Coffee lovers across Central Ohio are gearing up for the 11th annual Columbus Coffee Festival, a two-day celebration of brews, tea, live music and even an alpaca petting zoo set for October 3-4 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days at 4951 Northwest Parkway and operates rain or shine, with only certain activities subject to change in bad weather.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, this year's festival includes nearly 50 vendors spanning coffee roasters, tea purveyors, local artisans and craft sellers. Beyond the tastings, organizers have packed the grounds with food trucks, art installations, a coffee history and antiques display, and that much-buzzed-about alpaca petting zoo. The festival was founded in 2016 by Walker and Anne Evans, according to the Dispatch's reporting, and has grown enough over the years that it has historically sold out — organizers are recommending attendees buy tickets in advance this time around.
Tickets range from $20 to $75 for attendees ages 13 and older, with pricing dependent on the day, time slot and experience selected, per the Dispatch. Kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. Every ticket comes with a souvenir mug and samples, and for those looking to spend a little extra, there's ax-throwing, coffee-inspired flash tattoos, watercolor and splatter painting, a pop-up golf simulator, a mobile massage bus and tarot readings available at additional cost.
A Decade of Growth, From 18 Roasters to Nearly 50 Vendors
The festival's roots trace back to a single-day debut on December 4, 2016, at Ohio Village, when it featured just 18 Ohio coffee roasters, according to Columbus Underground. Early vendors included Stauf's Coffee Roasters, Crimson Cup, One Line Coffee and Brioso Coffee. Attendance has climbed dramatically since then, expanding to roughly 9,000 visitors across the two-day run in both 2024 and 2025, up from about 5,300 attendees back in 2019, as reported by The Lantern.
The 2016 festival was held at Ohio Village; the 2026 event is at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard. The festival now uses timed entry sessions to manage crowd capacity and ensure everyone gets adequate sampling opportunities, per The Lantern's earlier coverage of the event.
Vendors, Sampling, and a Museum Next Door
The festival's organizers have highlighted Roots & Culture Coffee, while Silver Bridge Coffee Company appears on the vendor list. Roasters often showcase single-origin beans, small-batch roasts and ethical sourcing practices during their tastings, The Lantern notes. At each vendor station, ticket holders receive 3-to-4-ounce coffee and tea samples poured directly into their commemorative ceramic festival mugs — a system designed to eliminate single-use cup waste, according to Columbus on the Cheap.
During the festival weekend, the neighboring Hilliard Ohio Historical Society opens its historic village and museum to attendees, including a dedicated History of Coffee exhibit inside its museum building, according to the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society.
Funding a Free, Paywall-Free Newsroom
Beyond the caffeine and craft vendors, the festival serves a civic purpose: all ticket sales and event proceeds directly support the year-round operations of Columbus Underground, the independent local news outlet that organizes the event.
Part of a Growing Regional Coffee Scene
The festival also ties into Greater Columbus' broader coffee culture, which Experience Columbus promotes through its digital Columbus Coffee Trail. Participants on the digital pass earn rewards like t-shirts and coffee presses after checking in at participating cafes, according to Experience Columbus.
With live music, food trucks, art installations and that alpaca petting zoo rounding out the weekend, organizers are betting the 11th Columbus Coffee Festival will draw another packed crowd to Hilliard. Given the event's history of selling out, according to the Dispatch, those hoping to attend are being urged to lock in tickets before the October 3-4 weekend arrives.
