Festivals can be found most summer weekends in Columbus – some that feature music (think Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival), a foreign land (think Columbus Italian Festival or Dublin Irish Festival), and there’s even one that features a vegetable (Reynoldsburg’s Tomato Festival) and a flower (Pickerington Violet Festival). This coming weekend, join Heartland Bank in celebrating the arts, at both the Westerville Music & Arts Festival and Summer Jam at Westgate Park.

Westerville Music & Arts Festival 

For 41 years the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival has been a summer highlight for area residents and it has only gotten better with age. What started as a small “street fair” has evolved into a full weekend of over 140 exhibitors, over a dozen musicians and this year a headlining act, Rory Block. With an estimated attendance of over 18,000 expected and the most musicians ever, Heartland Bank is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of this year’s 42nd Annual Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Music & Arts Festival.

The Chamber has continually monitored the quality of the festival by making it juried; only artists selected by a panel of judges may participate. Throughout its 42 years, the Festival has expanded to include the: “Heritage” section where craftspeople not only display and sell their work, but dress in period costume, and the “Westerville Walkway,” which consists of civic service organizations and features emerging artists from Westerville and surrounding areas. 

Another major attraction of the festival is the youth exhibit. This exhibit allows young artists, ages 3-18, to get involved with a major art show and display their talents. This year’s festival will feature magic shows by The Great Dean-O through Saturday, July 11 and dramatic storytelling with Candace Mazur Darman, on Sunday, July 12. Hands-on art activities will be open and available at the youth activities tent from 12-4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Free parking within walking distance of the festival will be available. Trolleys will also be transporting festival patrons back and forth from the Westerville Sports Complex (Cleveland Ave.). The trolley is free for all festival attendees and will run from 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

NEW THIS YEAR: Enjoy the sounds of 5-time blues music award winner, guitarist, and author, Rory Block, on Saturday, July 11th. Rory will bring vintage Delta blues and folk to Westerville for a headlining show that will benefit the Westerville Scholarship Foundation. Tickets are on sale now for $25 and are available through the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce or by calling 614-882-8917.

Also new this year will be a pet station to make sure our furry friends fare well with our warm summer days. "There will be plenty of cold water to drink & ice for dogs to play in!” Please only bring your dogs if they are good around people and in group situations. There is a lot of noise, people, and activities at the festival and we would not want to scare any dogs, nor put people in dangerous situations. So again, please be aware of your animal in any given situation!

Back Again This Year: Ride your bicycles to the Music & Arts Festival and safely store them in the bike corral, sponsored by Heartland Bank. The bike corral will be located near the Main St. entrance to the festival grounds and will be free to use; all donations will benefit Pelotonia.

The 2015 Westerville Area Chamber Music & Arts Festival will be held at Heritage Park and Everal Barn on Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $1 for adults, free for children 16 & under.

As the presenting sponsor, you’ll see volunteers from Heartland Bank helping out at the admission gate, at the bike corral and at our booth near the Main Street entrance. Stop by our tent and Spin to Win a chance for great prizes and enter to win a fabulous Columbus Crew SC or Uptown Westerville gift basket.

You can also expect to see and hear an exciting line-up of bands playing a variety of music including R&B, Country, Big Band Jazz, Solo Guitar, Bluegrass, and Classical on both the Heartland Bank stage and the Teleperformance Community Stage. Check out the lineup for both stages below!

2015 Westerville Music & Arts Festival Schedule

Summer Jam at Westgate Park

Summer Jam Music and Art in Westgate Park is ready to roll out its second year on July 11th from 11 am until 7 pm. This year the annual arts and music festival has chosen the theme, “On the Wings of Change”. Under the direction of Event Coordinator Patti Von Niessen, the team wanted to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the simple steps we can take to save the species. Monarch Watch of Ohio and Monarch Maniacs will be at the festival with information, milkweed seeds, fun activities for the kids and a butterfly tent with monarchs that will allow children and adults to get up close and personal with this beautiful pollinator.

Art will be for sale under the art tent with many emerging artists. This is a great place to buy from any of the 21 local artists before they become famous. Twenty-six craft artisans will have booths and all of their products are handcrafted by the artisan themselves. 

Children will have lots of free activities this year with free face painting and an art zone sponsored by Hilltop Kiwanis. Summer Jam partners with Columbus Fire and Police departments to allow the children to interact with the K-9 unit, pet the horses, sit in a police car and run through the Safe House. 

The biggest accomplishment for Summer Jam this year, is the addition of the very first piece of free standing, public art. The sculpture is the design and concept of the artist, Rachel Pace of Steeling Copper. Rachel has been working on the 14 foot tall, stainless steel sculpture since January and it will be installed in time for everyone to admire at Summer Jam. Rachel's passion for raising monarchs and spreading the word about planting milkweed to save the species has led to this, her biggest project to date. She's graciously named the sculpture, “On the Wings of Change”.

An exciting lineup of local bands are playing a variety of music at Summer Jam at Westgate Park!

2015 Summer Jam at Westgate Park Schedule

If you’re looking for some ‘sound’ financial advice, let us ‘draw’ up a successful strategy to get you fiscally fit! Stop in the Westerville office today and see Branch Manager Chuck Woodson or Assistant Manager Lori Hindson-Rech today! Or visit the Wilson Road office on the west side, and ask for Manager Peggy Frebault or Assistant Manager Kelli Hetrick Mashburn. We’ll see you this weekend at Westerville Music & Arts and Summer Jam at Westgate Park!

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