COLUMBUS, Ohio — As hundreds of artists from across the country descend on downtown Columbus for the annual Columbus Arts Festival , event organizers are making one thing clear: safety is a top priority.

Thousands are expected to attend the three-day event, which begins Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8.

The annual festival will feature more than 250 artists from across the country along with a wide variety of entertainment and food trucks.

“It’s like the only great show in Columbus, so this is the opportunity,” said returning artist Karina Llergo.

“There’s so many mediums over here, so to come in and be able to absorb all that inspiration is just so heartwarming,” said first-time artist Jennifer Akese Burney, from Chicago.

But with the influx of crowds comes a renewed focus on

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