LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington's annual Swahili Day celebration is returning for its fifth year with an expanded new home at Gatton Park on the Town Branch, promising enhanced cultural programming in downtown's newest public gathering space.

The festival will take place on Saturday, June 13, from 4 to 9 p.m., organized by the Marafiki Center, a nonprofit founded in 2019 to create cross-cultural connections within Lexington's growing African and Swahili-speaking communities. The event is supported by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Global Lex, and VisitLEX, among others.

"Swahili Day is more than a celebration of language and culture," said Elisha Mutayongwa, Executive Director of the Marafiki Center, in a statement. "For the last five years, Marafiki Center has created a space where our African community can celebrate and share its rich culture with the Lexington community."

The relocation to Gatton Park, a 12-acre downtown green space that opened in August 2025, represents a significant expansion for the festival. The park's amphitheater and flexible spaces accommodate larger crowds, while the location provides easier access to Lexington's growing Swahili-speaking population. Swahili is now the third most-spoken language in Lexington, according to local sources.

This year's celebration will feature a vibrant cultural parade led by a Ghanaian chief, followed by live music, traditional and contemporary dance, and cultural fashion showcases throughout the afternoon and evening. Performers representing cultures across the African continent will take the stage, including traditional Bembe music and dance from Nigeria, a Zimbabwean mbira player, vocalist, and dancer, and an African band led by Serge Kalinde bringing the sounds of rumba and Congolese culture.

In addition to performances, attendees can expect authentic African cuisine, handmade crafts, commercial stalls, and activities for children. The event is free and family-friendly, designed to celebrate the diversity that has made Lexington stronger, organizers said.