The Columbus Asian Festival is locking in Memorial Day weekend once again, bringing two packed days of food, performances and cultural programming to Franklin Park. Launched in 1995, the long-running celebration has grown into one of the city's biggest holiday draws and, organizers say, now pulls more than 100,000 visitors across the weekend. Expect multiple stages, a buzzing vendor marketplace and family-friendly activities spread across the park.
When and where
The two-day festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event takes place at Franklin Park, 1755 E. Broad St. in Columbus, according to Asian Festival.
What to expect
Visitors will find dozens of food stalls, multiple performance stages, martial-arts and folk-dance demonstrations, and a large marketplace of art and craft vendors, according to Discover Global Columbus. Children's activities and cultural exhibits round out the weekend, making the festival a multigenerational draw.
Scale and support
Organizers say the event draws more than 100,000 visitors each year and has received support from state and city leaders, corporate sponsors and community groups since it began, as reported by WTTE. That backing helps underwrite the programming and vendor coordination that keep the sprawling festival running smoothly.
Health services and volunteering
The festival also hosts a Health & Wellness Fair that provides free screenings and services, and Ohio State University's College of Public Health is calling for volunteers to staff the fair, according to Ohio State College of Public Health. Student and community volunteers typically help with screening stations and outreach tables that serve hundreds of attendees.
Plan for crowds and other Memorial Day events
Memorial Day weekend in Columbus fills up fast. Downtown's event calendar lists the OHIO Black Expo Riverfront Culture Fest on May 23–24, which will draw additional crowds downtown, so expect busier roads and fuller parking lots, according to Downtown Columbus. The Asian Festival posts shuttle and parking guidance on its site and recommends using public transit or off-site shuttles to avoid long waits, per the Asian Festival.
More information
Most programming is free and open to the public, and organizers post a full performance schedule and vendor map ahead of the weekend, per Discover Global Columbus. For the latest schedule, vendor lists, and volunteer sign-ups, see the festival listing on Experience Columbus or the festival's official channels.
