Elgon Festival 2025

This year you’re in for a powerful three-day cultural experience celebrating the nine ethnic groups of the Mt. Elgon region (Uganda & Kenya). Through music, dance, storytelling, crafts, food, nature, and fashion, Elgon Festival 2025 fuses tradition and creativity under this year’s theme:

"Safeguarding Culture, Driving Creativity."

Festival Program Highlights

Friday, Sept 5 · Opening Night – “Shishalulo”

1. Cultural mini showcases from all nine Ethnicities
2. Afro-Fusion Fashion Show
3. Local Benefits Concert headlined by renowned Bamasaaba artists
4. Bonfire, drums, storytelling, and traditional drinks
5. Proceeds support youth arts and greening mbale programs

Saturday, Sept 6 · International Parade & Concert

1. Grand cultural parade through Mbale
2. Fashion, dance, heritage displays
3. International Benefits Concert with top East African & diaspora acts
4. Supports creative industry training.
5. 
   

Sunday, Sept 7 · Tours, Bullfighting & National Concert

1. Guided cultural/nature tours (Wanale Ridge, Sipi Falls, Bulambuli)
2. Traditional bullfighting & cultural awards
3. National Benefits Concert featuring Uganda’s top performers
4. Proceeds go toward heritage documentation & collection for Mutoto Museum

All-Festival Attractions

Creative Artisan Market

Shop handmade jewelry, carvings, textiles, drums, and visual art all weekend.

Bugisu Arabica Coffee Pavilion

Taste award-winning Bugisu coffee, meet farmers, and learn traditional roasting techniques.

Storytelling Space

Relax in a cultural lounge where elders and poets share oral histories, myths, and ancestral knowledge.

Local Brew Stations

Try traditional brews like malwa and lubisi served in cultural huts around the venue.

Mt. Elgon Culture & History Museum

Explore exhibitions on Bamasaaba heritage, artifacts, tools, and migration stories.

Cultural Cuisine Space

Sample authentic dishes from all nine Elgon tribes—served fresh and prepared by local chefs in a curated food court-style village.

Why You Should Attend

1. Three full days of cultural immersion: music, art, food, storytelling, and nature
2. Connect with communities and creatives from Uganda, Kenya, and beyond
3. Support youth programs, conservation, and traditional knowledge preservation
4. Explore the beauty of Mt. Elgon through guided cultural tours

Tickets & Access Info

1. Available: Full Festival Pass or Single-Day Tickets
2. Entry includes access to all concerts, exhibitions, and attraction spaces
3. 18+ only –
4. Group, VIP, and tour packages available