The African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County stands as a testament to community spirit and cultural pride. This annual event has grown into a significant celebration of African American heritage, drawing tens of thousands of attendees each year. Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book, "Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music," was published in the fall of 2023 by University of North Carolina Press.
The African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County is committed to uniting, engaging and educating a diverse community through the celebration of the African American Culture as expressed through the arts.
Juneteenth Flag
The Festival's Origins
Two decades ago, one of Raleigh’s signature annual events was the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball tournament. Alas, that party ended with the CIAA decided to find a new home, but something very positive grew out of the CIAA leaving Raleigh-the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County. Started in the wake of the CIAA’s departure, the festival will mark its 15th edition over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31 and Sept.
“It started with a group of community leaders looking to fill the void when the CIAA left, because there was nothing huge like that in Raleigh,” says Pam Smith, executive director and CEO of the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County non-profit (she is also on local radio as part of "The Sports Shop," mornings on WRAL 101.5-FM).
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Growth and Evolution
The festival debuted in 2010, and it drew an estimated 15,000 people that first year. It’s grown quickly in the years since, with last year’s model attracting close to 60,000 attendees, according to estimates from the Raleigh Police Department.
“We’ve seen it grow and pivot through the pandemic, building community partnerships,” says Smith. After a few years of grappling with pandemic protocols, the festival came back to the heart of Raleigh’s Fayetteville St. last year. In 2021, during the pandemic, we were able to work with the city to have little pockets of entertainment throughout the city-Chavis Park, Moore Square, all across downtown.
It will return to the same location in 2024, spanning Fayetteville St. from Hargett St. south to City Plaza, where the main stage performers will be. The festival will have the usual compliment of juried art and merchandise vendors plus food trucks in addition to musical entertainment.
“This is our 15th year and we are excited to still be here,” says Pam Smith. “We have added a partnership this year with Wake Chapel Church, so Sunday morning we are gonna have church out there from 10 to 11:30am,” says Smith. “We also have a record number of artists and vendors, 120-plus vendors and business owners on the footprint. The African Village will be huge with food and shopping and great music and surprises added. Everyone is still recovering from losing two or three years to Covid, so we’re excited to have the opportunity to support.
Antwan Morrison, Assistant Town Manager
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Community Impact and Activities
The festival is not just an event, it’s an experience! This family friendly, interactive event is free and accessible to all and has become a destination event for visitors from all over the country.
The African American Cultural Festival is proud to present an exciting array of interactive art projects each year. Throughout the festival grounds, visitors of all ages will find a wide array of interactive art activities designed to encourage exploration and creativity. Some of these projects include our Art Walls where attendees can use colorful chalk to express themselves; Puppetry workshops that introduce children to the fine art of character building and storytelling; Mural Projects that showcase works by some of North Carolina's talented local artists; and Theatre workshops where attendees can collaborate to create their own original performances.
These art projects provide a unique opportunity for visitors to dive into the creative spirit of AACF. The African American Cultural Festival is more than just a celebration of art and culture, it's also an opportunity to help strengthen our local communities.
Each year, AACF offers a variety of outreach programs that promote education, collaboration, and social change throughout Raleigh & Wake County. Our signature initiative, the AACF Youth Art Grant Program, helps to promote creativity and leadership among high school students in our area. This program provides grants to fund projects that bring art education and creative experiences to underserved populations. We also partner with local service organizations to provide access to health and social services for festival attendees.
Through these community outreach initiatives, AACF strives to create a more vibrant and inclusive local community.
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African-American Cultural Festival of Raleigh/Wake County Montage
We're also proud to partner with various organizations throughout Wake County to further celebrate the diversity of African American culture. With these collaborations, we hope to draw even more attention to the AACF and reach people who may not have otherwise been able to participate in the festival.
Your support is essential for making this year's African American Cultural Festival a success. We invite you to join us in creating an inclusive, diverse and lively event that celebrates the unique culture of African Americans here in our community and around the world.
The weekend will also include a ticketed kickoff music event, featuring PJ Morton and Avery Sunshine, at the North Carolina Museum of Art amphitheater on Friday night (Aug.
