If you are a sports and fitness enthusiast, here is your chance to indulge your passion at the 25th annual Arnold Sports Festival, the largest multi-sport festival in the country being held on Thursday, February 28 through Sunday, March 3 at various venues in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It is approximately a 2 hour drive from Cleveland to Columbus.
Arnold Sports Festival Co-produced by actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, this multi-day event will feature 18,000 athletes competing in 45 sports and events including 12 sports featured in the Olympics. Last year more than 175,000 people attended this event.
Among the vast range of sports included at the Festival are men's and women's amateur bodybuilding, gymnastics, martial arts, fencing, archery, cheerleading, dance sport, fitness, boxing, table tennis, power lifting, armwrestling, figure and bikini, track & field and strongman (professional and amateur). New this year at the Festival will also be Scottish Highland Games.
Part of the Festival will be the 2013 Arnold Fitness EXPO being held in the main hall of the Greater Columbus Convention Center located at 400 North High St. The EXPO will feature over 700 booths offering the latest sports equipment, apparel and nutrition information. The EXPO stage will host many of the of Festival's athletic competitions.
Also part of the Festival will be the Active Living Festival spotlighting the annual 50+ DanceSport Challenge. Held at the Hilton Columbus Downtown (401 North High Street), the 50+ DanceSport Challenge is a Pro/Am and Am/Am freestyle ballroom dance competition for all levels and styles. There will also be multi-dance events and solo routine dances. The competitions will be held on Saturday, March 2 from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. with an Evening Dance following at 7 p.m. which will feature dancing demonstrations.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to make an appearance sometime during the Festival and EXPO but there is not set schedule for the celebrity's appearance.
EXPO tickets are $10 per day in advance and $15 per day at the door. Children 10 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Admission gives visitors total access to the Arnold Fitness EXPO. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com. There will be additional charges for some of the competitions. No strollers are allowed.
Hours for the EXPO are 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on Thursday, 10:30 a.m. -6 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.m - 4 p.m. on Sunday. Parking is available at various lots in downtown Columbus including Columbus Commons and COSI Columbus. Rates vary. Visitors will also be able to catch the free Arnold Shuttle Bus at a variety of locations which will take you to most of the Festival's venues.
Venues for the Arnold Sports Festival include The Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena (200 W. Nationwide Blvd.), the Life Style Communities Pavilion (405 Neil Ave.), Veterans Memorial (300 W. Broad St.) and the OSU Field House (460 Woody Hayes Dr.).
Call 800-745-3000 or 614-431-2600 or get online at www.arnoldsportsfestival.com for more information about Arnold Sports Festival events, venues or times .
Columbus, Ohio is approximately a 2 hour drive from Cleveland.
Comments