by Nicole Bennett

In its 47th year, The Greater Columbus Arts Council's Arts Festival will take over the Discover District on Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8.

This three day event, presented by Time Warner Cable, will feature local and national artists of all mediums, from music to poetry, sculpture to paint and much more.

The festival will be held on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Due to the construction along the riverfront, the Columbus Arts Festival will have a fresh new perspective on the city when it changes its location to the Discovery District. The change seems natural because the festival dedicated to celebrating the arts will be surrounded by the Columbus College of Art and Design and the Columbus Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Make sure you have ample time to explore the approximately 250 artists at this year’s event. With many returning artists and 60 newcomers, the festival continues to attract new, one-of-a-kind artists every year to this Columbus summer staple.

“The biggest reason we love coming to Columbus is the people. I do shows all over the country and it is grueling work,” says Suzanne Q. Evon, a jewelry maker from Weaverville, N.C. “The people in Columbus are truly friendly and appreciative of handcrafting. I don’t think there is any other city where I’ve built a better or nicer clientele.”

There are new exhibits for local artists this year, Art Revealed and the Student Art Exhibition. Art Revealed is an exhibit for the professional and amateur adult artists to present their work. The Student Art Exhibition’s purpose is to nurture the talents of young artists and provide an environment where the students of the Columbus community can showcase their abilities.

The visual art is not the only thing that is on display at the festival. There are five stages at this year’s event - the Main stage, Club stage, Children’s Performance stage, the Poetry Corner stage, and, new this year, the Giant Eagle Family stage - all of which will feature performance arts as well.

On the Main stage and Club stage you will hear the music from more than 50 live musical acts. Rock, jazz, Americana, and Celtic music are just a few of the genres that will be performed. Appearances by bands such as The Blue Level, Groove Soda, Lone Raven, and the Tyrone Cotton Band are sure to please the crowds.

“I have played the festival more than once, and it has become my favorite festival in Columbus,” says Maggie Green, a Brazilian Jazz singer. “The general vibe of the crowd there is good.”

With Columbus as a national leader for spoken word and poetry, the festival has a Poetry Corner stage to highlight the talents of these artists. Make sure to catch the high energy performances during the annual Columbus Arts Festival Poetry Slam competition on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This adult friendly festival is kid friendly as well. With hands-on art activities and the children’s theater, kids have the opportunity to be exposed to art that will interest them.

The Children’s Theater, in the Topiary Garden behind the Columbus Metropolitan Museum of Art, will have performances of Pinocchio on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“We’re so excited about this year’s Columbus Arts Festival. There’s so much that’s new at this year’s event, but that doesn’t mean we’ve left out the festival favorites. You’ll still find over 250 artists from across the country, along with delicious feed, hands on activities for kids and adults and performances by local and national acts. It’s the same great event with a new look and lots of new things to see and do,” says Katie Lucas, festival director.

For more information about the Columbus Arts Festival visit www.gcac.org/fest or email Lucas at .