CINCINNATI — The Cincy Soul: Black Taste food festival will return Downtown bigger and better than ever the last weekend of July.
More than 40 black-owned restaurants, food trucks and caterers will line Fifth Street between Vine and Walnut streets for the fourth annual food festival taking place July 26-28.
This year’s Cincy Soul will also feature live performances by Roxanne Shante and Montell Jordan on July 27 and Lil Mo, Arin Ray and Kwame on July 28 at Fountain Square.
Julian Rodgers, owner of J. Rodg Productions, organized the first Cincy Soul in 2016 as a one-day festival to raise the profile of local minority restaurant owners and food vendors. Twenty-six vendors participated in the inaugural event. Last year's festival included 43 food vendors and 19 retailers.
Since its inception, Cincy Soul has coincided with the annual Cincinnati Music Festival, which draws thousands of out-of-town visitors each year to downtown Cincinnati. Mary J. Blige and Maxwell will headline this year's music festival set to take place July 25-27 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Neither J. Rodg Productions nor organizing partner Vibe Cincinnati have released the full list of food vendors and retailers participating in this year's Cincy Soul.
