This Weekend in Central Ohio: Creekside Blues & Jazz Fest, Worthington Arts Festival, and More

This weekend — June 19–21 — is one of the better outdoor weekends of the early Central Ohio summer. The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival in Gahanna and the Worthington Arts Festival are both happening simultaneously, and both are free.

One of the things I've come to appreciate about Central Ohio summers is the density of good weekends. It's not just one big event and then a gap — it's a rhythm of back-to-back weekends where something genuinely worth going to is happening within 30 minutes of wherever you are.

This weekend is one of those weekends. Two major outdoor events are running simultaneously — one in Gahanna, one in Worthington — and I'd argue they're a good case study in what different parts of Central Ohio feel like. If you haven't been to either town, the festival is a low-stakes, high-enjoyment way to find out.

What Is the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival?

The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival runs June 19–21 in Gahanna, Ohio, at the Creekside area along Big Walnut Creek. It's one of the more beloved outdoor music events in Central Ohio — multiple stages, blues and jazz acts across the three days, food and craft vendors, and the particular summer evening energy that outdoor music festivals in Ohio do well.

Gahanna's Creekside district is the natural backdrop for this: a small walkable area along the creek with restaurants, shops, and green space that turns into one of the better evening scenes in the eastern suburbs when the weather cooperates. Admission to the festival is free.

The festival typically runs afternoon through evening; bring a chair or blanket, arrive early on Saturday for the best seating near the main stage, and explore the Creekside shops while you're in the area.

What Is the Worthington Arts Festival?

The Worthington Arts Festival runs June 20–21 in the Village Green area of Worthington's historic downtown — a walkable, tree-lined district that's genuinely one of the more charming small-scale downtowns in Central Ohio.

Worthington, a city of about 15,000 just north of Columbus, has a historic core along High Street with independent shops, restaurants, and a community feel that a lot of people discover through events like this and then start looking at property in immediately after.

The Arts Festival brings juried artists, live music, and food to the Village Green over the weekend. Like most of the best Central Ohio outdoor events, it's free to attend. Parking in Worthington's downtown is manageable — street parking on the side streets off High Street, or the public lot behind the Village Green.

The Worthington Farmers Market also runs on Saturday mornings through summer — if you're heading to the Arts Festival on Saturday, go early and do both.

What Else Is Happening This Weekend?

• John Neumann Community Festival in Sunbury — June 19–21. A more traditional community carnival format in Sunbury, about 25 miles north of Columbus.
• Juneteenth celebrations — June 20 brings Juneteenth events across Central Ohio, including Juneteenth on the Ave. in Columbus and the Reynoldsburg Juneteenth celebration. These are worth knowing about and supporting.
• ComFest is the following weekend — June 26–28 at Goodale Park. If this weekend doesn't work for you, next weekend is one of Columbus's most beloved community festivals.

Tips for This Weekend

If you can only do one: Creekside Blues & Jazz for the music and the evening patio energy; Worthington Arts Festival for the walkable small-town downtown feel and the arts browsing. They're about 25 minutes apart, so the ambitious move is to hit the Worthington Farmers Market Saturday morning and head to Gahanna for the afternoon and evening.

Dress for it: June in Ohio can be warm during the day and very pleasant in the evening. Layers are smart — summer afternoons can be hot and the evenings cool off nicely once the sun drops.

Parking reality: Creekside fills up Saturday evening; arrive before 4 p.m. or park at the Gahanna Municipal Building and walk over. Worthington's side streets handle the overflow for the Arts Festival.

FAQ: This Weekend's Central Ohio Events

When and where is the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival in 2026? The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival runs June 19–21, 2026, at the Creekside area along Big Walnut Creek in Gahanna, Ohio. It is free to attend and features multiple stages of blues and jazz music, food vendors, and craft sellers across the three-day weekend.

When is the Worthington Arts Festival 2026? The Worthington Arts Festival runs June 20–21, 2026, on the Village Green in downtown Worthington, Ohio. It is a free, juried outdoor arts and music event in one of Central Ohio's most walkable historic downtowns. The Worthington Farmers Market also runs Saturday mornings nearby.

What is Gahanna, Ohio like? Gahanna is a city of about 35,000 just east of Columbus along I-270. The Creekside district along Big Walnut Creek is its downtown anchor — a walkable area with restaurants, shops, and green space popular for events and outdoor dining. Gahanna offers a mix of established neighborhoods and good highway access to the Columbus metro.

What is there to do in Worthington, Ohio? Worthington's historic downtown along High Street has independent shops, restaurants, and regular community events including the Worthington Arts Festival and weekly summer farmers market. The city is known for its well-preserved historic character and walkable town center. It sits about 10 miles north of downtown Columbus.

What big events are coming up in Columbus after this weekend? ComFest at Goodale Park runs June 26–28, followed by Red White & Boom! on July 3, Jazz & Rib Fest at the Scioto Mile on July 24–26, and the Ohio State Fair from July 29–August 9. The Dublin Irish Festival runs July 31–August 2 at Coffman Park.

This is the kind of weekend that makes Ohio summers worth the Ohio winters.

If you find yourself in Worthington or Gahanna this weekend and want to stay a little longer — those are both genuinely nice places to spend time. And if you want to know what it's like to live in either one, I'm always happy to have that conversation.

Enjoy the weekend.

This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. All real estate services are provided in compliance with Fair Housing laws, RESPA, TCPA, the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, and Ohio Real Estate Commission advertising regulations. Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan, Collins Lassiter Group, Red 1 Realty.