Top 5 Columbus events for August

Ohio State Fair, July 26–Aug. 6

Ready the butter cow! The Ohio State Fair returns to the Ohio Expo Center with a full lineup of deep-fried food, wild rides and more. Learn to paddle in the Natural Resources Park's kayak pond, tune in to performances by Pentatonix, Rascal Flatts and Alabama, hit up the International Food Court and the MarketPlace for shopping and keep an eye out for roving entertainment (like a Danny DeVito impersonator or world-champion pogo stick jumper). With so much to do, you'll want to plan on multiday attendance. ohiostatefair.com

My Morning Jacket, Aug. 10

Nearly 20 years after Jim James formed My Morning Jacket, the group lacks a true hit single. Instead, James and his bandmates succeed by producing sonically adventurous albums and fantastic concerts. Hear the under-the-radio hits firsthand when the band comes to Express Live early this month. (And for future reference, they'd make great Picnic with the Pops collaborators. Just saying.) promowestlive.com

Urban Scrawl, Aug. 26–27

See creativity in action and enjoy one of Columbus' hippest neighborhoods at this annual festival in Franklinton. During the two-day event, artists from Central Ohio and beyond create murals at the 400 West Rich arts center. Some pieces will be publicly mounted in the neighborhood while others will be available for sale later at the Art for Franklinton fundraiser that benefits the Franklinton Arts District's George Bellows Grant program.

franklintonartsdistrict.com/urban-scrawl.html

Festival Latino, Aug. 12–14

Puerto Rican salsa performer Charlie Cruz and Dominican merengue singer Toño Rosario (pictured), among others, will perform at the free, family-friendly, two-day Festival Latino hosted by CAPA. The event has moved back to Genoa Park after a brief stint at Bicentennial Park while its previous home was under construction. Expect a wide variety of Latin-inspired music to get attendants out of their seats. festivallatino.net

Columbus Black International Film Festival, Aug. 4–6

This new, three-day cinematic event—founded by Columbus native and filmmaker Cristyn Steward—celebrates stories from black filmmakers around the world. The film festival will feature Mark A. Cumming's “Holy Hustle” (pictured) and David Heredia's “Heroes of Color: Harlem Hellfighters” at the Wexner Center for the Arts before continuing with screenings, workshops and a panel at the Columbus College of Art and Design and the Drexel Theatre in Bexley. columbusbiff.com