Harlem has an extremely rich cultural history, and each year NYers spend over a week celebrating the people, arts, culture, and entertainment that make it the neighborhood that it is today.
This year the 48th annual Harlem Week is returning August 12-21 with ten days of live and virtual events centered around the theme “Inspiration. Impact. Legacy.”
Started out in 1974 as Harlem Day, a one-day event of encouragement and fellowship meant to promote the neighborhood’s rich African-American, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and European history, the celebration proved to be hugely popular and so additional days were added turning it into a ten-day long celebration.
This year’s celebrations will kick off this Thursday, August 11, as Uptown Night Market celebrates its second season as part of this exciting celebration.
Friday and Saturday (August 12 and 13) will bring events including health demonstrations, health testing, performances, a 5k run, and an anti-gun violence health walk.
As the week winds on, New Yorkers can celebrate with musical performances, virtual dance parties, and livestreams.
Musical performance genres will include everything from jazz and gospel to Latin, R&B, and Afrobeat, and will include appearances by artists such as R&B artist Kenny Lattimore, The Mama Foundation’s Sing Harlem Choir, and more. Salutes to Marvin Gaye and 90-year-old Caribbean Legend Lord Nelson (aka “The Soca Daddy”) can also be expected.
For a complete list of events happening during this year’s celebrations and for more information on how to take part in festivities you can head to their website.