The Arnold Sports Festival is shutting down Columbus once again this year, bringing 170,000 spectators to ogle 17,000 athletes in 37 different events at five different venues throughout the city this weekend.
Built on the shoulders of movie-star-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, this year the monstrous affair, in its 21st year, is vamping up the entertainment with a few additions to the already packed lineup.
Hoping to get more of the locals involved, the festival is hosting their inaugural Arnold 5K Racewalk stepping off from the Greater Columbus Convention Center Sunday morning, senior citizens can now bust a move in the Senior DanceSport event that's been added to the Active Aging Festival and the fencing division has also been expanded.
However the most talked about change this year has to the new "Arnold Party with the Pros" at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion and House of Crave Saturday night. Donning a "Fire & Ice" theme, the festival's official after party plans to feature fire eating performers, stilt walkers and live music.
Also making a return is the Rising Stars VIP reception at the Hyatt Regency Friday night, hosted by the governor himself and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman also making an appearance. The dinner's $200-ticket benefits the non-profit group After-School All-Stars. Special guests include a few festival reigning champs, Josh Radnor (of CBS's "How I Met Your Mother") and Lindsay Price (of ABC's "Lipstick Jungle").
The festival's pride and joy, the Arnold Classic men's bodybuilding competition is set to kick off it's prejudging at the Veterans Memorial Saturday at noon with the finals jumping off later at 7 p.m. Grand prize this year is $130,000, a $20,000 Audemars Piquet watch, a Tony Nowak jacket and the Arnold Classic trophy.
On the flip side, the Ms International bodybuilding competition rules Friday, with prejudging at noon at the convention center and the finals at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial. Grand prize includes $25,000, a Tony Nowak jacket and the Ms. International trophy. Check out the Arnold Sports Festival's full schedule.
Tickets vary by each event per day. Visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com for more information.
