A Community Celebration of Folk Music

Since 1997, the Central Ohio Folk Festival has served as an annual gathering point for folk music enthusiasts across the region. The Columbus Folk Music Society, founded in 1991 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting traditional and contemporary folk music, dance, and storytelling, produces this two-day event at Bank Run Metro Park in Lockbourne. With attendance exceeding 12,000 participants over the two days, the festival represents one of Ohio's significant folk music celebrations.

Four Stages and 30+ Workshops

The festival features performances across four dedicated stages: one outdoor main stage and three tented stages providing weather protection. This multi-stage setup enables simultaneous performances and allows attendees to explore multiple artists and workshop sessions throughout the festival grounds. More than 30 music workshops provide hands-on learning opportunities across various folk traditions. The festival includes a Saturday evening headliner concert, jam tent sessions, drum circles, and an iconic "instrument petting zoo" allowing children to handle traditional folk instruments.

Family-Friendly Festival Atmosphere

The festival maintains an accessible, family-oriented environment with admission at $10 for pre-sale adult tickets and $15 for on-site adult passes. Children under 18 receive free admission. To ensure accessibility regardless of financial circumstances, the festival offers free admission during the first hour of operations (10:30-11:30 AM) both days. The venue features ample parking, paved paths throughout the grounds, wheelchair accessibility, and seating areas in each tent stage.

Amenities and Festival Experience

Food trucks provide meals throughout the festival, and attendees are welcome to bring their own food to enjoy in the large outdoor pavilion. Nocterra craft beer is available for purchase. The festival provides filtered water refill stations, first aid services, lost and found services, and instrument storage for performing musicians. Leashed dogs are permitted on the grounds. The two-day format allows attendees to experience both days of programming from 10:30 AM to 10 PM Saturday and 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM Sunday.