COLUMBUS, Ohio — Summer in central Ohio is typically accompanied by warm and sunny days filled with live music, good food and plenty of excuses to get outside.
Even more, events are expected to return this year compared to last in the wake of an ease of COVID-19 restrictions, and central Ohioans are looking ahead to a more "normal" summer season filled with eventful fun.
From concerts to festivals -- including food truck festivals -- 10TV has compiled a list of events set to take place this summer, so you have plenty of time to start preparing.
Just keep reading for everything you need to know.
June
June 10-12: Columbus Arts Festival returns to the downtown riverfront to showcase art, from visual to live performances and plenty of food.
June 16-July 24: The Columbus Symphony's Summer Night Music Neighborhood Concerts bring classical music out to communities around central Ohio. Tickets are $25 and you can see the lineup here.
June 17-18: Stonewall Columbus Pride makes its way to Goodale Park and the Short North Arts District. The annual event returns to in-person this year and it celebrates the culture and strength of the LGBTQ+ community.
June 17-19: The Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival returns to Gahanna, featuring live music performances and outdoor shopping at local vendors. This year's artists include the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra and Inner City Blues Band.
June 18-19: The 2022 JuneteenthOhio Festival will feature a talent show and live performances. The weekend-long event takes place at Genoa Park and proceeds from the festival will benefit literary initiatives.
June 18-July 30: Picnic with the Pops returns to the Columbus Commons this year. This year's lineup is:
- June 18 – The O’Jays
- June 25 – Boogie Wonder Band
- July 2 – Patriotic Pops
- July 9 – Landslide: A Tribute to the Music of Fleetwood Mac
- July 16 – Christopher Cross
- July 23 – Windborne’s The Music of the Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards 1969
- July 29/30 - The Ohio State University Marching Band
June 2-Aug. 11: Hilliard's Summer in the City series begins with a Celebration at the Station held each Thursday from June 2 through Aug. 11. The event takes place at Hilliard's Station Park and features free live music and refreshments.
June 12 & Aug. 7: Sprouts Night Out kicks off in Hilliard, offering live music and activities designed for kids and the whole family.
July
July 1: Red, White & Boom! returns to central Ohio this year. The state's largest fireworks display brings in more than 400,000 people to celebrate Fourth of July weekend.
July 2: Color of Summer takes place at The Columbus Museum of Arts for its third year. The annual event showcases artwork from Black artists in the community.
RELATED: LIST: Independence Day celebrations, fireworks displays taking place throughout central Ohio
July 4: The Doo Dah Parade returns to Columbus, celebrating free speech and liberty with a satirical twist. The parade begins at 1 p.m. and will wind through Victorian Village and High Street, wrapping up with a live part and music at Goodale Park. Wake Up CBUS anchor Angela An is this year's Less-Than-Grand-Marshal.
July 8: Canal Winchester hosts its first of two Free Movies in the Park showings. Movies will be held at Hanners Park beginning around 9 pm. "The Little Rascals" is the first movie scheduled to play.
July 22-24: The Jazz & Rib Fest returns to downtown Columbus after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. People can enjoy live music and some good BBQ.
July 27-Aug. 7: The Ohio State Fair makes a full return to the public this year at the Ohio Expo Center. Staff members are working to make this year's state fair safe, fun and memorable.
July 29-30: The Columbus Food and Wine Festival is back this year at Goodal Station behind Hyde Park, bringing with it wine tasting, live music and food from some of the city's most acclaimed chefs.
July 30: The Whitehall Food Truck & Fun Fest will feature more than 30 food trucks, live music, crafters and more.
August
Aug. 5-7: The Dublin Irish Festival, which marks the largest three-day Irish festival in the United States, returns to Coffman Park. This year's event will feature a series of celebrations throughout Dublin.
Aug. 7-13: The Hartford Fair, considered to be the biggest little fair in the world, is set to return in Licking COunty, with agricultural events, picnic space and more family-friendly activities.
Aug. 13-14: Festival Latino will be at Genoa Park this year. More details about the festival will be released in the coming days.
Aug. 19-21: The Columbus Food Truck Festival returns to the Franklin County Fairgrounds. It will feature food from dozens of vendors around Ohio and live music from all genres.
Aug. 26-28: The Breakaway Music Festival will be held at Historic Crew Stadium. The headliners for this year's festival are The Chainsmokers, Griz, Lane 8, Quinn XCII and Slander. You can read more about the lineup here.
Aug. 26-28: This year's Wonderbus Music and Arts Festival takes place on The Lawn at CAS. The festival will be Ohio's largest live concert hosted in over a year, and features live music from performers like Lorde, The Lumineers and Duran Duran.
Also on Aug. 27 and 28, the Columbus Fiery Foods Festival brings the heat back to Main Street Bridge in downtown Columbus. The event will last through the weekend, providing an array of spicy foods from local salsa and hot sauce makers and more.
September
Sept. 3-4: The Columbus Caribbean Festival returns to the Delaware County Fairgrounds. The festival will feature live music, dancers, food and more.
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