Columbus, Ohio Arts Festival

Judges select only 300 artists out of 1,500 applicants to show and sell their works at the festival.

The Columbus Arts Festival is one of the Midwest's largest arts events. Booths loaded with paintings, jewelry, glasswork, photography and other fine art line the downtown riverfront in this central-Ohio town.

Lace up your dancing shoes. Two main stages deliver a mix of musical styles, from jazz to blues and rock. A third stage highlights community talent, including high school choirs. Along with traditional "fair fare," such as brats, you can sample specialties from the city's top restaurants.

Meandering past so many works of art may ignite your own muse. No problem. The festival offers hands-on art activities for adults and kids.