2010
USA SUMMER FESTIVALS
This page will be updated in May, 2010.- For information prior to this publication date, please contact the 2009 event organizers at the websites listed below.
MAY
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
4/24/09-5/3/09; Annual festival featuring Louisiana food, music, and crafts; musical entertainment includes jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, Afro-Caribbean, rap and more; past performers include Yolanda Adams, Fats Domino, Herbie Hancock, Etta James, Ellis Marsalis, Hugh Masekela, Ohio Players, and Lionel Richie; Fair Grounds Race Course; http://www.nojazzfest.com
Beale Street Music Festival, Memphis, TN
5/1/09-5/3/09; Enjoy the music of over 60 artists on 4 big stages; Beale Street; http://www.memphisinmay.org
Memphis in May International Festival, Memphis, TN
5/4/09-5/9/09; Annual cultural celebration honoring a specific country; festival includes cultural displays, food, and activities; Audubon Park; http://www.memphisinmay.org
Sweet Auburn SpringFest, Atlanta, GA
5/8/09-5/10/09; One of the largest family reunions and street festivals; featuring Bridal Connection, Film Fest, Artist Market, Literary Festival, Parade of Cultures, Sports Carnival, Taste of Sweet Auburn, International Vendors Marketplace, Technology and Business Expo; Auburn Avenue; http://www.sweetauburn.com
Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC
5/22/09-6/7/09; Annual festival featuring artistic performances in opera, jazz, theater, contemporary music, dance, literary and visual arts; Charleston; http://www.spoletousa.org
Atlanta Jazz Festival, Atlanta, GA
5/24/09-5/26/09;One of the largest free jazz festivals in the country; Piedmont Park and various venues; http://www.atlantafestivals.com
Carnival 2009, San Francisco, CA
5/23/09-5/24/09; San Francisco's version of Mardi Gras; featuring exotic carnival dancers, parade, food, music and more; Harrison Street (between 16th Street and 22nd Street); http://www.carnavalsf.com
JUNE
Hollywood Black Film Festival, Hollywood, CA
6/2/09-6/7/09; Annual festival featuring film screenings, parties, panels and networking receptions; Hollywood; http://www.hbff.org
San Francisco Black Film Festival, San Francisco, CA
6/4/09-6/7/09, 6/11/09-6/14/09; Featuring films about people of African descent; various San Francisco locations; http://www.sfbff.org
Capital Jazz Fest, Columbia, MD
6/5/09-6/7/09; Calls itself the world's largest showcase of contemporary jazz for good reasons; past performers include Racehelle Ferrell, Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Leela James, Eric Benet, Pattti Austin, Kem, and Angie Stone; Merriweather Post Pavilion; http://www.capitaljazz.com
Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival, Red Bank, NJ
6/5/09-6/7/09; Largest annual free music festival in the northeast featuring jazz, blues, food, crafts and plenty of family fun; Marine Park; http://redbankfestival.com
Brooklyn International Film Festival, Brooklyn, NY
6/6/09-6/14/09; Film festival featuring 100 films from around the world including Caribbean and African countries; Brooklyn Museum of Art; http://www.wbff.org/overview
Gospel Festival, Chicago, IL
6/6/09-6/7/09; One of the world's largest free outdoor gospel festivals; sponsored by Mayor's Office of Special Events; Grant Park; http://www.877chicago.com
Blues Festival, Chicago, IL
6/12/09-6/14/09; Given that Chicago is where the Blues matured, its no surprise that this world famous event attracts over 500,000 fans; sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Special Events; Grant Park; http://www.877chicago.com
ODUNDE African Street Festival, Philadelphia, PA
6/12/09-6/14/09; Street festival featuring live entertainment and processions to Delaware River; South Street (between 21st and 23rd Streets); http://www.odundeinc.org
Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI
6/25/09-7/5/09; Outdoor festival featuring jazz, R&B, Blues and more on 13 stages; food, comedians, children's play area, amusement park rides; Henry Maier Festival Park; http://www.summerfest.com
Monterey Blues Festival, Monterey, CA
6/26/09-6/28/09; Annual festival featuring 56 Blues acts; past performers include Ashford & Simpson, Etta James, Keb Mo, Bobby Blue Band and Solomon Burke, Monterey Fairgrounds; http://www.montereyblues.com
Taste of Chicago
6/26/09-7/5/09; Amazing range of cuisine is mind-boggling and delicious to the nearly 2 million visitors; the barbecue is often spectacular; Grant Park; http://www.cityofchicago.org
DC Caribbean Carnival, Washington, DC
6/27/09-6/28/09; Annual event attracting over 500,000 people; featuring parade, colorful costumes, music, dance and more; Washington DC; http://www.washington.org
JULY
Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, OR
7/2/09-7/5/09; Annual festival attracts over 100,000 Blues fans from throughout the world; featuring various blues artists, food and more; Portland; http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com
Essence Music Festival, New Orleans, LA
7/3/09-7/5/09; One of the most popular summer festivals; past performers include Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, LL Cool J, Charlie Wilson, Earth Wind & Fire, and Maze featuring Frankie Beverley; Louisiana Superdome; http://www.essence.com
Filmore Street Jazz Festival, San Francisco, CA
7/4/09-7/5/09; Annual festival featuring three stages of continuous jazz music and over 300 artists; Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Streets; http://www.fillmorestreetjazzfest.com
Houston CaribFest, Houston, TX
7/5/09; he biggest annual celebration of Caribbean arts and crafts, music and cuisine; Houston; http://www.houstoncaribfest.com
Indiana Black Expo, Indianapolis, IN
7/9/09-7/19/09; Annual celebration featuring Music Festival, Consumer Exhibits, Employment Fair, children's activities and more; over 500,000 people participate in the event; Indiana Convention Center/RCA Dome; http://www.indianablackexpo.com
Garfield Avenue Blues, Gospel & Arts Festival, Milwaukee, WI
7/18/09; Annual festival featuring blues, jazz, gospel music, delicious barbecue, Louisiana boil; Garfield Avenue between 4th and 7th streets; http://www.milwaukee.org
Ghana Fest, Chicago, IL
7/25/09; Annual festival celebrating the culture of Ghana; Washington Park; http://www.ghananationalcouncil.org
National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA
7/29/09-8/2/09; National cultural celebration recognizing the achievements and influence of artists of African descent; various Atlanta locations; http://www.nbaf.org
Roxbury Film Festival, Boston, MA
7/30/09-8/2/09; Featuring films, documentaries and short films written, produced, and directed by filmmakers of color; various Boston locations; http://www.roxburyfilmfestival.org
Satchmo Summer Fest, New Orleans, LA
7/30/09-8/2/09; Celebration of the legendary Louis Armstrong; featuring music, seminars, children's activities and more; Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint; http://www.frenchquarterfestivals.org
African World Festival, Milwaukee, WI
7/31/09-8/2/09; Annual three day summer festival celebrating African Diaspora heritage; enjoy the marketplace, music, and delicious cuisine from many participating restaurants; Henry Maier Festival Park; http://www.africanworldfestival-milwaukee.com
Umoja Family Festival of African Heritage, Seattle, WA
7/31/09-8/2/09; Junkins Park; http://www.umojafamilyfest.com
AUGUST
Harlem Week, Harlem, NY
7/09-8/09 (Various Dates); Annual event featuring Harlem Jazz Fest, Historic Black College Fair, Junior Tennis Classic, Gymnastics Gala, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Family Unity Day Festival, Black Film Festival, Children's Festival, Fashion Shows and much more, various Harlem locations; http://www.harlemdiscover.com
Martha's Vineyard Festival, Oak Bluff, MA
8/5/09-8/8/09; Past performers include Dianne Reeves and Natalie Cole; Ocean Park, Oak Bluff; http://www.mvaaff.com
Long Beach Jazz Festival, Long Beach, CA
8/7/09-8/9/09; One of the premier California jazz festivals; past performers include Al Jarreau, Stanley Clarke, Randy Crawford, Phil Perry and Patti Austin; 1 Pine Avenue; http://www.longbeachjazzfestival.com
Watts Summer Festival, Watts, CA
8/7/09-8/9/09; Annual cultural festival featuring arts, music, food, fashion and more; South Central Avenue; http://www.wattsfestival.org
Bud Billiken Parade, Chicago, IL
8/8/09; One of the oldest African American parades and the largest of its type in the nation; has been held 2nd Saturday of August since 1945; parade begins at 39th Street and King Drive; attracts over one million spectators and 150,000 parade participants; the parade celebrates children and the return to school; http://www.budbillikenparade.com
Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival, Crownsville, MD
Annual festival featuring culture, music, food, dance from the African Diaspora, children's activities, arts and crafts; entertainment includes jazz, blues, Caribbean steel bands, gospel; Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds; http://www.kuntakinte.org
Black Family Reunion, Cincinnati, OH
8/14/09-8/16/09; Cincinnati's riverfront comes alive for a weekend of music, pavilions of all sorts, concerts, entertainment and a final open-air ecumenical church service, with over 200,000 attendees; featuring Heritage Breakfast, Town Hall Meeting, Parade, Jammin' on the Cove Music, Themed Pavilions, Arts & Crafts, Food, Vendor Booths, Apparel, Exhibits, and more; Sawyer Point, Cincinnati Waterfront; http://www.midwestbfrc.com
African Marketplace and Cultural Faire, Los Angeles, CA
8/22/09-8/23/09, 8/29/09-8/30/09, 9/5/09-9/7/09; Annual festival attracting over 250,000 people; featuring music, food, health fair, children's activities, film festival, tennis tournament, technology village and more; Exposition Park; http://www.africanmarketplace.org
Afro Solo Festival, San Francisco, CA
8/09; Celebrate the African American experience through solo performances ranging theater, dance, music, poetry and spoken word; San Francisco; http://www.afrosolo.org
FunkFest , Virginia Beach, VA
8/28/09-8/29/09; Enjoy music, food, ethnic arts and crafts; bring your beach chair to this free event; Virginia Beach; http://www.beacheventsfun.com
SEPTEMBER
Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago, IL
9/4/09-9/6/09; One of nation's largest free jazz festivals, attracting over 250,000 fans; sponsored by Mayor's Office of Special Events; Grant Park; http://www.877chicago.com
Detroit Jazz Fest, Detroit, MI
9/4/09-9/7/09; One of the largest free jazz festivals in North America showcases international, national and local jazz artists in 100 outdoor concerts; Downtown Detroit; http://www.detroitjazzfest.com http://www.artandsouloakland.com
Music City Jazz and Heritage Festival, Nashville, TN
9/5/09-9/6/09; Featuring jazz, blues, funk, soul and gospel music; Riverfront Park; http://www.nbl4u.com/MCJHF.htm
Verizon Wireless American Music Festival, Virginia Beach
9/4/09-9/6/09; Featuring 50 concerts along the Virginia Beach oceanfront; past performers include Isaac Hayes and the Commodores; Virginia Beach Oceanfront; http://www.beacheventsfun.com
Art & Soul Festival, Oakland, CA
9/5/09-9/7/09; Celebration of the city’s arts community featuring live performances of music and dance, visual art children's activities, and art vendors; Frank Ogawa Plaza; http://www.artandsouloakland.com
Blues Heritage Festival, St. Louis, MO
9/5/09-9/6/09; Annual St. Louis Blues festival with five stages of musical entertainment; Laclede's Landing; http://www.lacledeslanding.org
Bull Durham Blues Festival, Durham, NC
9/11/09-9/12/09; Annual festival; past performers include Etta James, Bo Diddley, Aaron Neville, Ruth Brown, Buddy Guy, and Shemekia Copeland, Durham Bulls Athletic Park; http://www.hayti.org/blues
Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival, West Bend, WI
9/11/09-9/12/09; Outdoor festival featuring contemporary jazz musicians; past performers include Boney James, Ramsey Lewis, David Benoit, David Sanborn, Riverside Park; http://www.kmjazz.com
Black Family Reunion
9/12/09-9/13/09; Sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women; featuring dance performances, music, food and more; Washington National Mall; http://www.ncnw.org
Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA
9/18/09-9/20/09; World's longest running jazz festival; featuring over 500 artists on 7 stages; past performers include Bobby McFerrin, Savion Glover, Chaka Khan, Take 6, and Regina Carter; http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org
African Street Festival, Nashville, TN
9/18/09-9/20/09; Tons of free family-oriented entertainment featuring jazz, poetry, reggae, rap, blues, Gospel, drama, children's storytelling, art show, fashion show and lectures ensure something for everyone to enjoy; Tennessee State University; http://www.africanamericanculturalalliance.com
African American Day Parade, Harlem, NY
9/20/09; Annual parade featuring Dignitaries, celebrities and elected officials will march as well as bands and organizations from 12 states; Harlem; http://www.africanamericandayparade.org
Indy Jazz Fest, Indianapolis, IN
9/21/09-9/27/09; Features local and national music artists; past performers include Issac Hayes, Wyclef Jean, Patti LaBelle, Solomon Burke, Nancy Wilson, Ramsey Lewis, and Blind Boys of Alabama; White River State Park; http://www.indyjazzfest.net
Sedona Jazz on the Rocks, Sedona, AZ
9/22/09-9/27/09; Annual festival featuring jazz and blues; past performers include Dianne Reeves, Norman Brown and the Joshua Redman Quartet; Sedona; http://www.sedonajazz.com
Urbanworld Film Festival, New York City, NY
9/23/09-9/27/09; International film festival featuring 70 independent films from around the world; major studio films have also been featured in the past including Best Man, Soul Food, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Down in the Delta, Hoodlum, Why Do Fools Fall In Love; New York City; http://uwff.com
San Francisco Blues Festival, San Francisco, CA
One of the oldest blues festivals in America; past performers include Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal and Carlos Santana; Fort Mason; http://www.sfblues.com
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