The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department's Office of Special Events offers a diverse range of events and experiences in downtown Columbus. The Jazz & Rib Fest, now in its 37th year, is our flagship event.

This highly anticipated summertime tradition offers both jazz and rib connoisseurs the finest in music and barbeque. With the addition of 33 acres of parkland along the Scioto Mile, the newly revitalized downtown riverfront provides the perfect location for hot ribs and cool jazz. The festival offers three days of continuous jazz while barbeque pit masters serve up sizzling ribs, chicken and more!

EvEnt OvErviEw

Festival Hours:Friday and Saturday,

11 a.m. – 11 p.m.Sunday, 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

EvEnt OvErviEw

23 2422

When

The event is held in Columbus, Ohio along the downtown riverfront.

With demographics that mirror national numbers, Columbus is considered the ideal test city for brand marketing and sampling products and services.

WheRe What

300,000+ attendees each year

45+ jazz bands

33+ hours of live music

20+ rib teams

Admission is FREE!

FEstival By thE numBErs

Female52%

Male48%

$100,000 or more

14%

Less than $25,000 15%

$25,000 to $49,999

25%

$50,000 to $74,999

32%

$75,000 to $99,999

18%

IncomeGENDER

35 -

44

25 -

34

26%

11%

<18

4%

19%

24%

16%

45 -

54

55+

19 -

24

AGE

Caucasian 67%

African American 25%

Hispanic/Latino 5%

Asian 2%

Other 1%

ETHNICITY 99% of visitors surveyed plan to attend the 2016 festival

7,331,720 viewers reached via 170 television news segments on ABC, FOX, CBS and NBC affiliatesSOURCE: Nielson Media Research, Inc.

932 TV promos with sponsor recognition aired on ABC 6, FOX 28, The CW and MyNetworkTV

73radio promos with sponsor recognition on Sunny 95 (94.7 FM), Rewind 103.5 / 104.3 FM and Mix 107.9 FM

350,000 estimated attendance

SOURCE: 2015 Event Survey and Media Partner Reports

FEstival By thE numBErs

10,000 full-color festival guides featuring sponsor activity descriptions and logo recognition

40,000+ email subscribers received 3 unique event promos that included sponsor recognition

10,000pizza box toppers advertising the event distributed through 20 central Ohio Donatos locations

10,484followers on the Jazz & Rib Fest Facebook page

HotribsCoolJazz.org DasHboarD

409,916page views during the month of July

88,088unique visitors during the month of July

62,748 visits throughout the festival weekend

614columbus.comAmericanTowns.comAPlaceForJazz.comColumbusAlive.comColumbusUnderground.com

ColumbusParent.comDiscoverOhio.comEventBrite.comEventFul.comExperienceColumbus.com

FindAMusicFestival.comJazzCorner.comJazztimes.comMidWestLiving.comOhioMagazine.com

LIsted on 70+ WebsItes InCLUdInG:

We are proud to offer a variety of jazz music genres including Latin, straight-ahead, fusion, smooth, New Orleans and more!

PAST HEADLINERS INCLUDE: David Sanborn Eddie Palmieri Brian Culbertson Mindi Abair Terence Blanchard Boney James Arturo Sandoval Preservation Hall Jazz Band Christian McBride Galactic Ramsey Lewis Dave Koz Norman Brown Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Diane Reeves The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Diane Schuur

COOl Jazz

Attendees savor the best ribs from around the country as award-winning barbeque teams compete for “Best Ribs” bragging rights.

Jazz & Rib Fest presents awards in six different categories selected by two distinguished panels of judges.

AWARDS:

The Critics’ Choice Award

All-Ohio Champion Award

Best Sauce Award

The Big Whigs’ Award

People’s Choice Award

Silver Axe Award presented by the Columbus Division of Fire

hOt riBs

The Jazz & Rib Fest is proud to partner with The Color Run – the ‘Happiest 5K on the Planet!’ This one-of-a-kind event is less about speed and more about enjoying a color-crazy day with friends and family. The 5K runs through downtown, with the start and finish line at Jazz & Rib Fest. When more than 10,000 runners pour into your event, it’s a ‘win’ for everyone!

thE COlOr run

We are honored to work alongside sponsors that help us make Jazz & Rib Fest great year after year!

spOnsOrs

Located in the heart of the United States, Columbus, Ohio is the perfect destination for your mobile tour. Take a look at some of the brands that have joined us over the years…

est. 2007

past mOBilE tOurs

Jazz & Rib Fest garners coverage from media outlets in TV, radio, print and online

publications. Our event routinely receives over 7,000,000 media impressions each year.

mEdia COvEragE

Jazz & Rib Fest sponsors and partners receive unparalleled brand exposure and opportunities for consumer interaction and messaging, product demonstration and sampling, lead generation and more. Customized packages are available for your brand or mobile tour including the following opportunities:

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor

Stage Sponsor

Beverage Sponsor

Rib Judging Sponsor

Media Sponsor

In-Kind Sponsor

Relaxation Station Sponsor

Sampling and Product Distribution

Mobile Tour Stop

spOnsOr and mOBilE tOur OppOrtunitiEs

Become a Jazz & Rib Fest event partner and receive unparalleled exposure with an array of demographics while supporting one of the largest free events in central Ohio!

CONTACT:Karen Wiser, Festival Director(614) 645-6449klwiser@columbus.gov

Tiffany Dixon, Communications & Development Coordinator(614) 645-3033tgdixon@columbus.gov

WEBSITE:www.HotRibsCoolJazz.org

COntaCt us