Annual Lancaster Festival: Artwalk, concerts, food, and fun

Looking for your next summer adventure? Lancaster, Ohio, is just a short drive from Columbus and home to an epic 10-day festival (because one weekend just isn’t enough time for all the fun!).

Mark your calendars because the Lancaster Festival is just down the road and jam-packed with exciting events.

From July 18-27, 2024, Lancaster will be buzzing with music, art, family and lots of free activities. 

Jon Wesley Armstrong and the Crow Mountain Prophets perform at Friday Night Bandstand in Lancaster, Ohio, Friday, June 12, 2009. (Photo by Timothy E. Black)

The festival starts with a day of Art on July 19 with the Downtown Lancaster Art Walk, and finishes with the Lee Brice concert on July 27.

Chalk the Block

July 17-19, 2024. Chalk your own block- Small Squares $6 Large Squares: $12 (each comes with chalk!), or walk around and enjoy all of the creations during the Artwalk on July 21.

Art Walk

Friday, July 19, 2024. Artwork from over 50 artists will be displayed in 34 downtown Lancaster businesses. The streets of downtown Lancaster are closed to traffic as visitors stroll through the beautiful and historic downtown Lancaster.

Enjoy live music on three stages, plus several businesses are hosting musical acts. 

image: Destination Downtown Lancaster

Festival Fair Day

Saturday, July 20 • 9:30-3:00 at Fairfield County Fairgrounds
Cost: $5 adults / KIDS ARE FREE

This day at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds is for kids and families!  Experience Operator for a day. Build a birdhouse, see super tricks by Performance Dogs of Ohio, or catch the entertainment on the stage and much, much more! 

Experience AHA! for FREE

Sunday, July 21 • Noon-4:00pm
AHA! A Hands on Adventure, A Children’s Museum

Bring the little ones to try out Lancaster’s incredible AHA! A hands-on activity, Children’s Museum.  2:00 performance by Fairfield Strings and Keyboard’s Youth Symphony. 

Children’s Corner at Zane Square Stage, Downtown

Free daily musical performances for kids and families! Bring your family out to sing and dance in one of our beautiful park areas.

July 22 – TBA Zane Square Stage, Downtown
July 23 – Rick Kelly Zane Square Stage, Downtown
July 24 – The Magic of Nate Jurgen Knights of Columbus Event Center
July 25 – MadCap Puppets- Down on the Funny Farm Zane Square Stage, Downtown
July 26 – Toadstool Shadow Zane Square Stage, Downtown

Bike Races for Kids

Friday, July 26 • 5:30pm at the Parking Lot, Job and Family Services

Decorate your wheels, grab your helmet and head for the races!  Prizes for best bike decorations and prizes for race winners presented by Fairfield Medical Center.

Featured Concerts at Wendel Concert Stage

This isn’t the full concert listing – see full festival schedule here!

Wilson Phillip with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra
Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 8 pm. 
Tickets are $45 for general admission; $10 for kids and students

Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience
Wednesday, July 24 • 7:30 pm, Gates open at 6:00 pm
Cost: $30 lawn /$40 at gate/ $10 child, student / $300 table of 10

Monday Night Jazz: Columbus Jazz Orchestra
Monday, July 22 • 8:00pm, Gates open at 6:00 pm
Cost: $40 lawn / $10 child, student / $400 table of 10

Grand Finale Concert: Lee Brice
Saturday, July 27, 2024, 8 pm • Wendel Concert Stage, Ohio University – Lancaster Campus
Tickets are $10-$55 for general admission

The sun sets as the Lancaster Festival Orchestra performs on the campus of Ohio University in Lancaster, Ohio, Saturday evening, July 25, 2009. (Photo by Timothy E. Black)

Check out the full schedule for event times and details. Follow along on Facebook for more details and events.

Find more festivals here! 

Over 325 festivals in Columbus and Central Ohio in 2024