COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Black Expo Riverfront Culture Fest returns this Memorial Day Weekend, May 24–25, bringing an electrifying celebration of culture to downtown Columbus. This highly anticipated event continues to uplift, inspire, and connect communities through music, art, food, and cultural experiences.
Originally founded in 1988 and relaunched in 2022, the festival has drawn attendees from across Ohio and 33 states nationwide. This year is shaping up to be no different. With tickets now available, early sales indicate strong interest from out-of-state visitors, contributing to local tourism and economic growth.
The first artist announced for this year’s lineup is 10-time GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Marsha Ambrosius. Before rising to fame as the lead singer of the R&B duo Floetry—known for their breakout album Floetic—Marsha worked with Michael Jackson, composing and singing background vocals on his hit song *Butterflies*. Her extensive songwriting and guest appearance credits span a who’s who of Hip-Hop and R&B. Most recently, she released Casablanco, a rare collaboration produced entirely by Dr. Dre—a first for the legendary producer. She is Sunday night’s headliner and will perform with a live band.
This four-day festival will showcase African American culture, business, health, youth development, the arts, entertainment, and family. Attendees can engage in workshops, networking events, and resource connections, along with an unforgettable cultural celebration. Highlights include the Level Up Youth Summit, the Kickoff Parade, the HBCU College and Resource Fair, health screenings, line dancing, Soca dancing, yoga, and much more!
“We are excited to continue amplifying small businesses and organizations that drive growth beyond this annual weekend of events,” organizers shared. “We’ll be announcing more celebrity acts soon for our evening concerts, while our daytime performances will feature top-tier talent from Ohio across multiple genres. When we say, ‘The food. The music. The vibe.’—that sums up how most people describe their experience with us. Our organization feels privileged to serve with impact throughout the year and celebrate together each May to kick off the summer festival season.”
With a full weekend of vendors, arts and entertainment, food trucks, health and wellness activities, and family fun, the Ohio Black Expo is the place to be this Memorial Day Weekend. For tickets, the latest schedule, and more details, visit ohioblackexpo.com to subscribe.
Ohio Black Expo is a statewide non-profit organization committed to enhancing the lives, success, and well-being of communities in Ohio. We drive change and foster growth through initiatives that address critical disparities in areas such as health, education, senior support, business, technology, and youth development.