COLUMBUS, OHIO – The OHIO BLACK EXPO Riverfront Culture Fest — what has become a highly-anticipated, Memorial Day weekend gathering of Black businesses, food trucks and culture enthusiasts from across the country — is scheduled for May 23 and 24 held in Columbus’ Genoa Park. 

This two-day extravaganza is built on the same platform you’re used to - a myriad of vendors from not only Ohio but all over the country, food trucks, wellness demonstrations, great displays of talent - including this year’s headliner,  R&B sensation October London, along with: London R&B trio Loose Ends; Hip-Hop favorites, Rapsody, Dead Prez and special guest host Monie Love; Grammy nominated and Tiny Desk contest winners Tank and the Bangas; Artistic Intellectual Amanda Diva; Detroit’s own singer/songwriter and one man band Rashad, DJs J Rawls, Mix Master Ice, Krate Digga and more; an HBCU college fair, a family zone and other fun things to see and do for every age group. 

New to this year’s festivities, the festival will be recognizing Black excellence from across the state. This year special recognition will be given to none other than Ahmaad Crump. Crump is a Cleveland native who serves as the official announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers and has brought that talent to Columbus uniting the arena for Ohio State Buckeyes’ basketball. 

Ohio Black Expo CEO Sherri Hamilton and her husband Butch (who serves as COO of OBE) remain thrilled to uphold the legacy of showcasing premier talent within the heart of Ohio's capital city.

Tickets for the 2026 OHIO BLACK EXPO: Riverfront Culture Fest are on sale now. More than 7,000 individuals secured passes during this year’s 24-hour Black History Month ticket giveaway. Approximately 20 thousand people attended the 2-day event in 2025 and more are expected to attend this year.  

OBE even uses a Black-owned entertainment software platform, MYLE (Make Your Life Entertaining). “With over 20,000 attendees, MYLE has all of the features needed to seamlessly make The Ohio Black Expo Riverfront Culture Fest passes available to the public in Ohio and across the country,” said Sherri Hamilton.

“As one of the few Black-owned ticketing and event registration companies in the country, and proudly the only Black female founder in this space, I am honored to serve as the official ticketing partner for the Ohio Black Expo,” said Sherry Lloyd, Co-Founder of MYLE. “This opportunity reflects our commitment to empowerment, diversity and excellence in event management.”

The MYLE App rounds out the experience by integrating Waze, Apple Maps, Google Maps, Uber, and Lyft.

This is truly a well-thought-out event that’s got you covered for the ultimate experience. 

To learn more about The OHIO BLACK EXPO Riverfront Culture Fest visit ohioblackexpo.com.

Interviews are available with Sherri and Butch Hamilton (CEO and COO of the Ohio Black Expo), Ahmaad Crump (award recipient), and Sherry and Kevin Lloyd (founders of MYLE)

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ABOUT OHIO BLACK EXPO

Ohio Black Expo is a statewide non-profit organization committed to enhancing the lives, success, and well-being of communities in Ohio. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization OBE drives change and fosters growth through initiatives that address critical disparities in areas such as economic development, health, education, senior support, business, technology, and youth development. The signature event, the Ohio Black Expo: Riverfront Culture Fest, takes place every Memorial Day Weekend and to empower and unite Ohio’s 1.7 million Black residents and those beyond. This annual gathering welcomes thousands of guests from across the state, the nation, and the globe to engage in solution-focused workshops, build connections at networking events, and celebrate the richness of Black culture.