Harlem Week 50: Five Events to Celebrate the Iconic Uptown Festival’s Anniversary
The festival is reflecting on its storied journey in celebration of its 50th year.
Fifty years ago, local luminaries gathered at the cross-section of 138th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem to usher in a new era for the community. Legends like Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, and Maya Angelou came together for a celebration organized by Percy Sutton to pay homage to iconic civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr. with an avenue renaming,
That historic day in 1974, dubbed Harlem Day, signified a need for more uplifting representations of the community and sparked a movement to continue to amplify the definitive elements of Harlem history and culture; leading to the creation of Harlem Week which was spearheaded by Sutton, Lloyd Williams, and other community leaders.
Since its inception, the multi-day festival has evolved into a cultural cornerstone Uptown by celebrating the icons and spaces intertwined in the neighborhood’s history and envisioning what its future will look like through immersive programs and events, including an environmental justice panel hosted in partnership with Columbia Climate School. While there’s so much buzzing at this year’s Harlem Week—which kicked off on August 3 and runs through August 18—we’ve rounded up a few events for you to attend to commemorate its banner year.
Harlem 5K Run & Walk: Paying Homage to A Local Legend
August 10 | 8:00 AM
Monikered after the late Percy Sutton—a trailblazing lawyer, civil rights activist, and political leader whose contributions transformed Harlem’s social, cultural, and economic landscapes—this intergenerational run and walk is a communal ode to the former Manhattan borough president’s local legacy. Sutton, a longtime Lenox Avenue resident who was instrumental in making the New York City Marathon a five-borough event, was unwaveringly dedicated to the preservation and growth of the community; investing in cultural pillars like the Apollo Theater and the New York Amsterdam News, and co-founding Harlem Day now known as Harlem Week.
Inspired by his affinity for the Uptown neighborhood, the annual 5K trek through the streets of Harlem symbolizes his quest for community empowerment. It has emerged as a premiere event for the summer festival. From the neighborhood walk to short dashes for youngsters, there are opportunities for folks of all ages to get involved. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a youngster ready to race, lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement with the New York Road Runners and the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce in celebration of a local legend.
Great Jazz on the Great Hill: A Harlem Renaissance-Inspired Concert
August 10 | 4:00 PM
From Minton’s to Bill’s Place, Harlem is outfitted with spaces that illustrate the community’s connection to the legacy of jazz. It was in these neighborhood venues where the bright sounds of Louis Armstrong’s brass trumpet and Billie Holiday's sonically soulful voice and socially conscious lyrics filled the rooms. In celebration of Harlem’s place in the genre’s history, Jazzmobile and the Central Park Conservancy are ushering in Harlem Week on a high note by teaming up to host an al fresco concert on Central Park’s Great Hill—one of the highest points within the green space. Inspired by the vibrancy of the Harlem Renaissance, the festive musical event will feature performances by internationally acclaimed artists and swing dancing sessions.
A Great Day in Harlem: Amplifying Local Arts & Entrepreneurship
August 11 | 12:00 PM
On a summer day in 1958, an iconic photograph of 57 jazz musicians gathered on the steps of an East Harlem brownstone was captured by photographer Art Kane. The image, titled A Great Day in Harlem, visually encapsulated the essence of the neighborhood’s artistic renaissance and the innovators behind it. Carrying on the legacy of the creative expression that defines the Harlem community—nearly 66 years to the day the original photograph was taken—Harlem Week will host an outdoor event that shines a light on Uptown’s arts and entrepreneurship scenes.
A Great Day in Harlem will feature a lineup of musical performances curated by some of the community’s leading artistic collectives, including Artz, Rootz & Rhythm, The Gospel Caravan, the Harlem Music Festival All-Star Band led by Harlemite Ray Chew, and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s Afribembé. The event will also feature the work of local artisans, designers, and makers at its International Village.
Youth Conference & Hackathon: Empowering the Next Generation of Uptown's Tech Innovators
August 12 | 10:00 AM
While Harlem Week is rooted in reflecting on the local community’s rich and storied history, the festival is also used as a vessel to inspire future generations. Harlem has a long legacy of trailblazers who have uplifted the community through their respective fields. The Youth Conference & Hackathon empowers middle and high school students to tap into the power of tech innovation and develop solutions to issues faced by the Harlem community. During the event, local youth come together to conceptualize apps, websites, and other digital products that are presented before a panel of Uptown tech leaders.
Harlem Day: A Full Circle Celebration
August 18 | 1:00 PM
Staying true to this year’s theme “Celebrate the Journey,” Harlem Week 50 will conclude with a massive celebration reflective of the festival’s origin, dubbed Harlem Day. Cumulatively merging the themes featured throughout the nearly month-long Uptown fête, the summer block party will feature a lively music concert that amplifies the artistry of musicians across different eras and genres who have or were influenced by the community, Broadway play performances, a celebration of local entrepreneurship with hundreds of food and artisan vendors, and the Harlem Health Village designed to promote community wellness.