Event Schedule
May 25-28, 2023
Riverfront Culture Fest
Saturday • 11AM - 11PM
Sunday • 11AM - 8PM
Genoa Park – Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.
The Ohio Black Expo: Riverfront Culture Fest includes – Opening Parade • 100+ Vendors • 20+ Food Trucks • Concerts featuring Smokie Norful, Kevin Ross, KRS-One & Sheila E. • 50 Years Hip Hop Tribute • Hall of Fame Inductee Hi-Tek • Line Dancing • Gospel • Jazz • R&B • African Dance & Drum • Blues • JazzHop • GoGo
Opening Parade
Saturday • 12PM
Genoa Park – Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.
The Ohio Black Expo: Riverfront Culture Fest – Opening Parade will honor the (8x State Champions) Africentric Lady Nubians + feature the East HS Drumline • Linden McKinley Unstoppable Mighty Marching Panthers • Africentric Marching Nubians • Royalty 419 • Elegant Fire Dance Team • Black Pearlz • Urban Scouts • ROOTT Families • Millennium Line Dancers • Corvette Club Car Show (Children 10 & are FREE. Bounce Houses, Facepainting, Giveaways + more)
50 Year Hip Hop Tribute
Saturday • 7:45PM
Genoa Park – Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.
Level Up Business Conference
Thursday • 8AM - 5PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Level Up Business Conference, presented by Aventi Enterprises. Designed for Black business owners who are ready to take their business to the next level, this conference will focus on “Building the Economic Impact of Black Founders.
Level Up Youth Summit
Thursday • 6PM - 9PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Level Up Youth Summit, hosted by the ONUS Project. Food, music, fun for youth (Ages 13-18). Youth Groups. Youth Advocates. Summer Job Opportunities. Career and College Info. Kicking off Summer “Differently”. FREE
The State of Black Ohio
Friday • 8AM - 4:30PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The State of Black Ohio 2023 (#SOBO23) by The Ohio Collective is the annual summit to plan the future of Black Ohio. Attendees will develop strategic, long term, innovative solutions and action steps to solve systemic and institutional issues in business, education, health, tech, and the arts with thought, corporate, and community leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, high school and college students, elected officials.
Health & Wellness Workshop
Friday • 12PM - 2PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Ohio Black Expo Health & Wellness Workshop presented by ROOTT will be Re-Empowering, Re-Imagining and Re-Engaging. For All ages. Topics include: Nutrition. Maternal Health. Diet. Physical Fitness. Mental Wellness + more. FREE.
Happy Hour Networking
Friday • 4PM - 7PM
Citywide (Black-Owned Establishments)
Black Couples at GROUND x GRIND (GRND) – 1106 E. Main St., Columbus, OH 43205 – hosted by Epiphany Hill Enterprises
Black Educators at MARVIN’S – 460 South Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215 – hosted by Drake & Chaka
Black Founders at FLAVOR 91 – 5186 E. Main St, Whitehall, OH 43213 – hosted by COAACC
Black Professionals at MARLOW’S – 93 N High St, Gahanna, OH 43230
Four (4) Pre Kick-off Party Mixers. Open to anyone looking for good food, drinks, music & fun. Meet-up and network!
Official Kick-off Party
Friday • 6PM - 12PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Official Kick-Off Party hosted by Grown Folks Events. 2 Rooms of Entertainment. Music, Fun & Dance featuring DJs, Live Bands & Line Dancing.
Event Schedule
May 25-28, 2023
Riverfront Culture Fest
Saturday • 11AM - 11PM
Sunday • 11AM - 8PM
Genoa Park
Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.
The Ohio Black Expo: Riverfront Culture Fest includes – Opening Parade • 100+ Black-owned Business Vendors • 20+ Food Trucks • Concerts featuring Smokie Norful, Kevin Ross, KRS-One & Sheila E. • 50 Years Hip Hop Tribute • Hall of Fame Induction honoring Hi-Tek & Bone Thugs-N-Harmony • Line Dancing • Gospel • Jazz • R&B • African Dance & Drum • Blues • Funk • JazzHop • GoGo
Opening Parade
Saturday • 12PM
Genoa Park
Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.
The Ohio Black Expo: Riverfront Culture Fest – Opening Parade will honor the (8x State Champions) Africentric Lady Nubians + feature the East HS Drumline • Linden McKinley Unstoppable Mighty Marching Panthers • Africentric Marching Nubians • Royalty 419 • Elegant Fire Dance Team • Black Pearlz • Urban Scouts • ROOTT Families • Millennium Line Dancers • Corvette Club Car Show (Children 10 & are FREE. Bounce Houses, Facepainting, Giveaways + more)
50 Year Hip Hop Tribute
Saturday • 7:45PM
Genoa Park
Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.
Level Up Business Conference
Thursday • 8AM - 5PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Level Up Business Conference, presented by Aventi Enterprises. Designed for Black business owners who are ready to take their business to the next level, this conference will focus on “Building the Economic Impact of Black Founders.
Level Up
Youth Summit
Thursday • 6PM - 9PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Level Up Youth Summit, hosted by the ONUS Project. Food, music, fun for youth (Ages 13-18). Youth Groups. Youth Advocates. Summer Job Opportunities. Career and College Info. Kicking off Summer “Differently”. FREE
Health & Wellness Workshop
Friday • 12PM - 2PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Ohio Black Expo Health & Wellness Workshop presented by ROOTT. Re-Empowering, Re-Imagining and Re-Engaging. Topics to include: Nutrition. Maternal Health. Diet. Physical Fitness. Mental Wellness + more. FREE.
The State of Black Ohio
Friday • 8AM - 4:30PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The State of Black Ohio 2023 (#SOBO23) by The Ohio Collective is the annual summit to plan the future of Black Ohio. Attendees will develop strategic, long term, innovative solutions and action steps to solve systemic and institutional issues in business, education, health, tech, and the arts with thought, corporate, and community leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, high school and college students, elected officials.
Happy Hour Networking
Friday • 4PM - 7PM
Citywide (Black-Owned Establishments)
Black Couples at GROUND x GRIND (GRND) – 1106 E. Main St., Columbus, OH 43205 – hosted by Epiphany Hill Enterprises
Black Educators at MARVIN’S – 460 South Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215 – hosted by Drake & Chaka
Black Founders at FLAVOR 91 – 5186 E. Main St, Whitehall, OH 43213 – hosted by COAACC
Black Professionals at MARLOW’S – 93 N High St, Gahanna, OH 43230 – hosted by Marlow’s Cheesesteaks
Four (4) Pre Kick-off Party Mixers. Open to anyone looking for good food, drinks, music & fun. Meet-up and network!
Official
Kick-Off Party
Friday • 6PM - 12PM
Greater Columbus Convention Center
540 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
* Enter doors near the corner of Goodale St and N High St
The Official Kick-Off Party hosted by Grown Folks Events. Music, Fun & Dance featuring Line Dancing, Live Music & three (3) DJs.