
The Ohio Taproom proudly serves only Ohio-made suds and goods – Photo courtesy of The Ohio Taproom
The food and drink scene in Ohio's capital city serves up something for everyone. One of America's 10 best beer cities, Columbus boasts more than 40 breweries and even a Brewery District. The Ohio Taproom, an award-winning beer bar, is a must-stop for those who love their suds.
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If you're more into cocktails and craft spirits, then Echo Spirits Distilling Co. should be on your list. In addition to offering tours and classes, their award-winning craft rum is extra special. Try the Queen's Share Rum, aged in used bourbon barrels, for a royally smooth sip.
Of course, Columbus has a festival for everything, and good food is no exception. Time your visit so you can experience one of the best food truck festivals in the country. Columbus Food Truck Festival is an annual celebration of the best gourmet food trucks in the Midwest, so come hungry. If you can't make it to the festival, why not eat your way through town with an award-winning food tour company, like Columbus Food Adventures? Whether a walking tour of German Village or a van tour of the city's best international eateries, your appetite will be satisfied. Best new restaurants
Columbus' Flour Modern Pasta Bar dishes up goodness – Photo courtesy of Arianna Wyant
With its ever-growing food scene, it's no surprise that Columbus eateries show up on our Readers' Choice lists for Best New Restaurant. If you love noodles and Italian food, Flour Modern Pasta Bar is a must. The ramen carbonara puts a playful Asian spin on a traditional Italian dish. For the best steak in town, head over to Cut 132. Dishes like wagyu beef with peppercorn cognac cream keep customers coming back for more.
Some say New York has the best bagels, but have you been to Bears Bagels? Located in Hilliard, a northwest suburb of Columbus, this Best New Restaurant is proud to be a "carb enabler." The bagels are boiled then baked and come in a variety of flavors, both sweet and savory.
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Markets and food halls
Budd Dairy Food Hall gives an old building new life – Photo courtesy of Andy Gottesman
Public markets, farmers markets, and food halls offer great insight into a community's food culture. You'll find Columbus has all three — and really good ones. North Market Downtown, among the 10 best public markets in America, has been around since the late 1800s, so it must be doing something right. Here, you'll find a diverse community of vendors and merchants, offering everything from fresh produce to specialty foods that make great gifts for friends back home. Award-winning Budd Dairy Food Hall is a stunning example of how to repurpose an aging building. The former dairy is now a happening gathering spot with an eclectic mix of eateries and a rooftop bar.
If you're willing to make a short drive, it's well worth your time to head north to Worthington, a suburb of Columbus. Here, you'll find one of the 10 best farmers markets in America. Worthington Farmers Market operates year-round, giving small-scale farmers and food artisans a place to sell their freshest produce and goods. Adding a weekend in Worthington to your Columbus itinerary is a solid move, as it's ranked among the best small towns in the Midwest and best historic small towns. Best places to stay
The Junto is a gathering place for the city's creative class – Photo courtesy of The Junto
On the Best New Hotel list, The Junto prides itself on serving as a meeting place for creatives and entrepreneurs. Its 198 rooms range from spacious lofts and apartments to sleek, modern bunk rooms. For those who prefer more intimate accommodations, The Timbrook Guesthouse, nestled on a private estate, is an award-winning bed-and-breakfast. In addition to thoughtfully appointed guest suites and gourmet breakfasts, amenities include a private pool, an outdoor aviary, and a reading room.