African American Arts Festival underway in downtown Canton

Paige Bennett, The Repository
·2 min read
Tina Stevens of Canton joins in a dance Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Tina Stevens of Canton joins in a dance Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.

CANTON – EN-RICH-MENT's third annual African American Arts Festival kicked off Friday at Centennial Plaza with food, games and music.

The two-day festival — which runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. — celebrates the art and culture of the African-American community. It features dancing, drumming, games, children's activities and a variety of food and gift vendors from the Northeast Ohio region.

"It gets bigger every year," said Betty Smith, executive director of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy, who estimated about 2,500 people would attend the event. She said that's about 500 more people than last year.

Amir Jackson 3, of Canton gets his face painted Friday by Payton Finley, 16, of Plain Township at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Amir Jackson 3, of Canton gets his face painted Friday by Payton Finley, 16, of Plain Township at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.

New to this year's festival is a larger kids' play zone and more vendors, Smith said. On Friday afternoon, children played in bounce houses and had their faces painted. Attendees enjoyed food from vendors like Smoosh Cookies, Jimie T's Delicious Grill, 3 Island G's Mobile Cuisine and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Other vendors sold clothing, jewelry, crafts and handmade items.

"It's going well so far," Canton native Yvonne Johnson said.

Jimie and Rose Fowler of Canton serve ribs Friday at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Jimie and Rose Fowler of Canton serve ribs Friday at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.

Her sister, Shonna Keys, owns a home bakery called Soul Sweetz. Johnson was helping at the booth, which offered strawberry pound cake, peach cobbler and other items. She said it was their first time participating in the festival.

Activities slated for Saturday include a 5K race/walk, Zumba from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., the EN-RICH-MENT drumline at 1:30 p.m. and Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band at 8 p.m.

The 5K helps support the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy.

"It takes everybody to make this happen," Smith said, expressing her gratitude to sponsors that included Downtown Canton Partnership, Visit Canton, Stephen and Sandra Perry, Fresh Mark, CSE Federal Credit Union, Sugardale, Huntington Bank and the Stark County Community Action Agency.

For more information, visit https://www.africanamericanartsfestival.com/.

Reach Paige at 330-580-8577, pmbennett@gannett.com or on Twitter @paigembenn.

PhilUp Balloons of Canton puts a balloon corsage on the arm of Madison Gardner where she was serving food Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
PhilUp Balloons of Canton puts a balloon corsage on the arm of Madison Gardner where she was serving food Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Madison Schnyders, 6, of Canton rides the slide Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Madison Schnyders, 6, of Canton rides the slide Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Andee Finley, 9, of Plain Township tries to attract a crowd Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Andee Finley, 9, of Plain Township tries to attract a crowd Friday during EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Rachel Green with R & J Ballroom Dance Instruction teaches salsa Friday to a group gathered at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Rachel Green with R & J Ballroom Dance Instruction teaches salsa Friday to a group gathered at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Adonis Miller collects balloons Friday from PhilUp Balloons of Canton at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.
Adonis Miller collects balloons Friday from PhilUp Balloons of Canton at EN-RICH-MENT'S third annual African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza in Canton.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: EN-RICH-MENT hosts African American Arts Festival at Centennial Plaza