The 31st Annual
Umoja Festival
May 26-28, 2023

Join us for Portsmouth’s annual celebration of diversity, unity and African-American culture on the beautiful downtown waterfront.

Festival Park in Portsmouth, VA
Live Music
International Foods
Fun for Kids
Traditional Arts & Crafts Marketplace
Live Music
International Foods
Fun for Kids
Traditional Arts & Crafts Marketplace
Saturday May 27 at 8pm
BOYZ II MEN
Come see the 4-time Grammy Award and 9-time American Music Award winners at the Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion.
Get Your Tickets
fun for everyone
Free Admission. Open To The Public.

Festival Schedule

The 2023 Umoja Festival brings together a huge lineup of national acts in jazz, reggae, gospel and rhythm and blues. These events are free and open to the public.

Friday, May 26th

5:30pm
Opening Ceremony

6:15pm – 7:45pm
Tidewater Drive Band

8:00pm – 9:30pm
Dee Polite and Phenomenal Sound

9:45pm – 11:00pm
2nd Wynd

Saturday, May 27th

2:00pm
Heritage Tour
Emanuel AME Church, Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center, and Portsmouth Colored Community Library

2:00pm – 3:00pm
Phazz II

3:15pm – 4:15pm
5STARR

4:30pm – 5:30pm
Better By Tuesday

5:45pm – 7:00pm
RaJazz Band

8:00pm
Boyz II Men*

2:00pm – 6:00pm
Children’s Activities
Bounce Houses, Crafts, and Games

Sunday, May 28th

2:00pm – 2:45pm
New Sisters in Christ

3:00pm – 3:45pm
The Jones Singers

4:00pm – 4:45pm
Ricky White and Believers Kamp

5:00pm – 6:00pm
The Tidewater VA Chapter of GMWA Choir

2:00pm – 6:00pm
Children’s Activities
Bounce Houses, Crafts, and Games

All Festival Park performances are FREE and OPEN to the public*

*Excluding the Boyz II Men concert on Saturday, May 27th.
Tickets may be purchased at PavilionConcerts.com

LOCATION

PLAN YOUR VISIT

The 2023 Portsmouth Umoja Festival welcomes you to Festival Park on the beautiful Downtown Portsmouth waterfront. The Festival is easily reached by car, or on the Elizabeth River Ferry from Waterside in downtown Norfolk.

Festival Park in Portsmouth, VA

PARKING

Free parking is available to UMOJA attendees in any of the Parking Garages or Off Street Parking Lots operated by the City. These include:

  • County Street Garage
  • Central Garage (at City Hall)
  • Water Street Garage
  • Middle Street Garage
  • Columbia Street Lot
  • Civic Center Lot

Attendees may park in both visitor and reserved spaces (except for spaces marked 24 Hrs. Reserved) after 6:00 p.m. on Friday and anytime on the weekend. On street metered parking is also free after 6:00 p.m. on Friday as well as on Saturday and Sunday.

During Main Stage events on Saturday evening, Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion has parking accessed from WAVY Street, for those holding VIP passes. Special Event Parking Aides will be stationed at key intersections and parking facilities to assist attendees in parking at the City garages and lots during both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Portsmouth Is Where It's At!

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