The 2026 Columbus Italian Festival expects about 35,000 attendees for three days of Italian cultural programming at St. John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church. The event runs Oct. 9-11 at 168 E. Lincoln St. This year’s theme, “Roma Eterna – All Roads Lead to Rome,” centers the weekend on Italy’s capital, its history, faith, art and tradition.
The festival website calls Rome a city “where every road truly leads back to its rich history and vibrant spirit.” Visitors can enjoy live music and entertainment, Italian cuisine, wine and desserts, cooking demonstrations, local vendors, cultural exhibits, church tours and Sunday Mass. There are activities for children, too, along with a weekend bocce competition.
A festival organized around Italian heritage
St. John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church provides the setting, and the schedule brings cultural programming together with religious activities. Visitors can tour the church, attend Sunday Mass, view cultural exhibits and watch cooking demonstrations. Festival information lists authentic cuisine, wine and desserts among the food offerings.
Organizers have added bocce courts and Piazza del Bambini for this year’s event. The courts will host the Columbus Italian Festival Bocce Classic throughout the weekend. A ribbon-cutting for the courts takes place at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 9. Piazza del Bambini will give younger festivalgoers activities of their own.
The festival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 10, and noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 11. A single-day ticket costs $15; a three-day pass costs $30. Children under 12 get in free.
Music, parade and local sports figures
Sorelle, a trio of Ohio sisters and finalists on season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform at 7:45 and 9:45 p.m. Oct. 9. Crew Cat from the Columbus Crew also plans to appear, on the evening of Oct. 9 and the afternoon of Oct. 11.
The Oct. 11 parade starts at Goodale Park at 1 p.m., passes through Italian Village and continues into the festival. Columbus Blue Jackets player Dante Fabbro will serve as grand marshal. The High School Marching Band Competition follows the parade. A meet-and-greet with Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro is set for 2 p.m.
Access and event information
Festivalgoers can leave their cars free of charge at Columbus State Community College and catch a free shuttle to and from the event throughout the weekend. The shuttle picks up passengers at the parking garage at 534 E. Long St. Tickets and further information are available at columbusitalianfestival.com.
Belinda M. Paschal, Columbus Dispatch features and entertainment reporter, published the event article Oct. 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. The publication disclosed that it may earn a commission from purchases made through links on the page. It said its editorial recommendations are made independently of that compensation.