The Columbus Oktoberfest is presented by Schmidt’s and offers a large marketplace, beer gardens, three stages, games, kids’ area and more.
2025 DATE: September 5-7, 2025
Location: Ohio Expo Center
717 E 17th Ave
Columbus, OH 43211
Website: https://columbusoktoberfest.com/
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This post documents my experience on September 6, 2024.
Click HERE to read my 2010 experience.
Presented by the well-known Schmidt’s in German Village, where the festival used to take place, the Columbus Oktoberfest now takes place at the Ohio Expo Center to better accommodate the amount of festival goers that come each year.
And there is plenty of space here, as one section is dedicated for the kids with various bounce houses…
…a playground…
…an arts an crafts area…
…theater…
…and even an area to try out the alphorn.
In the back of this area, they were setting up for the Gemütlichkeit Games, a strength competition with lots of throwing and lifting…
…but that was on Saturday…
…giving me more time to explore the heart of the Oktoberfest.
At the center building, the Marktplatz Halle…
…vendors were lined on each side of the building, selling a little bit of everything.
While there were Oktoberfest hats and flower crowns for the celebration…
…and some beautiful German steins for drinking…
…other vendors focused on non-Oktoberfest themes like football…
…(maybe even OSU specifically)…
…apparel…
…all sorts of snacks (for both canines and humans)…
…and hand-crafted items, whether soap, fine jewelry…
…or timeless wood carvings.
The other two halls were better equipped…
…for people to pass the time…
…as they could acquire large mugs of beer…
…or a glass of wine…
…and enjoy their drinks standing…
…lounging…
…or settled in at one of the huge bier gartens found in each hall.
Each hall also had a stage with live entertainment…
…(a third stage outside)…
…and an assortment of food that included strudel, pretzels…
…all sorts of German foods…
…a few not-so-German foods…
…and a huge Schmidt’s stand in each hall…
…both offering the brats and cream puffs essential for a Columbus Oktoberfest experience.