Harlem Week is back this summer, setting the stage for one of NYC’s most iconic neighborhood events. The event features an exciting lineup of activities and events for New Yorkers and tourists to enjoy.
The event, now in its 51st year, will run Aug. 1 to 17 and feature music, performances, a food market, a job fair, and so much more. This year’s dazzling theme is “Celebrate Our Magic,” which recognizes the rich arts and culture, people, entertainment, and history of the uptown neighborhood.
Organizers of the bustling and lively cultural event said the theme focuses on Harlem’s deep culture, which continues to thrive despite the challenges the community has historically faced.
“Our rich history and culture is just that, magic,” Lloyd Williams, co-founder and chairman of Harlem Week, said. “From the cultural revival that was the Harlem Renaissance to institutions like the Apollo Theater and the National Jazz Museum In Harlem, this year’s theme embodies that despite challenges we may face, our creativity and our joy is magic.”
Marko Nobles, vice president of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, explained that Harlem Week, which was started by Percy Sutton as a one-day event in 1974, is critical to the local community and economy.
“It’s one of the key initiatives that brings together hundreds of small businesses that power our neighborhood every day and supplies countless resources to residents of all ages that need it the most,” he said. “Harlem also has such a deep-rooted history filled with renowned musicians and leaders that have advocated for this historically Black neighborhood. Harlem Week is the one place where we’re all able to come together to celebrate this legacy at such a massive scale.”
The event is “built for the people,” Nobles added. As a two-week series of events, it provides much-needed resources for area residents.
A case in point, he said, is the event’s popular Jobs and Careers Fair.
“The fair will be uniting local and national businesses like Chase Bank, Mount Sinai, FDNY, MTA to offer hundreds of positions at all levels to visitors, especially important in today’s challenging job market,” Nobles described. “We’ll also be providing career development resources like resume building and professional attire services at no cost.”
Nobles said organizers are joining forces with various partners to expand their scholarship and internship offerings to Harlem kids this year.
“Harlem Week has supplied over $250,000 in scholarships to nearly 1,000 young individuals and we’re eager to further expand that impact,” he explained.
Recognizing Hazel Dukes, Charlie Rangel and many other Harlem stars
The event will also shine a spotlight on historical figures, as the event pays tribute to local luminaries, including civil rights activist and past NAACP New York State Conference President Hazel Dukes, Congress Member Charles B. Rangel, R&B and soul band Kool & The Gang, Grammy Award-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack, singer and songwriter Angie Stone, composer Quincy Jones, and hip hop DJ and producer DJ Clark Kent.
What to expect at Harlem Week 2024
Senior Citizens Day on Aug. 1 will kick off the 17 days of festivities. Seniors will enjoy performances, a senior citizen hat fashion show, learn about new updates in technology and see health demonstrations, located at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., State Office Building (163 W. 125 St.; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
The celebration has a few fun-filled activities planned for kids, too. This includes the virtual Harlem Week Hack-a-Thon and Youth Conference on Aug. 11 (virtual) and the Alex Trebek Harlem Children’s Spelling Bee on Aug. 16 (515 Malcolm X Blvd.; 2 to 4 p.m.). Harlem Week will also feature the NYC Children’s Festival on Aug. 16 and 17, where children ages 5 to 12 will enjoy storytelling, performances, arts-and-crafts, face painting and double dutch competitions at the Howard Bennet Playground (32 W. 136 St. 12 to 5 p.m.)
As Nobles explained, the popular NYC Jobs & Careers Fair will return to Harlem Week on Aug. 13. The event will have an emphasis on supporting Black businesses and job creation within the thriving neighborhood. Held at The City College of New York (CCNY at 160 Convent Ave.), the annual event will feature career development workshops and include more than 40 employers across various industries, including banking and finance, city services, climate, health, hospitality and transportation.
“CCNY is proud to support and participate in Harlem Week,” Vincent Boudreau, president of the institution, said. “The job fair that we host represents a key opportunity for Harlem residents and visitors to make professional connections and for employers who come to the fair to appreciate the tremendous talent living in our community. Harlem Week celebrates that talent in all its various aspects, and it’s a joy for us to be part of the celebration.”
More Harlem Week activities
Other activities are planned throughout Harlem Week over the next two weeks. For more information and a complete list of events, visit harlemweek.com.
Summer Streets Celebrating Harlem Week (Aug. 2, 9, 16; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Head to this fun block party on these Saturdays and enjoy biking, walking, running, and so much more, all set to live music.
Climate Change Conference (Aug. 6; 5:30 to 8 p.m.). Presented by Columbia Climate School and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., State Office Building, this environment-focused workshop will look into the disproportionate negative impact of climate change on communities and countries of color. Local researchers, government agencies and community leaders will speak about the challenges the Big Apple faces.
Harlem Summerstage (Aug. 7, 14, 21; 5 to 7 p.m.). Check out some local musicians at this toe-tapping event at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., State Office Building.
Uptown Night Market (Aug. 7 and 14; 4 to 10 p.m.). Foodies will have a fantastic time at this exciting celebration of worldwide cuisines that will feature a variety of food vendors, at 12th Avenue and W. 125 Street.
Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run & Children’s Run (Aug. 9; 8 a.m.). Sponsored by New York Road Runners, the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run often attracts runners and walkers from New York, the tri-state area, nationally and internationally. Check out the website for information on how to register. The Hazel Dukes Memorial Family Health Walk will also take place on Aug. 9.
Great Jazz on the Great Hill (Aug. 9; 4 p.m.). Jazzmobile and the Central Park Conservancy will present jazz music, featuring performances from internationally acclaimed artists at the Great Hill in Central Park.
Summer in the City (Aug. 16; 1 to 6 p.m.). The festival’s second largest day of events, “Summer in the City” will host an array activities, including performances from local, national and international artists, Harlem Broadway Row performances, an urban fashion show, health testing stations, hundreds of food vendors, arts-and-crafts, music, jewelry, hats, sculptors, games and corporate exhibitions, at W. 135 St.. There will also be an outdoor film screening of “Wicked” on the Great Lawn of St. Nicholas Park.
Harlem Day (Aug. 17; 1 to 7 p.m.). Enjoy multiple stages of entertainment, the Harlem Health Village, Harlem Broadway Row, performances from Broadway productions, local, national and international artists in various musical genres from Jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Reggae, Soca, Latin and more. Hundreds of vendors will also be on site, W. 135th Street from Fifth to St. Nicholas Avenues.
