Electric Root Festival thrives despite stormy weather
Despite a rainy day forcing festivities inside, the Electric Root Festival still managed to draw a crowd to celebrate Black arts and culture.
Inside the Shade Family Room in the Armstrong Student Center, volunteers bustle before the Electric Root Festival. They have set up sound equipment and drums, preparing for the first act of the festival, a drum circle.
Less than 24 hours before the festival was planned to start on Saturday, May 3, organizers decided to move their location from Oxford’s Uptown parks into Miami University’s Armstrong Student Center due to weather. Despite the quick turnaround, the student center bustled with life, full of festival goers.
The festival had many main events. After the mayoral proclamation, given by Councilor Amber Franklin, at 1:30 p.m., the festival continued its lineup: A drum circle, featuring members from the audience, Kids Connect, Afro State of mind, Heroes Rise Dance Academy, DJ KB, Aspire Band, G.O.R.E.E Drum and dance, ended by the Community Choir at 6 p.m.
Patti Liberatore, director of the Performing Arts Series at Miami, said it was easy to move the event indoors. She coordinated with Armstrong staff to ensure that the equipment was transported safely and wouldn’t be exposed to weather.
Volunteers and community members come together to support the Electric Root festival despite rain forcing the event inside. Photos by Gina Roth
Jono Gasparro, founder of Electric Root, says that the decision to move inside allowed them to use money allocated for a bounce house to provide free food for the festival.
Along with free food and entertainment, the festival provided a few vendor booths, many arts and crafts stations, informational tables, and a bingo system with a raffle, incentivizing festival goers to check out every area of the festival.
Gasparro says the festival has improved each year and requires coordination from both city and University organizers.
“The coolest thing is that we are seeing four generations of Oxford and Miami residents come together in different access entry points,” Gasparro said, “but they're all coming into the same space, right, and making everyone feel welcome.”
Kim Daggy, executive director of Enjoy Oxford, was running a booth during the event sharing information about self-guided Myaamia and Black history tours. She says people attending events like Electric Root and mingling with others is important to Oxford’s sense of community.
“Being a part of a community,” Daggy said, “is very healthy for your soul.”
