There are numerous reasons for New Yorkers to enjoy the summer in our amazing city. For Harlemites and many who visit the Harlem community, Harlem Week is at the top of the list of events to attend each and every single summer.
Harlem Week began in 1974 as Harlem Day. It was created to be a day of encouragement and fellowship in Harlem for residents of New York. With the success that the original Harlem Day experienced, it was expanded to Harlem Week, and now, though the name remains the same, Harlem Week has continued to expand, and now includes several weeks during the summertime. Harlem Week continues to showcase the rich and diverse economic, political, and cultural history of arguably the most
significant neighborhood for people of color worldwide.
Harlem Week enters its 39th year this summer, and with all of its vast and diverse events, will be attended by over two million people from not only Harlem, New York, and its surrounding area, but from all over the world.
One of the numerous highlights for Harlem Week is an annual event called A Great Day in Harlem, which will take place on Sunday, July 28, 2013. In recent years, I ventured to U.S. Grant National Memorial Park, (also known as Grant’s Tomb, located on West 122 Street andRiverside Drive) to see crooners like John Legend, Keith Sweat ,and Johnny Gill perform for thousands of fans. This year will be no different, as the festivities kick off at 1pm with an International Cultural Showcase featuring Millenium Dance Company, National Dance Institute, and The African Chorus Ensemble.
At 3pm, the International Gospel Showcase begins, followed by the Fashion Fusion Showcase at 4:30pm. The finale of the night will be A Concert Under the Stars: “Songs In the Key of Life”, celebrating 50 years of Stevie Wonder. As one of the greatest living songwriters, this concert, which begins at 6pm, is sure to be packed with thousands of people and dozens of hits by the talented singer, songwriter and musician, who has amassed 22 Grammy awards, the most of any solo male artist. I guarantee that there will be a lot of fans in the audience singing along with the talented group of performers that have been assembled for this special event.
Another staple of Harlem Week that I have attended, along with hundreds of thousands of others, is JazzMobile, also at Grant’s Tomb. JazzMobile begins on Wednesday, July 31, 2013, and will take place on four consecutive Wednesday’s, ending on Wednesday, August 21, 2013. JazzMobile always features some of the top jazz musicians from not only the New York City area, but from around the world, and 2013 will be no different.
The culmination of Harlem Week is Harlem Day, which will take place on Sunday, August 18, 2013. Harlem Day is an immense event that sees nearly 100,000 people come to 135th street to see performances by both well-established and new artists, offers hundreds of vendors, and has a selection of food vendors that offer just about every culinary delight you can think of.
Harlem Day offers four different stages with different genres of music. The main stage is located on 135th street and Saint Nicholas Avenue, and in this past has featured performances by R&B superstars Brian McKnight and Donell Jones. There is also a stage on 135th street and Fifth Avenue, with two more stages positioned on 135th street as well. There are numerous activities featured on Harlem Day sure to keep the children entertained as well. One that has caught my attention in the past has been face painting, which brings smiles to the faces of hundreds of little ones.
The hundreds of vendors who will be lined on 135th street often offer unique, one-of-a-kind items that you would have a hard time finding anywhere else. From t-shirts, to books, music, clothing, and more, the vendors that offer products on Harlem Day offer great items for gift giving, whether you are seeking a gift for someone else, or even if you are treating yourself to something as well.
From as early as I can remember, Harlem Week has been a central part of my summers in New York City, from my Mom taking me to events on 125th street, to my friends and I going to Grant’s Tomb every Wednesday night, to the concerts of today. Be it small children who like the fun and games available on Harlem Day, seniors who enjoy the great sounds at JazzMobile, or anyone in between who would appreciate the legendary sounds of Stevie Wonder, Harlem Week offers something special for everyone. Make sure to mark your favorite events on your calendar.
For additional information on Harlem Week activities, visit HarlemWeek.com