Mike Wolanin | The Republic People gather on Washington Street for Ethnic Expo in downtown Columbus, Ind., Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.
Talk about carrying a message.
Mikala Lomax, part of the hosting African American Community of this year’s Ethnic Expo that opened Friday in downtown Columbus, sold a range of social justice-themed items from her Mik Mocha Apparel as part of one of the gathering’s 14 bazaar booths. That included artsy handbags with the notation: “If you’re not mad, you’re not paying attention.”
The line easily could be applied to both national racial and female issues — and it seemed to fit seamlessly within the host minority-oriented theme of “Passport to Freedom.”
“People tell me, ‘Thank you for giving me a means for expressing myself,’” said Lomax, sharing her booth with sister Nadia Lomax’s creative stickers for everything from laptops to clothing.
Columbus’ colorful international festival that means the world to the city’s diversity returned after a two-year absence with a vibrant mix of culture and cuisine, music and merchandise celebrating some 30 nations. As the 26 food booths opened just before lunch, sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s prevailed.
Competing aromas included everything from South Africa’s smoked, pulled pork to Germany’s sauerkraut. And if you figured some might sell out of food before the free fest closes at 10 p.m. Saturday, think again with regard to the Babushka family food business from Wisconsin. They trucked 11 freezers of German food — enough for maybe their own Oktoberfest — in a 16-foot U-Haul backed up to their two-booth space along Washingt0n street.
“What sells best are our pierogis,” said Donovan Babushka, referring to a ravioli-style dish.
Some attendees such as Grier Lane were among those getting their first taste, figuratively and literally, of Expo. She was part of a group of Northside Middle School students circulating among booths completing worksheets on various nations’ trivia and facts.
“Everything smells amazing,” Lane said. “And all the food that we have tried so far has been amazing.”
She had never heard of Expo until this outside-the-classroom assignment.
The late and former city first lady Barbara Stewart launched the event in 1984 as a way of celebrating diversity and also making the community’s international residents feel more at home. It began as a single day, then morphed into three days at one point before returning to the current two-day format.
In the past, it sometimes has attracted as many as an estimated 30,000 people, according to organizers.
Today’s schedule
Noon – 1:30 p.m.: DJ
1:30 – 2 p.m.: Pastor Frank Griffin and local Columbus Gospel Choir
2 – 3 p.m.: Fresh Start Dancers
3 – 6 p.m.: DJ
6 – 7:15 p.m.: Passport to Freedom
7:15 – 10 p.m. : DJ
Biergarten Stage
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Electric violinist Colin G. Matthews
