Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson and viral food reviewer Walter “Mr. Tendernism” Johnson are scheduled to make special appearances at the third annual Mike Epps Community Festival taking place at Washington Park on Aug. 29.
Presented by Circle City Broadcasting in partnership with comedian and Indianapolis native Mike Epps, the free, family-focused community celebration will run from noon to 6 p.m. The annual neighborhood event is designed to connect local families with grassroots organizations, municipal wellness resources, local small businesses, and live entertainment.
Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, joins Epps on the festival grounds to engage directly with attendees, supporting the comedian’s ongoing commitment to generating positive youth engagement across his hometown of Indianapolis.
Johnson, widely recognized across digital platforms for his signature “Tendernism Test” — a rigorous culinary metric used to gauge whether smoked or grilled meats fall effortlessly off the bone — has been tapped to judge the festival’s official food competition. Johnson will visit the tents and food trucks of registered culinary vendors throughout the afternoon to evaluate submissions across three distinct categories: Best Wings, Best Barbecue and Best Specialty Item. Finalists will be announced at 4 p.m., with the official awards ceremony scheduled for 5 p.m. on the main stage.
The festival’s live entertainment lineup features heavy-hitting musical performances by One Way featuring Al Hudson, Angela Winbush, E.U. featuring Sugar Bear, Club Nouveau and Pokey Bear, as well as additional surprise celebrity appearances.
Beyond the food and main stage entertainment, the festival footprint will host a dedicated Youth and Kids Zone, a Wellness and Health Village providing community resources, and a Small Business Marketplace highlighting local entrepreneurs.
To manage traffic, organizers are providing a complimentary Park & Ride shuttle service from multiple downtown and regional locations to ensure convenient transportation to and from Washington Park, located at 3130 East 30th Street.
The event is free and open to the public.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
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