Taste of Downtown is the one day a year you get to eat, drink, and wander your way through every corner of downtown Columbus — without a reservation, a Yelp tab, or a clue what you're hungry for. One ticket gets you in the door at every participating spot. Show up, sample, move on, repeat.
Brought to you by the Downtown Residents Association of Columbus — because downtown isn't just a destination. It's a neighborhood. Come see why.
THE PITCH
THE LINEUP
Participating Businesses.
Dozens of downtown restaurants, bars, galleries + shops opening their doors - one Saturday to experience the neighborhood.
THE DAY
How the day works.
Pick up your lanyard starting at 10:30am. From there, the city is yours. Walk between stops, hop the COTA, or follow the route - every participating business is within downtown's walkable core.
Each stop serves a sample, a sip, or an activity. Last call at 4:30pm.
10:30AM · KICKOFF
Grab your lanyard
Roll up to the pick up spot, get checked in, and grab your map.
10:30AM — 4:30PM · CRAWL
Eat, sip, repeat
Walk, scoot, or COTA your way between participating spots. No reservation, no rush.
4:30PM · LAST CALL
Wind it down
Final stops close their tasting tables. Stick around for dinner or explore more of downtown.
Get your tickets.
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The goal of this event is for attendees to be able to walk to every participating business or take public transportation like COTA or VEO bikes. Businesses are spread out from Main st, to the Arena District with a larger concentration of businesses being near Gay St. and High St.
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While some businesses are offering alcohol drinks, most of the businesses are family friendly. All participants, ages 8 and up must purchase a ticket to participate.
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This event is rain or shine!
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We’d love to have you join Taste of Downtown! The deadline is July 22nd to apply. Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UeDUSucpRsbIhVvzAUqBnp7AKTcpd8prQZdlqXiFJQ4/edit
If it’s after July 22, email board@dracolumbus.com to get on the 2027 waitlist.
See you downtown, September 12.
SATURDAY · 10:30AM — 4:30PM · DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS
FOR BUSSINESSES
Bring your business to the table.
Last year, 300+ neighbors and members of the greater Columbus community walked into 38 downtown businesses on Taste of Downtown. Some came to try new places for the first time.
If you're a downtown restaurant, apartment, art gallery, shop, or the like, we'd love to have you on the 2026 lineup.
THE ASK
A small sample, signature pour, or activity for ticket holders that day.
THE RETURN
Up to 500 customers and your business mentioned on DRAC communications.
MADE POSSIBLE BY
Call for 2026 sponsors.
Taste of Downtown is presented by the Downtown Residents Association of Columbus, with thanks to the partners.
Interested In Sponsoring?
Call for 2026 sponsors.
See you downtown, September 12.
SATURDAY · 10:30AM — 4:30PM · DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS
Become a Business Partner
Our local downtown businesses are important to the Downtown Residents’ community. DRAC offers multiple ways to promote your business through our partnership membership.
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At each monthly event, we announce a Business Member of the Month who is invited to take the microphone and introduce themselves and their business to our membership. We are also always seeking new and interesting venues for monthly events, and welcome Business members to host events in their space. Each Business Member of the Month and Event host will be featured in multiple social media posts and in our monthly email newsletter.
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Have something special to announce, like an expansion, promotion, new product or service, or want to offer DRAC members a special discount? We will make sure that the announcement is shared at our next monthly event.
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Business members are now eligible to have special announcements posted on DRAC’s Facebook and Instagram feeds. Forward your announcement along with your logo or preferred graphic and we will post your announcement on our page.
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If you have promotional items, coupons, brochures, menus or other written material for distribution, we will add them to our Business member media table which will be on display at each monthly event.
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Let our members know you support us, and boost SEO and online visibility to your website.
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DRAC members love monthly prize drawings! Promote your brand by donating products, services, swag, discounts, or other fun items.
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Display this sticker in your business to let DRAC members know that you’re part of the family.
