Festival schedule.
Both days at a glance, 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM daily. Jump to Saturday or Sunday — activities are colour-coded by type.
Saturday, August 22
14 sessions-
2:00 PM
Gates open — vendors, DJ set & wine tasting
Main Entrance
Main Entrance
culture -
2:30 PM
Official Opening Ceremony
Main Stage
Main Stage
culture -
3:00 PM
VIP walkthrough with the Mayor
Vendor Marketplace
Vendor Marketplace
culture -
3:00 PM
Jollof cook-off begins
Cook-Off Area
Cook-Off Area
food -
3:30 PM
Cultural performance block 1 — drummers & masquerade
Main Stage
Main Stage
culture -
4:00 PM
Market flow — shoutouts & mini games
Vendor Marketplace
Vendor Marketplace
food -
4:30 PM
African fashion showcase
Fashion Runway
Fashion Runway
culture -
5:00 PM
Jollof & wine pairing experience
Wine Tasting Zone
Wine Tasting Zone
food -
5:30 PM
Cook-off judging & crowd voting
Cook-Off Area
Cook-Off Area
food -
6:00 PM
Awards: Best Jollof in Ottawa
Main Stage
Main Stage
food -
6:30 PM
Cultural performance block 2 — spoken word & kids' performance
Main Stage
Main Stage
family -
7:00 PM
Festival party mode — dance floor opens
Dance Floor
Dance Floor
music -
7:30 PM
Raffle draw & final vendor shoutouts
Main Stage
Main Stage
family -
8:00 PM
Day 1 closes
Festival Grounds
Festival Grounds
culture
Sunday, August 23 — Afro House & Ofadabration
13 sessions-
2:00 PM
Gates open & Afro House activation
Afro House
Afro House
culture -
2:30 PM
Afro House flow — throne, styling & storytelling
Afro House
Afro House
culture -
3:00 PM
Naming ceremony (session 1)
Naming Ceremony Area
Naming Ceremony Area
family -
3:30 PM
Talking drum experience
Main Stage
Main Stage
culture -
4:00 PM
Ofadabration — cooking demonstration
Ofadabration Stage
Ofadabration Stage
food -
4:30 PM
Ofada & wine experience
Wine Tasting Zone
Wine Tasting Zone
food -
5:00 PM
Best Dressed African Family showcase
Fashion Runway
Fashion Runway
family -
5:30 PM
Judging & crowd vote
Fashion Runway
Fashion Runway
family -
6:00 PM
Naming ceremony (session 2)
Naming Ceremony Area
Naming Ceremony Area
family -
6:30 PM
Cultural performance finale
Main Stage
Main Stage
culture -
7:00 PM
Afro House final experience — last call
Afro House
Afro House
culture -
7:30 PM
Awards & final moments
Main Stage
Main Stage
family -
8:00 PM
Day 2 closes
Festival Grounds
Festival Grounds
culture
Schedule reflects the official festival program. Times and lineups may be adjusted for weather or operational needs.