Soberfest Ohio, a daylong festival celebrating recovery from addiction, returns to the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Sept. 6 with free admission, live music and a resource fair featuring more than 70 vendors.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 4951 Northwest Parkway.
Parking is $10.
Presented by the Serenity Street Foundation, a Columbus-based recovery organization, Soberfest is billed as a family-friendly alternative to events centered on alcohol. The foundation said in its event announcement that the festival is designed to show people new to sobriety they can still enjoy live music and have a great time without drugs or alcohol.
According to ABC 6, the lineup includes alternative and rock acts Whirl, Rock This Way, Pilot to Pluto, Mark Chatfield, Jon Oswald and headliner Colicchie. Recovery-themed comedian and author Mark Lundholm will also perform.
A Kidszone runs from noon to 4 p.m. with a petting zoo, magic shows, face painting and balloon artistry. Local food trucks will be on-site.
The resource fair will connect attendees with treatment centers, wellness organizations and medical professionals.
Celebrity Steer Show raises $285,000 for Ronald McDonald House
In other Central Ohio fundraising news, the sixth annual RMHC Celebrity Steer Show raised $285,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio at the Ohio State Fair on Aug. 5.
Ten teams, each pairing a local business leader, a media partner and an experienced Ohio 4-H youth, showed steers at the Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center in Columbus. ABC 6/FOX 28 anchor Rodney Dunigan and Good Day Columbus anchor Katie McKee were among the participants, according to ABC 6.
The Grand Champion title went to Diamond Warriors, presented by NiSource, featuring Steve Sylvester, NiSource vice president of health, safety and environmental execution; 4-H'er Alexis May of Fayette County; and NBC4's Kyle Beachy.
"The funds raised will profoundly impact our charity, enabling us to provide nearly 30,000 nights of rest for families with critically ill children," Dee Anders, CEO and executive director of RMHC of Central Ohio, said in a statement after the Aug. 5 event.
The Columbus Ronald McDonald House is recognized as the largest RMHC chapter in the world, serving more than 5,000 families each year.
