This year, Harlem Week has rolled out its biggest event to date with a three-week line-up of free events to commemorate the festival’s golden anniversary. With the theme of “Celebrating the Journey,” an array of concerts, activities and themed days have already been set in motion to celebrate the historic uptown Manhattan neighborhood known for its rich culture and heritage.
“Harlem Day, which over time became Harlem Week, was developed as a solution to hard economic times in urban America in the 1970s,” co-founder and chairman Lloyd Williams told The Daily News of the event’s origins. “Harlem has a rich history of music, art, and literary achievements that’s reflected in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. But this era of Black culture, success and pride had been forgotten by Harlemites.”
Williams, also the CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, pointed to late Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton as the visionary who rallied the community stakeholders together in 1974 to “boost local businesses, promote civic engagement and inspire area residents by reminding them of the culturally rich Harlem Renaissance.”
For “their exceptional contributions to the community and beyond,” former congressman Charles B. Rangel, actress Phylicia Rashad, civil rights activist Dr. Hazel N. Dukes and Rev. Al Sharpton have been chosen as the “Harlem Week 50” honorees.
Below is a list of some of the events that close out Harlem Week 2024.
Wednesday, Aug. 14
NYC Jobs & Career Fair
The City College of New York — 160 Convent Ave.
10 a.m to 4 p.m.
More than 40 employers from fields in banking and finance, city services, construction, health, hospitality and technology will be on site in The Great Hall. Career development workshops will also take place.
Thursday, Aug. 15
Black Health Matters/HARLEM WEEK Summer Health Summit & Expo
The Alhambra Ballroom — 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Throughout the day, leading health professionals and patient advocates will share tools with attendees to help them take control of their well-being. In-person visitors will have access to free health screenings and prizes during the summit, which is also available for live streaming. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Harlem Summerstage
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building — 163 West 125th St.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A free outdoor concert featuring hip hop artist JSWISS and singer/songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player Keith “The Captain” Gamble as part of New York State Summerstage lineup of free performances.
HARLEM WEEK/Imagenation Outdoor Film Festival
Maysles Documentary Center — 343 Malcolm X Blvd.
7 p.m.
Following up on its theme to focus on films that were filmed in or have Harlem as its backdrop, the free movie series will feature “If Beale Street Could Talk,” based on Harlem native’s James Baldwin‘s classic 1974 novel of the same name. Directed by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins (of “Moonlight” fame), the 2018 film stars KiKi Layne and Stephan James as teenage lovers with relationship woes including a wrongful arrest for rape. Black Hollywood veteran Regina King, who launched her acting career on the 1980s TV series “227,” scored an Academy Award for her supporting role as a supportive matriarch.
Saturday Aug. 17
NYC Summer Streets Celebrating HARLEM WEEK’s 50th Anniversary
109th St and Park Ave. – 125th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Harlem will host its biggest block party from sun-up to mid-afternoon with non-stop fun. There will be live music, dancing, skating, biking and meditation throughout the neighborhood — on blocks from south and north, to east and west.
Summer In The City
West 135th Street from St. Nicholas Avenue to Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For the second largest day of events, Harlem Week will feature performances from artists far and wide and its highly anticipated adult urban fashion show: “Fashion Flava.” There will also be health testing stations alongside corporate exhibitors and loads of vendors selling food, jewelry, clothing and arts & crafts.
Alex Trebek Harlem Children’s Spelling Bee
Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture — 515 Malcolm X Blvd (at 135th St.)
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
The late “Jeopardy” host is the namesake of this annual spelling contest for children from 1st to 5th grade “where everybody is a winner.” Trebek was a member of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, which produces Harlem Week, as is his son, Harlem restaurateur Matthew Trebek (Oso, Lucille’s Coffee and Cocktails and Pizza By Lucille).
HARLEM WEEK/Imagenation Outdoor Film Festival
St. Nicolas Park, St. Nicholas Ave & 135th St. (on the plaza)
7:30 p.m.
The Oscar-winning documentary “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” will be screened not far from the Harlem landmark where it took place 55 years ago
The 2021 film, helmed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson in his directorial debut, centers on the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival — often referred to as Black Woodstock — in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park).
The six-week event featured stars of R&B, gospel, blues, Latin, jazz and soul, including Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The 5th Dimension and Sly and the Family Stone.
Sunday, Aug. 18
HARLEM DAY
Running from West 135th Street from 5th Avenue to St. Nicholas Avenue
1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Back in 1974, it was just Harlem Day. The final day of the 50th annual celebration honors the past, present and future of Harlem with the theme of “It’s a Family Reunion — Let’s Celebrate.” The planned entertainment line-up spans three performance stages throughout the quarter-mile strip of activities.
On the St. Nicholas Main Stage, Harlem’s very own Ray Chew will lead the Harlem Music Festival All Stars in saluting the 50th anniversary of Black music radio station WBLS and its historic DJs such as the late “Chief Rocker” Frankie Crocker. Rapper A$AP Ferg, also a Harlem native, and prolific composer/arranger Nat Adderley Jr. is also on the bill.
The Center Stage will showcase Broadway shows, with performances and excerpts from Tony-winning musicals “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Moulin Rouge” and “MJ,” alongside the forthcoming “It’s A Wonderful World,” based on the life and time of jazz giant Louis Armstrong.
The Fifth Avenue Stage, presented by Audacy’s 94.7 The Block has a tribute to late hip hop DJ Mr. Cee courtesy of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. According to reps, there will also be a focus on anti-gun violence and a salute to Rise Up NY.
NYC Children’s Festival (Day 2)
Howard Bennett Playground — West 135th Street between Malcolm X Blvd & 5th Avenue
Noon – 5 p.m.
The second day of activities for kids between the ages of 5 and 12 years old will include arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting and entertainment including tap dancers, step shows, poetry and singing. A double dutch competition is also on deck. Information on technology and health services will also be available.