From Haitian Flag Day to a Multicultural Extravaganza, Midwest Cultural Fest brings International Vibes to Indy

Midwest Cultural Fest attendees can look forward to a live performance of “Comma” by Ayra Starr and the “Good Energy” song by Yung Wylin that recently went viral in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 4. The focus of this event is to celebrate Afro-Caribbean heritage in the Midwest and will take place at the downtown Everwise Amiptheater venue.

What started out as an Indianapolis celebration of Haitian Flag Day over 15 years ago has expanded to a multi-cultural event that invites performers and visitors from all cultures. In 2022 the festival started including performers from other countries and had over 4,000 people in attendance.

“We want people to be very open-minded and know that that it's going to be fun, it's going to be big, and ultimately, there's something for everybody to enjoy at this festival.” - Moise Dugé

Midwest Cultural Fest was created to highlight the vast similarities and differences within the various Caribbean and African cultures. The riverfront venue will host a day of authentic Afro-Caribbean music, cuisine and vendors.

Afrobeats star Ayra Starr who hails from Nigeria will bring her vibes and international stardom to the Circle City and will be joined by Yung Wylin and Haitian Konpa stars ZAFAM as headliners. Many of the performers are from Haiti or of Haitian decent since the event is being hosted by the Haitian Association of Indiana but performers and DJs will also be coming in from Jamaica, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico and other countries in the African diaspora.

The festival will also put a spotlight on international DJs. In past years, DJs have become more of an integral part of festivals, becoming a main act instead of just ‘time fillers.’ “Now, DJs are putting on a show.  You're talking about full production with dancers and lighting, everything,” Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Cultural Fest, Moise Dugé said. “For the longest time, DJs were always secondary. But, now DJ are fun, DJs are headliners. If you follow Afrobeats, amapiano and all those sounds, the people that are driving that music are the DJs.”

The Midwest Cultural Fest is open to everyone in Indiana and surrounding areas. “We want people to not be afraid to come out and see something new. It's a big world out there and we’re going to do our very best to bring it all to this event,” Dugé said. “We want people to be very open-minded and know that that it's going to be fun, it's going to be big, and ultimately, there's something for everybody to enjoy at this festival.”

Tickets are available now at www.midwestculturalfest.com starting at $85. Grab them today before the pre-sale pricing ends.

Looking for more festivals in Indiana and surrounding areas? We’ve got you covered. Check out this blog post about the Top 10 2024 Midwest festivals.

Here’s what you can enjoy at Midwest Cultural Fest

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