A Message Regarding the Future of the Westerville Area Chamber Music & Arts Festival
October 26, 2026
Author: Matt Lofy, Westerville Area Chamber President & CEO
There are few experiences in my career that have shaped me more than the Westerville Music & Arts Festival.
Over recent years, I've had the privilege of being part of eight Festivals, serving as Festival Director for three and helping guide the event through some of its most significant moments. I've experienced everything from celebrating awards and hosting headliner concerts to packing down dumpsters, hauling equipment and solving last-minute challenges behind the scenes. That's the reality of producing an event of this scale, and it's a reality I've been proud to be part of.
I've watched the Festival evolve from a beloved community tradition into one of Central Ohio's premier arts festivals. Along the way, I helped expand entertainment offerings, launch the Songwriter Tent, create additional performance opportunities and support the introduction of the Festival's Saturday night headliner concert. I also worked alongside community leaders to bring beer to the Festival at a time when public outdoor alcohol service was still a new concept in Westerville. Looking back, it was a significant milestone in the Festival's evolution and one of many examples of how it continually adapted to meet the expectations of a changing community.
I also had the privilege of celebrating when the Festival was recognized as CityScene Magazine's Best Suburban Festival in 2019.
I remember the early mornings before attendees arrived, the late nights after crowds went home and the countless hours spent alongside volunteers, artists, sponsors, community partners and Chamber staff to bring this event to life each year. Simply put, I love this Festival.
It is because of that love, and deep respect for everyone who have contributed to its success over the past 52 years, that this decision was not made lightly.
Over the past several years, our Westerville Area Chamber Board has engaged in thoughtful discussions about the Chamber's long-term sustainability, the responsible stewardship of our resources and ensuring our programs and events remain aligned with our mission. Through that process, the Board and I determined the Festival's success and scale have evolved beyond the capabilities of a small business membership organization to effectively and sustainably operate long-term. This decision reflects our responsibility to remain focused on our mission and steward our resources in a way that creates the greatest impact for our members and business community while ensuring the Chamber's long-term sustainability.
This decision is about more than the Festival.
Across the country, Chambers of Commerce are being asked to do more than ever before. Businesses are facing workforce challenges, economic uncertainty, rising costs and rapidly changing expectations. In turn, Chambers are being called upon to provide greater value, stronger advocacy, more meaningful connections and measurable impact.
Our responsibility is to ensure the Westerville Area Chamber remains positioned to meet those expectations not just today, but for years to come.
While the Westerville Area Chamber will not host the Westerville Music & Arts Festival in 2027, I remain hopeful this is not the end of the Festival's story. We are currently having conversations with community partners and stakeholders about what the future may hold and welcome discussions with organizations interested in carrying this cherished tradition forward.
While the Chamber's role may be changing, my appreciation for this Festival and what it means to Westerville has not. The Festival's success is precisely what brought us to this moment. It has grown into something far larger than anyone could have imagined 52 years ago, and my hope is that its next chapter can be written by community partners who are equally passionate about preserving and growing this tradition.
Finally, thank you.
Thank you to the volunteers, committee members, artists, musicians, sponsors, community partners, Parks & Recreation team, Chamber staff and generations of attendees who helped build the Festival into something special. Thank you to Janet Tressler-Davis for her decades of leadership and to everyone who invested their time, talent and passion into creating memories for our community.
Most of all, thank you, Westerville.
For 52 years, the Westerville Music & Arts Festival has brought people together through creativity, connection and community. That legacy deserves to be celebrated, and I remain optimistic that its story is not yet finished.
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