Harlem Week 2025
The Harlem Week tradition that began in 1974 continues with colorful gusto.
From the very beginning, Harlem Day was intended as a vibe shift for Harlem residents and “the Harlems of the world”. The first event in 1974, which was intended to be one day and one-time only, kicked off with a ribbon-cutting on 7th Avenue. The ceremony renamed 7th Avenue as Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard marking the first time a major NYC street was named after a person of color. Powell, who had passed away two years earlier, was the respected spiritual leader of Abyssinian Baptist Church and 12-term Harlem congressman. (The controversial grand opening of the State Office Building forced on the neighborhood by Governor Rockefeller took place on the same day and would eventually be named after Powell as well.)
In time, the other streets would get new names, too. In 1977, 8th Avenue was renamed for Frederick Douglass. In 1987, Lenox Avenue was renamed for Malcolm X. By 1988, it was clear that the one-day event would be here to stay in form of a celebratory week and that year’s Harlem Week poster commemorates the 20 year anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.
★ Watch my Harlem Week TikTok ★
This year’s Harlem Week festivities took place from August 1-17 and featured a renaming of its own. The 2/3 subway station at 110th Street & Malcolm X Boulevard formerly known as 110th Street – Central Park North is now named 110th Street – Malcolm X Plaza. Governor Hochul’s remarks at the ceremony included a moment of silence for Harlem Week co-founder Lloyd A. Williams who passed away on August 5. Williams was also the President of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and a founding board member of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
Other Harlem Week festivities for this year’s “Celebrate Our Magic” theme included a film festival, a health village, tennis for children on 120th Street between Barawine and Settepani, a Saturday night performance by the Soapbox Presents at the Richard Rogers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park, and the much-anticipated street fair that stretches across 135th Street from St. Nick to 5th Avenue. Here are some of my snaps from the multi-day neighborhood celebration coined “A Great Day in Harlem”.
Children play tennis on miniature courts on 120th Street between Malcom X Blvd and Mt. Morris Park West
After brunch at Black-owned Harlem restaurant The Nephew, I took in Harlem Week’s Saturday events with Shon and Tyler
The Soapbox Presents gave a special Harlem Week performance in the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park
A man with snakes around his neck and in a large plastic tub poses for Harlem Week attendees
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s booth on 135th Street asks “What Stories Live In Your Harlem?”
A Harlem Week attendee looks through colorful handmade patchwork pants
Capella Grey graced the Harlem Week Stage at St. Nick to perform his 2021 song “GYALIS”
One vendor sold mixtapes on CDs by genre including House, Jazz, Classical, and Party
Handmade bags with African patterns for sale by a vendor
Attendance at Harlem Week was strong this year; view of 135th Street facing East from 8th Avenue
Vendors set up to sell food to festival goers
A man watches a drum circle perform outside of the Schomburg Center
A woman jumps rope double dutch style on 135th Street
People line dance on roller skates on 135th Street
blacklove 🖤 and starlight 🌟
Harlem Week is an annual festival in Harlem, New York “which works to promote its rich African-American, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and European history, as well as arts, culture, religion, business, entertainment, and sports”. Harlem Week programming is free, open to all, and requires no registration. Mark your calendar for August 2026. See you in the neighborhood!
★ Watch my Harlem Week TikTok ★
