Obetz

Obetz is a small city about 15 minutes southeast of downtown Columbus, and its live-music identity runs almost entirely through one place. In 2016, the village purchased the former Columbus Motor Speedway and redeveloped it into a community asset for concerts, festivals, sporting events, and farmers' markets, completing the $15 million project in 2017. The result is Fortress Obetz, a facility constructed from prefabricated, recycled shipping containers centered on a synthetic turf field. The grandstand seats over 6,500, and an 18,000-square-foot courtyard with full-service bars adds versatility, with multiple stages and sound systems allowing it to host everything from concerts to festivals. The venue operates year-round. Full Throttle Thursdays run every Thursday from May through August, with bands, food trucks, vendors, and drinks alongside a car and truck show. The annual Obetz ZucchiniFest returns each Labor Day weekend with free concerts, and recent and upcoming acts include Kip Moore and Lonestar. For larger touring shows or a broader bar scene, Obetz residents typically look to Columbus proper.