On May 23–24, before the country pauses to remember those lost on Memorial Day, Columbus will pulse with three simultaneous celebrations of culture, heritage, and very good food. From the emerald grass of Franklin Park to the banks of Genoa Park and the industrial-hip setting of Land-Grant Brewing, an estimated 140,000-plus visitors could descend on the city for a weekend that feels less like a preview to a holiday and more like a reason to celebrate right now.
The Asian Festival, now drawing more than 100,000 attendees annually, returns to Franklin Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 23 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 24. Organizers describe it as a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage through food, arts, shopping, and performances—think traditional dance, martial arts, and live music. The marketplace sprawls with authentic Asian cuisines: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Thai, and Filipino. The festival is free to enter, though organizers wisely suggest arriving early to sidestep parking and crowd headaches. Several nearby parking lots offer free shuttle service for an hour before and after the festival runs.
Just a short walk away, Genoa Park becomes the beating heart of the Ohio Black Expo: Riverfront Culture Fest, opening at 11 a.m. on May 23 with a parade at noon. The festival runs rain or shine through May 24, showcasing what organizers call "empowerment, education and entertainment." Over 100 vendors and food trucks will line the park alongside an HBCU college fair, storytelling, and a family zone complete with bounce houses and health and wellness checks. The musical lineup reads like a celebration itself: Columbus natives J Rawls and Mix Master Ice share the bill with R&B singer October London, British R&B group Loose Ends, hip-hop artists Dead Prez and Rapsody, and the Grammy-winning Tank and the Bangas. Grammy-nominated emcee and radio personality Monie Love will host. Tickets run $25 for one day through May 22, with discounts for two-day passes and free admission for children 10 and younger. Proceeds support local youth and community programs.
Across town at Land-Grant Brewing, the ninth annual Strawberry Jam celebrates Ohio's peak season for the fruit with a more whimsical energy. Running 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, it's a testament to how seriously Columbus takes its berries. Thirteen food trucks will serve strawberry salsa, doughnuts, pretzel bites, dessert pizza, strawberry-stuffed buckeyes, and even grilled chicken and pork belly in a strawberry miso ginger sauce. Returning favorites include Schmidt's Sausage Haus' strawberry cream puff, Jeni's strawberry buttermilk ice cream, and a collaboration beer called Splendid Strawberry Rhubarb Ale. Hirsch Fruit Farm will sell fresh, local strawberries. The Strawberry Patch offers kids' activities, local musicians perform, and the beloved mascot Strawberry Jammie makes an appearance. Admission is free.
What emerges across these three days is a portrait of a city that understands celebration as both remembrance and anticipation—a chance to honor cultures, excellence, and even the simple joy of a strawberry before the long weekend arrives.