For the past 35 years, New Yorkers have taken to the streets of Harlem to celebrate that neighborhood's historic role as the epicenter of the nation's African-American cultural, and business center. Week, New York City’s largest outdoor festival, has produced new activities highlighting another of the many positive and relevant aspects of the African-American, Latino, Caribbean-American, and European-American cultures of Harlem. In fact,
Harlem Week is a bit of a misnomre in that in the same way Black History Month is celebrated for more than four weeks, Harlem Week too is celebrated quite joyously throughout all of August and beyond.
The theme of this year’s Harlem Week is focused on “The Children of Hait.”
One of Harlem Week’s not-to-be-missed highlights is scheduled for August 14th from 2-8pm: Uptown Saturday Nite, a free event taking place on W. 135th St. from Malcolm X Blvd. to St. Nicholas Ave., highlighted by live music featuring performances of the Electric Slide and a reggae Dance Tribute to Bob Marley. The day also includes the National Historic Black College Fair & Expo, and the Children’s Festival, which takes place over two days on the 14th & 15th (Harlem Day), focusing much of its entertainment and exhibits around recreation and exercise to promote a healthier, more active lifestyle to children and families.
And then it’s time for Harlem Day (August 15th), the biggest event of the month. This daylong extravaganza of events is held on multiple stages with live performances and entertainment. All performances take place on 135th Street and run until 7pm. Another crowd favorite, the Upper Manhattan Auto Show, runs from 10am to 7pm, and the Health Fair and Children’s Festival continue.
Harlem Week has become America’s largest cultural celebration, and each year, it attracts millions of individuals to Harlem, the world’s most famous neighborhood to share traditions, new trends, and that incomparable joie de vivre -- which is nothing more than Harlem style.
