I know, it doesn’t seem that way with all the rain we’ve had, but festival season is already here and the members of the Greater Columbus Events Council are offering great giveaways so that you, too, can experience why people love Columbus’ festivals and events!

For the next few months, we will be giving away fabulous prizes, so keep checking our blog. Our first prize package starts today:

2 Winners will be chosen to win a combination of:

• VIP passes to the Columbus Arts Festival
• Tickets to the Columbus Arts Festival Patron Party on Fri., June 3
• Food tickets to Juneteenth
• Tickets to the German Village Haus und Garten Tour

Here’s how to win: Leave a comment below and name at least one Columbus festival or event that you plan on attending this weekend or in June. All entries must be posted by noon on Tuesday, May 31. One entry per person, please. We’ll randomly select the winners and notify you if you’ve won!

Update 5/31/11: Congratulations Devin and Joe S. for winning the first giveway! Check back often, as we’ll give away more festival packages as the season continues!

It’s a guilty pleasure, but I never tire of walking the streets and alleys of German Village to peek into the windows of its fabulously restored homes. That’s why I love the Haus und Garten Tour . It’s a once-a-year opportunity to get an up close look inside without worrying about whether the owner is home. This year, the tour takes place on Sunday, June 27.

Some of the homes and gardens on tour are elegant showplaces, some are urban sanctuaries, while others are funky and creative. All are great for decorating ideas or inspiration. At the least, I’m always inspired to go home and clean. This is a special time to explore the Village, check out its unique shops and enjoy its fabulous restaurants and bakeries .

German Village has been holding the Haus und Garten Tour for 51 years now. When it started, tickets were only $1, and some of the residents thought there was no way people would pay that much to go inside some old houses. Of course, they were wrong – today the tour attracts thousands of visitors, and German Village has become renowned worldwide as a leader in historic preservation.

Save $5 with a pre-sale ticket (click here to buy) and get an eyeful in some of the most beautiful homes you’ll see anywhere.

Columbus Arts Festival
Photo: Randall Lee Schieber

At Experience Columbus, we hear a variety of reasons why people love Columbus. One that comes up time and time again? This city’s festivals and events. Art, music, food, games, ethnic culture, sports…we’ve got ‘em all, and then some.

If you’re one of the many who love Columbus festivals, you’re in luck because you have the chance to win some pretty sweet prize packages. The members of the Greater Columbus Events Council are celebrating the festivals and events season by offering up several giveaways over the next several months. And the first two start now.

Here’s the first set of prize packages to be won by two lucky readers: (more…)