Festivals are a great way for people to gather, enjoy a shared culture and have fun. They can happen any time of year, but with the summer season kicking into full gear, the good weather and more flexible vacation schedules make it ideal for unwinding. Now is as good a time as any to start planning your social calendar for the remainder of 2025.
If you’re looking for fun, Black-centric events to enjoy, these are some of the top options from coast to coast. From niche events to major branded blowouts, here are 11 festivals that cover everything from music to networking, advancing the culture and just having a good time.
Blavity Fest — Atlanta, GA
Blavity is all about dropping knowledge, building community, and spotlighting Black Excellence. Blavity Fest is a two-day event that takes place from May 31 to June 1. The programming line up will include conversations and events centered on wealth, wellness, creativity and music. The event will have three stages: the main stage, idea exchange and Summit21. The Main Stage is dedicated for community conversations and performances while Idea Exchange is specifically for financial empowerment. Finally, Summit21 is dedicated to giving women a voice and opportunity to connect, recharge and grow together.
You won’t want to miss this event featuring headlining artists like 2 Chainz, and several DJ battles. Check out the full line up or buy passes on Blavity.
Durag Festival — Charlotte, NC
If you’re looking for Juneteenth celebrations, a popular one that does it “for the culture is the Durag Fest. This two-day event takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina and will be held on June 21 and 22. Now in its 7th year, it’s all about nurturing and supporting Black culture with a lineup that includes speakers, panels, mixers, workshops and more. There’s even a HBCU-focused event called the HBCU Design Challenge. Students will compete to design a durag that not only promotes the importance of Juneteenth, but highlights why the durag is a symbol of the culture.
IBE Summer Celebration — Indianapolis, IN
Reader’s might be shocked to find that one of the largest Black festivals in the country takes place in Indianapolis. Now referred to as “Summer Celebration” (previously Indianapolis Black Expo), this 10-day event will be held from July 10-20. It includes concerts, symposiums, marketplaces, parties, art fairs, educational initiatives for the youth and more. In particular, you won’t want to miss the Music Heritage Festival which will be held on Friday, July 18. This outdoor musical event will include a stellar lineup of artists from yesterday and today.
St. Kitts Music Festival — Basseterre, St. Kitts
Need an excuse to head to the Caribbean? The St. Kitts Music Festival is as good a reason as any. This three-day event is from June 26 through the 28 on the gorgeous island of St. Kitts. Each day features a new line up with this year’s roster including names like Shenseea, Vybez Kartel and Jennifer Hudson.
Essence Music Festival — New Orleans, LA
Of all the Black festivals, this is probably one of the most recognizable. Now in its 31st year, Essence Music Festival (usually referred to as just “Essence Fest”) is back and will cover 4th of July weekend from July 4 through the 7. This 360-degree cultural celebration brings together celebrities, appreciators of the culture and an amazing time with the ultimate party city — New Orleans — serving as the backdrop. While the concerts are the biggest draw, there are plenty of brand activations, symposiums, forums and adjacent conferences to appeal to a wider audience. This year promises to be bigger and better while also celebrating the storied magazine’s 55th year in operation.
March On! Festival — Washington, D.C.
Now in its 12th year, March On! Festival is the annual penultimate event hosted by the March On! organization and includes a film festival, symposiums and plenty of live events. This event is the brainchild of March On! an organization that works to tell the stories of the unsung heroes — both past and present — that worked to push the Civil Rights movement forward. The festival offers plenty of opportunities for creators and activists to connect, learn how to effectively create accurate historic storytelling pieces, and learn from leaders across entertainment and politics.
The March On! Festival will be held in Washington, D.C. from Sept. 16 through the 21.
Circle City Classic — Indianapolis, IN
People may be very surprised to find that Indianapolis is such a central space when it comes to preserving, promoting and showcasing Black culture. However, the same IBE that hosts Summer Celebration also organizes the Circle City Classic. The 41st annual event will continue the tradition of acting as a massive Midwestern HBCU homecoming. The entire weekend includes a football game, Greek strolls, performances, a parade, coronation and countless other events held throughout the city. The highlight event will be Saturday, Sept. 27 at Lucas Oil Stadium when Miles College faces Morgan State University.
Afrofuture — Detroit, MI
The Afrofuture festival is one of the few on this list that switches up locations every year. While the event was held last year in Accra, Ghana, this year it’s closer to home in Detroit. The festival was formerly known as Afrochella when it began in 2019. It’s also taking place earlier this year with a lineup running from Aug. 16 to the 17 instead of December like in previous years. Afrofuture spotlights African achievements in music culture and entrepreneurship.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — New Orleans, LA
Anyone who’s been to New Orleans, or knows the city’s rich jazz history will instantly understand why it’s home to one of the biggest jazz festivals in the country. This week and a half-long event is scheduled for Apr. 24 through May 4. Although musical performances are clearly the bigger draw, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival which is now in its 54th year, the event has since expanded to include marketplaces, cultural exchanges celebrating both Black and Indigenous cultures and of course, food.
Roots Picnic — Philadelphia, PA
This year’s Roots Picnic is sure to be a good time with names like D’Angelo, Musiq Soulchild, Latto and Jagged Edge as headliners. Thankfully, this festival is just around the corner from May 31 through June 1. Yes, this annual two-day music festival is headlined by The Roots, a group that is from Philadelphia. The event takes place every year in Fairmount Park and has been in operation since 2008.
Rolling Loud — Los Angeles, CA and Thailand
Rolling Loud is another traveling hip hop festival that isn’t limited to just one state or country; the event migrates year to year around a few key locations. We know that a Miami event is in the works and you can sign up for information when dates drop. The Los Angeles festival already passed in March but you can still sign up for information for the next installment. If you’re down to travel abroad, there’s a Thailand installment scheduled for this fall from Nov. 14 through the 16.
