Mark your calendars — the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County is coming back to town for Labor Day weekend! Since 2010, this dynamic and popular event has celebrated African American culture with art, music, food, and community fun throughout downtown Raleigh. There will be a selection of food vendors onsite, as well as live music and entertainment.
“This year marks the 13th Anniversary Celebration of the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County,” said Pam Thompson Smith, executive director of the African American Cultural Festival Governing Board. “Post Pandemic this event annually attracts an estimated 44,000 people into the heart of downtown Raleigh with an amazing variety of African American themed art, merchandise, music, and cultural performances.”
As always, the popular Art Gallery Walk will return to Fayetteville Street, featuring nationally known and local artists and artisans displaying handcrafted jewelry, leatherwork, digital art, sculptures, original works on canvas, and more. Browse the selection, meet the artists, and learn about their individual techniques. Fayetteville Street will also host the vendor marketplace — a perfect place to find clothing, jewelry and accessories, incense and oils, books, prints, and other goodies from local businesses.
If you’re worried about the little ones getting bored with all the shopping, send them over to The Creativation Station — a fun and interactive space for kids of all ages. Past entertainment has included balloons, face painting, make-and-take art projects, movement activities, drumming, storytellers, and puppeteers.
“We are most proud that in perilous times over the last couple of years we stayed committed to serving our community,” said Smith. “We are still standing as a result of hard work, out-of-the-box thinking, and great partners. We look forward to being BACK for a full festival this Labor Day Weekend.”
This free event will run Sept. 3-4. For more information, visit www.aacfestival.org.
