Lisa at Restaurant Widow put together a handy list of upcoming festivals in the Columbus area. Some are going on as we speak. Check it out! 
Other things to do this weekend:
- Head out Saturday morning to a farmer’s market. Since we’re in the middle of harvest season, all of them are going full-force, and you’d be surprised at the treasures you can find there.
- Last week I even found strawberries! Go the Hot Times Community Music & Arts Festival, held from September 8-10. Kind of like a mini ComFest, for those of you familiar with that. In addition to a lot of art, dancing, music, poetry slams, etc there is tons of great food, such as sweet potato pie, roasted turkey leg, ribs, greens, jerk chicken, curry, etc.
- Also tomorrow is the Shekinah Festival held at the Shekinah Christian School 3 miles southwest of Plain City. The day starts early (at 7am) with a pancake and sausage breakfast, and by 8:30 the main exhibits will open (includes homemade baked goods, fruits and produce, cider pressing, apple butter cooking,etc.) There’s tons of other fun stuff going on (crafts, quilt auction, hayrides, face painting, etc), but the food….there will be chicken BBQ, trail bologna and cheese sandwiches, pizza, funnel cakes, apple dumpings, and more. FREE. For more info, call 614-873-5445 or 614-873-3130.
- A little late notice, but tonight is the Fourth Annual Autumn Wine Celebration, presented by the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy. It’s going on tonight at the Smith Brothers Building downtown, starting at 7pm. Tickets are $75 per guest. Call 614-236-6730 for more information.
- One of my favorite events is coming up next week - Taste the Future 2006. This gourmet gala in it’s 18th year funds scholarships and special programs for the culinary students at Columbus State. Having volunteered at this event previously, I can say that the price of admission is well worth it. If you still need convincing, the list of participants and menu is online. I just purchased my tickets and they are available. $100 per person, which is almost completely tax-deductible. September 12th at 5:30-9pm. Call 614-287-2436 for more information/reservations.
- Also next week is the 2006 Slice of Columbus event being held at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion next Wednesday, September 13, 2006. Enjoy pizza from 20 local pizza shops and vote on your favorite. $10 for ages 13+, free admission for those under 12, and proceeds go to Columbus Children’s Hospital.
If there’s an upcoming event that you’d like me to add, send me an email at columbusfoodie at gmail dot com and I’ll make mention of it.