7 Annual Festivals Black Millennials Should Put on Their Calendars

If there’s one thing we can all officially rejoice about now, it’s the return of festivals.

There’s no need to miss being in crowds filled with friendly faces, the joy of celebrating the foods and sounds of your culture, or an entire day devoted to coming together as a community because events, specifically ones made for us, by us, are back in full swing. 

So if you’ve been searching for refreshingly Black festivals to have a good time at soon, here’s a roundup of seven annual festivals that have something for every type of black millennial to enjoy: 

1. Rolling Loud 

As one of the most prominent hip-hop and rap music festivals in the United States, Rolling Loud is the annual event of the summer for those hoping to see their favorite artists and meet other music lovers. And the lineup for this year’s festival is already out, so check it out here.

2. The American Black Film Festival

Where are all the fans of shows like Atlanta and Abbott Elementary at? You could discover the next hit film or TV show at the American Black Film Festival. It’s a five-day event, so Black culture enthusiasts, artists, and executives have plenty of time to connect and learn from one another. 

3. AFROPUNK

It won’t be a list shouting out festivals for Black people if AFROPUNK isn’t present. This unapologetically Black event turned international brand holds festivals in multiple locations worldwide that are weekend-long events featuring Black music, art, vendors, and more. So for a chance to be featured on a trendy Instagram page in a cool outfit, AFROPUNK is the festival to attend. 

4. CURLFEST 

To the natural queens and kings out there, this one’s for you. CURLFEST is a Black-woman-owned natural beauty festival in the United States, and it’s the largest one at that. The event has been on a hiatus since the pandemic, but stay on the lookout for updates here!

5. Caribana

If you’re looking for the hottest carnival celebration outside of the Caribbean, then book your summer flight to Toronto! Caribana is the largest summer festival in Canada. I had the pleasure of attending in 2019, and it was hands down, one of the best experiences I had. If you need a guide, don’t worry, I got you covered! Check out my experience here and some of my tips that will get you there.

6. Afro Nation

If afrobeats music is the way to your heart, then you’ll want to be on a plane to Portugal this summer to see the biggest afrobeats artists worldwide at Afro Nation. So raise your hand if you want to party on a beach this summer surrounded by other beautiful Black folks and dance the night away to artists like Burna Boy and Koffee because that’s exactly what’s going down at Afro Nation in July.

Afro Nation got its start in 2013 and has been Uniting The African Diaspora & Celebrating Diversity ever since! This event will not only connect you with other Black millennials in the diaspora, but with those that love good music!

7. Essence Festival of Culture

Is there a party like the Essence Festival of New Orleans? We’ll wait because every year, Essence Festival takes the cake as the event to be at to see your favorite Black entertainers, artists, vendors, and more! Fortunately, Essence Fest is not just for Black millennials but really for anyone that loves a good time!

It is the largest Black multi-generational festival in the country, and best believe Essence Fest deserves a place on your bucket list. 

Black Millennials, Where you at?

So which Black cultural festival are you headed to this year? Don’t feel restrained to what’s on this list either, because there are plenty of more vibrant events for Black people where this comes from!