USA SUMMER FESTIVALS

MAY

Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC
5/25/12-6/10/12; 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
5/28/11-5/30/11; One of the largest free jazz festivals in the country; Piedmont Park and various venues; http://www.atlantafestivals.com

Carnival, San Francisco, CA
5/28/11-5/29/11; 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

San Francisco Black Film Festival, San Francisco, CA
6/17/11-6/19/11; Featuring films about people of African descent; various San Francisco locations; http://www.sfbff.org

Capital Jazz Fest, Columbia, MD
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

Gospel Festival, Chicago, IL
One of the world's largest free outdoor gospel festivals; sponsored by Mayor's Office of Special Events; Grant Park; http://www.chicagofestivals.net

Blues Festival, Chicago, IL
6/10/11-6/12/11; 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.chicagofestivals.net

Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI
6/29/11-7/10/11; 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
6/24/11-6/26/11; 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
6/24/11-7/3/11; Amazing range of cuisine is mind-boggling and delicious to the nearly 2 million visitors; the barbecue is often spectacular; Grant Park; http://www.chicagofestivals.net

DC Caribbean Carnival, Washington, DC
6/25/11; 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
7/4/11-7/8/11; 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
7/1/11-7/3/11; 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
7/7/11-7/8/11; 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
6/29/11-7/4/11; The biggest annual celebration of Caribbean arts and crafts, music and cuisine; Houston; http://www.houstoncaribfest.com

Indiana Black Expo, Indianapolis, IN
7/7/11-7/17/11; 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

Ghana Fest, Chicago, IL
7/30/11; Annual festival celebrating the culture of Ghana; Washington Park; http://www.ghananationalcouncil.org

National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA
7/7/11-7/17/11; 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

7/28/11-7/31/11; 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
8/4/11-8/7/11; 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
8/6/11; Annual 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
8/5/11-8/7/11; Junkins Park; http://www.umojafamilyfest.com

AUGUST

Harlem Week, Harlem, NY
7/11-8/11; 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 African-American Film Festival, Oak Bluff, MA
8/9/11-8/13/11; Annual festival featuring film screenings, receptions and more; Oak Bluff, MA; http://www.mvaaff.com

Long Beach Jazz Festival, Long Beach, CA
8/12/11-8/14/11; 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

Bud Billiken Parade, Chicago, IL
One of the oldest African American parades and the largest of its type in the nation;

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

Black Family Reunion, Cincinnati, OH
8/19/11-8/21/11; 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

Afro Solo Festival, San Francisco, CA
8/11; Celebrate the African American experience through solo performances ranging theater, dance, music, poetry and spoken word; San Francisco; http://www.afrosolo.org

Art & Soul Festival, Oakland, CA
8/20/11-8/21/11; 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

FunkFest , Virginia Beach, VA
8/26/11-8/27/11; 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
9/1/11-9/4/11; 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.chicagofestivals.net

Detroit Jazz Fest, Detroit, MI
9/2/11-9/5/11; 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

Verizon Wireless American Music Festival, Virginia Beach
9/2/11-9/4/11; Featuring 50 concerts along the Virginia Beach oceanfront; past performers include Isaac Hayes and the Commodores; Virginia Beach Oceanfront; http://www.beacheventsfun.com

Bull Durham Blues Festival, Durham, NC
9/10/11; 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
9/9/11-9/10/11; 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, Washington, DC
9/10/11; Sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women; featuring dance performances, music, food and more; Washington National Mall; http://www.ncnw.org

Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival, Crownsville, MD
9/24/11; 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

Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA
9/16/11-9/18/11; 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 American Day Parade, Harlem, NY
9/18/11; 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
9/12/11-9/17/11; 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