Lilli MaloneColumbus Dispatch
July 18, 2026, 6:00 a.m. ET
- The United <a href="https://absafricatv.com/south-africa-mens-squad-named-for-fih-hockey-world-cup-2026/” title=”South Africa Men's Squad Named for FIH Hockey World Cup 2026″>African Festival will take place at Genoa Park on July 18 and 19.
- The free event celebrates African culture through fashion, art, music and food.
- This year’s festival will feature a new carnival-style area, a fashion show and various vendors.
The United African Festival is bringing rhythm to Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St., on July 18 and 19 for a celebration of African culture, draping the city in traditional colors and patterns.
Since 2019, the festival has brought displays of African heritage through fashion, art, music and food. In 2025, it joined forces with other African festivals,like Guinea Fest and Ohio Ghana Festival, to create an all-encompassing hub of cultural connectivity.
The goal of the event is to strengthen the sense of community and celebrate cultural ties across groups in central Ohio. It’s free to attend, and no advance registration is required. Doors open at 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. both days.
What is there to do at the festival?
This year, the festival is adding a carnival-style area that will display 54 flags from different African countries as a way of celebrating independence and connection.
A fashion show, which is a classic event from the festival in the past years, will return this year for the chance to wow the audience and display traditional African garments on the runway.
For attendees hoping to take a piece of Africa home with them, artisans will be selling beauty products, clothing and jewelry along with a host of other items. There will be food options from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Cameroon. Performances by singers, dancers and musicians will provide entertainment throughout the entire festival.
Dispatch reporter Lilli Malone can be reached at lmalone@dispatch.com or on Instagram at @lillimwrites.
