Central Ohio Foodie Events: Fall 2015 Calendar
August
5 Wednesday Originals
Multiple locations
Participating Dine Originals restaurants offer special dining experiences the first Wednesday of each month, ranging from tastings to themed wine dinners. dineoriginalscolumbus.com
5 First Wednesday Wine Dinner
The Worthington Inn
On the first Wednesday of every month, The Worthington Inn offers a four-course dinner with wine pairings. Advance tickets are $65 per person. worthingtoninn.com
8 Moonlight Market
Gay Street, between High and Third
Starting at 6 p.m. every second Saturday of every month, dozens of local vendors line Gay Street for an evening of shopping under the stars. moonlightmarketcolumbus.com
11 Taste the Future
Columbus State Community College
This annual fundraiser features dozens of the region's finest culinary offerings, supporting student scholarships at Columbus State Community College. tasteofthefuture.com
14 Downtown Drive-In, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
North Market
Stop by the North Market plaza at sundown for a retro movie experience. Tickets are $18 for vehicles, $5 for pedestrians, with market merchants offering concessions. northmarket.com
14-16 Food Truck Festival
Columbus Commons
More than 50 local and regional food trucks will line the Commons for this annual extravaganza, Aug. 14 to 16, which also features live music and art and crafts vendors. columbuscommons.org
20 Caymus & Cookouts Wine Dinner
Spagio
Spagio's monthly wine dinners feature five courses with five wine pairings. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Reservations are required. spagio.com
21 Craft Brew at the Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
This sip-and-stroll-style event features more than 50 craft beers. A VIP option is also available with access to limited-releases from Columbus Brewing Co., Rockmill Brewery, New Belgium Brewing Co. and more. The event runs from 7 to 11 p.m., and tickets include all-day zoo access. columbuszoo.org
22 Tea 43206
German Village Guest House
Tea, wine, hors d'oeuvres and pastries will be served to all who arrive at this benefit gala in their best garden party attire. This year's event will feature live music, a silent auction and a best hat contest. germanvillage.com
22 Orin Swift Cellars, Dave Phinney and The Prisoner Wine Company
Wine Dinner
Spagio's monthly wine dinners feature five courses with five wine pairings. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Reservations are required. spagio.com
28 Field to Table
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
This annual event, presented by the conservatory's Women's Board, promises garden-inspired apps, cocktails and a candlelit dinner. Proceeds benefit the conservatory's community gardening efforts. fpconservatory.org
28 Fete En Blanc Columbus
The fifth annual "picnic with a purpose" will take place at a mystery venue revealed the day of the event. Simply buy tickets, pack a picnic and dress in your best whites. The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. feteenblanc.wordpress.com
28- Sept. 4 Crave Chef's Menu
During this weeklong celebration, Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, of the best that Central Ohio has to offer, restaurants will offer tasting menus, showcasing the chefs' culinary personalities. The promotion benefits the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. columbuscrave.com/chefsmenu
September
2 Wednesday Originals
Participating Dine Originals restaurants offer special dining experiences the first Wednesday of each month, ranging from tastings to themed wine dinners. dineoriginalscolumbus.com
2 First Wednesday Wine Dinner
The Worthington Inn
On the first Wednesday of every month, The Worthington Inn offers a four-course dinner with wine pairings. Advance tickets are $65 per person. worthingtoninn.com
7 Ohio Hog Roast
The Hills Market Worthington
For this Labor Day tradition, The Hills smokes a whole Ohio hog for pulled pork sandwiches accompanied by live bluegrass music. A vegetarian option, a roasted portobello sandwich, will also be available. Event runs from 11:30 to 3:30 p.m. No reservations required. thehillsmarket.com
10 Incredible Wines of Italy Wine Dinner
Spagio's monthly wine dinners feature five courses with five wine pairings. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Reservations are required. spagio.com
11-12 Ohio Craft Brew Festival
North Market
Enjoy beers from Ohio's growing microbrewery scene Sept. 11 to 12, including Barley's Brewing Co., Wolf's Ridge Brewing and Seventh Son Brewing Co. northmarket.com
12 Moonlight Market
Gay Street, between High and Third
Starting at 6 p.m. every second Saturday of every month, dozens of local vendors line Gay Street for an evening of shopping under the stars. moonlightmarketcolumbus.com
October
5 Taste of Italy
Italian Village
Authentic Italian dishes are served in the Italian Village neighborhood, along with wine, beer and spirits. The event runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the event. This precedes the Italian Festival, held Oct. 9 to 11. columbusitalianfestival.com
7 Wednesday Originals
Participating Dine Originals restaurants offer special dining experiences the first Wednesday of each month, ranging from tastings to themed wine dinners. dineoriginalscolumbus.com
7 First Wednesday Wine Dinner
The Worthington Inn
On the first Wednesday of every month, The Worthington Inn offers a four-course dinner with wine pairings. Advance tickets are $65 per person. worthingtoninn.com
9-11 Columbus Italian Festival
Corner of East Lincoln and Hamlet streets
Sample the city's best Italian eats Oct. 9-11, while strolling through Italian Village. Tickets are $5 at the gate, and kids under 12 are free with paid adult admission. Entertainment includes Elio Scaccio, Tre Bella and the John Schwab Band. columbusitalianfestival.com
10 Moonlight Market
Gay Street, between High and Third
Starting at 6 p.m. every second Saturday of every month, dozens of local vendors line Gay Street for an evening of shopping under the stars. This is the final market of the year. moonlightmarketcolumbus.com
13 Tastes of the Midwest
Gallerie Bistro & Bar
For this Slow Food Columbus fundraiser, some of the city's most talented chefs craft original and nostalgic dishes that explore and challenge the definition of Midwestern cuisine. slowfoodcolumbus.org
25 Halloween Family Funday
North Market
This family-friendly market event features trick-or-treating and activities. northmarket.com
September 25-27 Columbus Oktoberfest
If you would have asked Carla Epler about Columbus Oktoberfest six years ago, the director of operations for Schmidt's would have described its future as uncertain, at best. The annual celebration of the city's German culture bounced from location to location before the German Village Society voted to cancel the event altogether in 2009. That's when Schmidt's came to the rescue and permanently moved the fest to the Ohio Expo Center and neighboring fairgrounds, where it will celebrate its 50th anniversary this September.
Spread across 100,000 square feet of covered pavilions, you'll find funnel cakes, Reubens, brats and more from over a dozen vendors such as Schmidt's, DK Diner and Juergens Bakery. New this year is a craft beer garden, Epler says, featuring Oktoberfest-style brews from the likes of Brooklyn Brewery and Thirsty Dog. The Giant Eagle Marketplace Pavilion will also feature more than 80 arts and crafts exhibitors
Those interested in the annual Brat Trot (held Friday, Sept. 25 at 6:15 p.m.) should sign up no later than the first week of September, Epler says. "The incentive is that you get a beer, a sausage and a T-shirt at the end," Epler says. Brat Trot tickets are $45 through Sept. 24 and $50 on race day, if still available.
Oktoberfest parking costs $10, but event admission is free, with food and beverage tickets sold in reams of 10 for $10 each. A portion of those ticket sales benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank; last year's donation provided 20,000 meals, Epler says. columbusoktoberfest.com -Anthony Dominic