Let’s be honest; we deserve better. Better experiences, better opportunities, and better ways to gather together to celebrate ourselves and our lives. This Summer, after Essence Festival’s swirl of negative critiques, the conversation on “who gets to represent Black women” has never felt more urgent.
In my opinion, we deserve a safe space to celebrate ourselves not just one month out of the year. So, if you’re like me and your soul craves connection and delicious memory-making, consider adding these gatherings to your calendar.
AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA (Brooklyn, NY)
AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA takes place in Brooklyn, NY on August 23–24 and is considered the spiritual version of AFROPUNK. Held at its original location of the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, Erykah Badu (a.k.a. The First Lady of Neo Soul) will serve as the headliner.
When: August 23-24, 2025
Where: Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park
NYC SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL (Staten Island, NY)
The NY SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL— entitled ‘A Labor of Love”— is a weekend of music, community and soul food vendors that take over the State Island’s Iconic Snug Harbor Botanical Garden. Imagine flagrant flowers and plants surrounded by scents of food, vibrant scenes of fashion, and family focused activities to celebrate Black heritage.
When: August 31, 2025
Where: Snug Harbor Botanical Garden, Staten Island, NY
BLACK FARMERS & URBAN GARDENERS CONFERENCE (Detroit, MI)
The BLACK FARMERS & URBAN GARDENERS CONFERENCE (BUGS) annual conference is a great place to meet small farmers, gardeners, and like-minded Black urban agricultural enthusiasts. The events and programs are specific to bridging food to healing and individualized natural remedies to food sovereignty.
The conference turns into a collective of Black leadership that help and support the reimagining of Black farming. This year the conference takes place in Detroit, Michigan.
When: October 3-5, 2025
Where: Detroit, Michigan
AFROPUNK EXPERIENCE RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil)
This year’s edition of the infamous AFROPUNK Experience is taking place in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Held at Parque de Exposições, this event brings afrobeat concerts and brand experiences to life with talent like Jorja Smith, Péricles, Liniker, and so many more.
When: November 8-9, 2025
Where: Parque de Exposições
TASTE OF BLACK ST. LOUIS (St. Louis, MO)
This free, immersive weekend is reportedly the largest Black owned food festivals in the Midwest. Dedicated to Black-owned food vendors and local artists, the family-friendly atmosphere is held every September in St, Louis Missouri.
When: September 12–14, 2025
Where: Soldiers Memorial Plaza, St. Louis, MO
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
