GAHANNA, Ohio — The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival is set to return to Gahanna’s Creekside District for its 26th year from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15. The three-day event is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees and will feature over 30 national, regional, and local blues and jazz performers across three stages, along with numerous food and artisan vendors.
“For 26 years, we have watched the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival continue to flourish,” said Lori Kappes, executive director of Visit Gahanna. “We are so proud to bring this festival to Central Ohio every year, and we can’t wait for people to see what we have in store.”
A new addition to this year’s festival is Gahanna’s first-ever Juneteenth Celebration, scheduled for June 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This landmark event will honor the legacy of Juneteenth and highlight Black culture through music, dance, spoken word, and community connection. The first 200 attendees of the Juneteenth Celebration will receive free admission to the festival, which begins at 1 p.m. that day.
The festival will showcase a variety of artists across its stages. On the Blues Stage, performances include Just Another Mojo, The Groove Brothers Band, and Piper & The Hard Times on Friday; Blue Spectrum, North of Memphis, and Vanessa Collier on Saturday; and 614 Blues Ed All Stars and Nikki D & The Browns on Sunday.
The Jazz Stage will feature acts such as the Chase Potter Quartet, The Tony Monaco Trio, and Jessy J on Friday; Whirlybirds, Clave Sonic, and Marion Meadows with Urban Jazz Coalition on Saturday; and the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra and Such Sweet Thunder on Sunday.
The Creekside Stage will host The Goldsberrys, KC & The Moonlighters, and Thumpdaddy on Friday; 6 Degrees of Dub, Groove City Big Band, and Willie Phoenix & The Soul Underground on Saturday; and School of Rock and Angela Perley on Sunday.
Presale single-day passes are available online for $15 for adults and $10 for ages 11-17. Weekend passes are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 11-17. Tickets at the gate will be $20 for adults and $15 for youths for single-day entry, and $35 for adults and $25 for ages 11-17 for weekend passes. Veterans and children 10 and younger accompanied by a paid adult will be admitted free.
Festival-goers can park at 700 Morrison Rd., where shuttles will provide continuous service to and from the event. Festival hours are Friday, June 13, from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, from 1-11 p.m.; and Sunday, June 15, from 12-5 p.m.