Afro-CariBrant Festival returns to Paris with expanded two-day celebration
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
Paris Independent Staff
The sights, sounds and flavours of African, Caribbean and Black culture will once again fill Paris Lions Park this Labour Day weekend as the Afro-CariBrant Festival returns for its largest celebration yet.
The free, two-day festival takes place Sept. 5 and 6 under the theme "Heritage in Motion," bringing together live entertainment, cultural experiences, food, art and educational programming for visitors of all ages. Organizers say the event continues to grow as a signature cultural celebration for the County of Brant while fostering community connection and tourism.
Hosted by Darmont GivesBack in partnership with Darmont Events Management, this year's festival builds on the success of its 2025 edition, which attracted 8,479 visitors from across Ontario, other Canadian provinces and abroad.
"Afro-CariBrant Festival is a platform for belonging, cultural pride, and shared community," said Tobi Adedayo, CEO of Darmont GivesBack and organizer of the festival. "Every year, we see people from different backgrounds come together to celebrate, learn, connect, and experience the richness of African, Caribbean, and Black culture. That is the heart of this festival."
The expanded program will include an opening flag parade, live music and cultural dance performances, African and Caribbean cuisine, a Culinary Village, Cultural Marketplace, youth and family activities, educational displays, community booths and a new film series showcasing African, Caribbean and Black stories that helped shape Canada.
One of the festival's featured attractions will be the African Inventors and Icons Exhibition, an interactive travelling exhibit presented by the Canadian Multicultural Inventors Museum. Housed inside a mobile museum on the festival grounds, the exhibition highlights the achievements and innovations of people of African descent from Canada and around the world.
"'Heritage in Motion' is not only about where we come from, it is about what our communities have built and continue to build," said Essay Folami, program director for Darmont GivesBack and festival organizer. "Bringing a mobile museum like The African Inventors and Icons Exhibition to Paris Lions Park lets families walk through that history together, and lets young people see inventors and icons who look like them. That, to us, is heritage in motion."
Organizers say this year's theme celebrates culture as something that continues to evolve and is passed from one generation to the next through stories, traditions, music, food, art and community experiences. "'Heritage in Motion' speaks to the way our culture continues to move through families, communities, creativity, and everyday life," Adedayo said. "Our heritage is not something that sits still. It moves through our music, our food, our stories, our businesses, our children, and the communities we build together."
The festival has earned growing recognition, winning the County of Brant's 2025 Good Times in Brant Award and being named a finalist in the Partnership and Collaboration category of the 2025 RTO3 Hamilton, Halton and Brant Tourism Recognition Awards. Organizers estimate last year's event generated more than $432,000 in local spending, benefiting businesses in Brant County, Brantford and neighbouring communities.
"As the festival grows, we are also creating more opportunities for artists, vendors, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and community partners," Folami said. "Afro-CariBrant contributes to culture, tourism, local business, and community connection, and we are proud to bring that energy to Paris and the County of Brant again in 2026."
The 2026 Afro-CariBrant Festival runs Sept. 5 and 6 at Paris Lions Park. Admission is free, and organizers are continuing to welcome applications from vendors, performers, volunteers, sponsors and community partners.
Comments