It’s the last hurrah of summer before we pull out our sweaters and fall boots. Why not add excitement to your holiday weekend with a host of fun activities? From fine art fairs to gay pride festivals, these events across the country will deliver a good time for all. Fill your calendar with these can’t-miss activities to celebrate this Labor Day.
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend, Atlanta
Atlanta Black Pride is the largest black gay pride celebration in the world, with an estimated 100,000 people annually in attendance who gather for a weekend of music, food and fun. The 2023 star-studded performance line-up includes Saucy Santana, Sexyy Red, Fendi Da Rappa and more.
Butter Fine Art Fair, Indianapolis, Indiana
Now in its third year, the Butter Fine Arts Fair features artwork by Black visual creatives from Indiana and nationwide. Organized by founders Alan and Mali Bacon through GANGGANG, a cultural development and creative advocacy, artists receive 100 percent of the sales from their work throughout this equitable, multi-day experience.
34th Annual African Festival of Arts, Chicago
Africa International House USA, Inc. is presenting the 34th Annual African Festival of Arts over Labor Day Weekend in the Windy City’s Washington Park! Known as the family-friendly cultural end-of-summer event, this immersive and interactive weekend of activities brings forth the sights, tastes, sounds and spirituality of the African Diaspora via a replicated African village!
Crown Act Summer Festival: A Tribute to Natural Hair, Austin, Texas
Sponsored by Frofessionals, a nonprofit organization that aims to unify black and ethnic-owned and operated hair care businesses, the Crown Act Summer Festival encourages patrons to rock their locs, fades, knots, fros, braids, curls and coils and enjoy an afternoon of natural hair love, soul food and cultural entertainment on September 3.
The Annual Riverfront Jazz Festival, Dallas
The Black Academy of Arts Center is hosting its 6th Annual Riverfront Jazz Festival this year. For three days, attendees will indulge in an array of renowned music artists from around the world and experience “a gumbo of jazz, blues, R&B, soul, pop and neo-soul music,” according to Curtis King, founder and president of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc.
DC Black Food & Wine Festival, Washington, D.C.
The DC Black Food & Wine Festival promises to be overflowing with delicious food, wine and vibes. Allow mouth-watering aromas and aromatic wines to tingle your taste buds with anticipation when you arrive for the festivities on September 2.
Hollywood Black Comedy Festival, Los Angeles
The Hollywood Black Comedy Festival—affectionately known as The HBCF—brings back the funny with an all-new lineup of live events, panels, showcases and star-studded comedy shows that celebrate Black culture’s impact on entertainment through comedy.
Burning Man 2023: ANIMALIA, Black Rock City, Nevada
This desert oasis becomes a temporary creative metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression and participation as it serves up this year’s theme of honoring the animal world—real and imagined—and our place in it.
Orlando Urban Music & Film Festival, Orlando, Florida
The Orlando Urban Music & Film Festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2023. With a global showcase of music, film, art and tech, the festival is presenting its first Veterans and Military Performing Arts Awards this year.
Labor Day Parade, New York City
Mark next week’s calendar for New York City’s annual Labor Day recognition, which will take place on Saturday, September 9. Celebrating the city’s hard work, our history and future, the colorful parade heads through midtown Manhattan, bringing people from all five boroughs together for food, drinks and comradery.
