African American Culture Festival

The 2018 African American Culture Festival will take place in the heart of Downtown Raleigh — along Fayetteville Street, from Martin Street through City Plaza.

On the Saturday and Sunday of Labor day weekend, attendees will enjoy an African American art gallery walk, vendor marketplace, African market, and food vendors.

The Family Village featuring performances and educational, interactive programming for school-aged children will be located in front of the Courthouse in the 300 block of Fayetteville Street.

City Plaza, Raleigh’s “public living room,” is the site for the Main Stage. Local, regional and nationally recognized acts will enliven the Festival site both days.

Audiences will enjoy numerous performances of traditional and contemporary African and American American music and dance. Performances are scheduled from 11:00AM – 10:00 PM Saturday and 1:00PM – 9::00 PM Sunday.

Festival Times

Saturday, September 1st

Festival Hours 11:00am – 10:00pm (art and vendor booths close at dusk)
Family Village Hours 11:30am-8:00pm

Sunday, September 2nd

Festival Hours 1:00pm – 10:00pm (art and vendor booths close at dusk)
Family Village Hours 1:30pm-8:00pm

The African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County is an annual celebration of African American culture as expressed through art, music, food and community. Over the past seven Labor Day weekends, the two day festival has connected diverse people and families from across our region with local, national, and international artists, performers, food vendors, area business owners, and our local media outlets. The festival has become Raleigh’s premiere destination for teaching, sharing, and celebrating the distinctive folk and cultural traditions of African Americans here in North Carolina and from around the world.