Downtown drivers are getting a heads-up to rethink their routes as the annual Jazz & Rib Fest takes over the Scioto Mile this weekend, July 24–26. The free, three-day bash will pack Bicentennial and West Bank parks with live jazz and dozens of rib teams, and it will also shut down a chunk of the riverfront to make room for the crowds, stages and smokers.
Planned closures and detours
According to Spectrum News 1, street closures begin at 6 a.m. Monday, July 20, and include Washington Boulevard (from Broad Street to Town Street) and Belle Street (from Town Street to Rich Street). A second wave starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, will shut down stretches of Civic Center Drive, Cherry Street, 2nd Street, Rich Street and other blocks along the riverfront for festival setup and operations.
City officials have warned that closures are subject to change and are urging motorists to follow posted detours and keep an eye on updates. The Columbus Department of Public Service has shared an official closure map on Facebook highlighting specific blocks and pointing drivers to the festival's parking pages for more details.
How to get there and where to park
Festival organizers suggest skipping the worst of the traffic by reserving parking through ParkColumbus, hopping on COTA buses into downtown or biking to the Scioto Mile, according to the parking guide from Hot Ribs Cool Jazz. The guide notes that illegally parked cars will be ticketed and towed and directs visitors to nearby accessible parking options.
Visitors who need ADA parking should have a disability placard or state-issued ID on hand and follow on-site signage, per the same guide.
The event is produced by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department and is free to attend; Friday and Saturday run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday wraps up at 8 p.m., according to the department's event calendar at Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. City materials say Jazz & Rib Fest has historically drawn more than 200,000 people downtown over the weekend, a turnout figure used when planning multi-day closures and public safety staffing along the riverfront.
If you have to drive, build in extra time, map out alternate routes now, and arrive early. Before you leave, check the latest post from the Columbus Department of Public Service for any last-minute tweaks to closures and detours.
