MAY 6TH, 2018 /
10:00AM - 5:00PM
The African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County is an annual celebration of African American culture as expressed through art, music, food and community. Over the past seven Labor Day weekends, the two day festival has connected diverse people and families from across our region with local, national, and international artists, performers, food vendors, area business owners, and our local media outlets. The festival has become Raleigh’s premiere destination for teaching, sharing, and celebrating the distinctive folk and cultural traditions of African Americans here in North Carolina and from around the world.
The festival program plan was developed under the guidance of the African American Cultural Festival Governing Board, whose members were appointed by the Wake County Board of Commissioners and Raleigh City Council in August 2008. Both elected bodies charged the Governing Board with creating a major festival that would become an outstanding tourist destination event. Artsplosure, the organization responsible for many Triangle arts events including the annual Spring Arts Festival, and First Night Raleigh on New Year’s Eve was contracted to provide planning, organizational, and financial expertise, among other essential services in 2009. The inaugural festival was held on September 4th and 5th, 2010 and exceeded expectations, with more than 15,000 in attendance.
EVENTS
Opening Ceremonies 2016 featured entertainment from the Niagara Star Singers, a Holiday Cirque Spectacular by Zero Gravity Circus, Laser Light Shows and fireworks over the Falls!
Opening Ceremonies 2016 featured entertainment from the Niagara Star Singers, a Holiday Cirque Spectacular by Zero Gravity Circus,
The Art Gallery Walk lines both sides of Fayetteville Street with tents displaying original art created by local and nationally-known artists from across the country.
Come sample a variety of tasty treats, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re hungry for something grilled, steamed, smoked, baked, fried, fruity, or frozen, our fabulous food vendors will have it!