Things to See & Do
With several Downtown shops and dozens of visiting vendors set up on the Courthouse Square, you’ll discover unique treasures for yourself, your home, and your loved ones. From clothing to decorations, jewelry to toys, antiques to candles, it’s a shopper’s paradise!
Did you know Columbus is home to the only Santa Museum in the South? Stop by during the festival for an early holiday celebration! The Santa Claus Museum is open May 17 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. and May 18 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. $5 per person. Children under 5 are free.
The 2024 Magnolia Belles will be presented in the District Courtroom of the Colorado County Courthouse at 7:00 p.m. on May 17 (reception following presentation) and on the Courthouse Square lawn at 1:00 p.m. on May 18. Both events are free and open to the public.
The Family Fun Zone features activities for both the young and “young at heart" including a petting zoo, inflatables, train rides, carnival games, mechanical bull, and dunking booth.
Keep your cool with an ice-cold beer or glass of wine in our Biergarten. Along with much-loved domestic beers, the Magnolia Days Festival will feature unique craft brews and wines from Texas favorites.
You’ll always find something satisfying to eat at the Magnolia Days Festival. Enjoy everything from BBQ to burgers and cotton candy to crawfish plus a few out-of-the-ordinary dishes to tempt your taste buds.
Classic and custom beauties will cruise into town for the Magnolia Days Festival Car Show! Held on Saturday, May 18, the vehicles on display will be a sight to see!
In conjunction with the Live Oak Art Center, MDF is hosting an art contest to celebrate Columbus. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners plus Fan Favorite.
Magnolia Days Festival 5K and Kids' Mile
The Magnolia Days 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ Mile will kick off Saturday’s festivities. The Kids’ Mile will begin at 8:45 a.m. and the 5K will begin at 9:00 a.m. The run/walk will begin and end at Hound Song Brewing Co. (535 Walnut, Columbus 78934).
The route is mostly flat and shaded by large oak trees. The kids mile is a straight out and back. All ADULT runners with proper ID will receive a free beer courtesy of Hound Song Brewing and a performance fabric event t-shirt. Kids will receive a cotton t-shirt and a free non-alcoholic drink
5K Pricing:
$45 – now through April 18
$50 – April 19 through May 18
Kids’ Mile Pricing:
$20 – now through April 18
$25 – April 19 through May 18
Festival FAQs
Magnolia Days Festival is held on the third Friday and Saturday in May.
Festival Hours:
Friday: 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday: 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Magnolia Days Festival is held on the historic Courthouse Square in Downtown Columbus, TX. The physical address is 400 Spring Street, Columbus, TX 78934.
Yes, Magnolia Days Festival is free to attend and open to the public. There are many things to do and see while at the Fest, some activities are free and some charge a fee. Food vendors will be onsite selling food and drinks. All concerts are free to attend.
Free parking is available on all streets in the Downtown area, but please respect business and residential driveways. If a car is blocking a business or residential driveway, it could be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.
For those needing ADA-accessible parking, there will be 6-8 designated handicapped spaces along Milam Street.
While we LOVE our furry friends, we don’t recommend bringing pets to the Magnolia Days Festival. Many dogs aren’t comfortable with large crowds, loud noises, or lots of activity/movement going on around them. With all of the commotion, dogs can become frightened and slip out of their collars and run away. Not to mention, it can get quite messy if dog owners aren’t responsible and pick up after their pet’s bathroom breaks on our grounds. Nothing ruins a great day or a great pair of shoes like stepping in a pile of dog poo. Please leave Fido at home.
The Magnolia Days Festival only accepts cash for festival ticket purchases. There are banks very close to the Courthouse Square that have ATMs should you need access to quick cash. Our food and/or merchandise vendors may be set up to accept credit cards for their sales but we encourage festival guests to bring cash for easy transactions.
Magnolia Days Festival depends on volunteers to help make it a success. It takes many hands on deck to coordinate and staff a two-day festival. The Chamber is actively seeking dedicated volunteers to work two-hour shifts on Friday and Saturday.
To join the fun and sign up to volunteer, click here. For more information, call the Chamber office at 979-732-8385 or email [email protected].
All vendor spaces for the 2024 Magnolia Days Festival have been claimed. We are no longer accepting new applications.
