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 

Click for Performance Times

Get tickets now!
Discount until May 27th

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)

Click for Performance Times

Get tickets now!
Discount until May 27th

50 Year Hip Hop Tribute

Saturday • 7:45PM

Genoa Park – Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.

Ohio’s own Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will be honored during our 50th year Hip-Hop Celebration. This Hall of Fame tribute will also recognize Hi-Tek and feature Ohio legends J. Rawls and Mix Master Ice of UTFO by way of NYC.
 
Special performances by internationally acclaimed graffiti artists Grupo OPNI from Brazil * BHB (Brothers Helpin Bruthas) Dance Crew * and the Hip-Hop Legend himself … KRS-One.

Click for Performance Times

Get tickets now!
Discount until May 27th

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 EnterprisesDesigned 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

Golf Classic

Friday • 8AM - 2PM

Westchester Golf Course
6300 Bent Grass Blvd., Canal Winchester, OH 43110

The Ohio Black Expo Golf Classic hosted by Walking in My Blessings (WIMB). A four (4) Person Scramble. “Shotgun” Start. Light breakfast. Awards. Prizes. Swag Bags + more.

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 

Click for Performance Times

Get tickets now!
Discount until May 27th

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)

Click for Performance Times

Get tickets now!
Discount until May 27th

50 Year Hip Hop Tribute

Saturday • 7:45PM

Genoa Park
Columbus, OH 43215
* Main Entrance at corner of Civic Center Dr. and Rich St.

Ohio’s own Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Hi-Tek will be honored during our 50th year Hip-Hop Celebration. This Hall of Fame tribute will also feature Ohio legends J. Rawls and Mix Master Ice of UTFO by way of NYC.
 
Special performances by internationally acclaimed graffiti artists Grupo OPNI from Brazil * BHB (Brothers Helpin Bruthas) Dance Crew * and the Hip-Hop Legend himself … KRS-One.

Click for Performance Times

Get tickets now!
Discount until May 27th

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 EnterprisesDesigned 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

Golf Classic

Friday • 8AM - 2PM

Westchester Golf Course
6300 Bent Grass Blvd., Canal Winchester, OH 43110

The Ohio Black Expo Golf Classic hosted by Walking in My Blessings (WIMB). A four (4) Person Scramble. “Shotgun” Start. Light breakfast. Awards. Prizes. Swag Bags + more.

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.

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