City’s 56th celebration kicks off a warm weekend

It’s getting hot outside, but that didn’t Evelyn McNally from stepping out into the sun at the Columbus Arts Festival with a three-string, slender wooden instrument slung across her chest.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and strummed her fingers against the chords.

“What is that?” a woman asked, stopping in her tracks.

“Sounds like a banjo,” another man remarked, chuckling as he passed.

Smiling to herself, McNally opened her eyes. “It’s called a strumstick. All the notes sound good together, no matter which way you play them,” she said, as she proceeded to play an upbeat melody for a small crowd Friday afternoon. “I’ve been making these with my husband, Bob, for 30 years.”

Showing that even the most musically disinclined people are capable of playing an instrument is McNally’s favorite part of coming to the Columbus Arts Festival.

“It is one of the best craft shows,” she said.

Her loveof art is joined by 300 other local and national artists who ventured out for the festival’s 56th year this weekend.

The three-day art and music extravaganza brings roughly 450,000 people to the Scioto riverfront. Activities include local concerts, craft shows and art tents where festival-goers can get creative.

“The arts are a significant driver of tourism, help our children learn better across all subjects and we know that a vibrant cultural community helps attract businesses and workers to a city,” said Jami Goldstein, vice president of marketing, communication and events for the festival. “The arts in Columbus help us do all these things —making our city where people want to live, work and play.”

Sitting on the curb at the festival, Katie Eisel listened to her two young sons excitedly tell her about the free magnets they got. This is their fourth year going.

“We live Downtown and we always try to come to these events,” she said. “I love walking around and just checking out the local art. It’s a nice little loop.”

Looking back at her sons, she adds, “Oh, andthey love playing in the fountains, of course.”

The Columbus Arts Festival will continue from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (with artists’ booths closing at9 p.m.) today;10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

[BROOKE LAVALLEY/DISPATCH PHOTOS] Cecelia McVicker, 11, left, and her sister Riana, 13, play for money at the Arts Festival. Their mother, Nicole McVicker, listens as the girls try to earn enough for a trip to the Czech Republic, which they hope to take with their performing group.