The Columbus Coffee Festival returns to the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, for its 11th year.
The two-day event fills the fairgrounds at 4951 Northwest Pkwy. with Ohio coffee roasters, tea makers, food trucks and live music. Every ticket includes a commemorative mug that covers all sampling. Children 12 and under get in free with an accompanying adult.
The 2025 festival drew more than 9,000 guests and featured over 40 coffee roasters, coffee vendors and tea vendors from Ohio and surrounding states, according to the festival's recap of its 10th edition. Local craft vendors, bakers and food trucks rounded out the weekend.
The festival has deep Hilliard roots. Columbus Underground launched it in December 2016 at the Ohio Village with 18 roasters, according to the festival's website. It has since grown into a two-day draw that regularly brings thousands of visitors to the fairgrounds.
The Hilliard Ohio Historical Society again partners with the festival. The Historical Village and Museum at Weaver Park will host activities during the weekend, with the festival spilling over onto the village grounds. In its October 2024 newsletter, the Historical Society said the festival brought unprecedented exposure to the village, with volunteers introducing newcomers to what they described as a hidden gem of Hilliard. The 2025 edition featured a History of Coffee exhibit inside the Historical Museum.
Coffee Connection, a Hilliard business the Historical Society called a key organizer, offered samples at the village's train station during the 2024 festival.
Tickets are on sale at columbuscoffeefest.com. The organizers have not yet published 2026 pricing or session hours.
Upcoming Hilliard community events:
- Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4: Columbus Coffee Festival, Franklin County Fairgrounds, 4951 Northwest Pkwy.
- Wednesday, Oct. 14: Taste of the Town, The Makoy Center
