Enjoy Free Festivals in 2024: A Guide for Black Culture Lovers
Celebrate Heritage, Music, and Art: A Vibe Called Fest Presents a Guide to Budget-Friendly Festivals Nationwide
If you enjoys festivals like me but don’t have a million dollars, this list of free festivals will be your best friend. Inflation is real! A McDouble is almost $3 so it only makes sense that the price of concert and festival tickets have increased as well. I have a special line item in our budget for festivals because I value them more than driving a new model car or getting my nails done but prices still add up quickly. Even if the event is in town, when the cost of admission, food, parking and a little festival merch gets put together it can be expensive. So, I’ve created a list of free festivals that I’ve personally enjoyed or hope to experience soon for all of us that are ballin’ on a budget.
The full blog post is below, but if you’re in a hurry, just check out these links.
2/25 225 Fest - Baton Rouge, LA
2/25 Black Joy Parade - Oakland, CA
4/5 - 4/7 Springing the Blues - Jacksonville, FL
4/11 - 4/14 French Quarter Fest - New Orleans, LA
5/23 - 5/26 Jacksonville Jazz Fest - Jacksonville, FL
5/25 - 5/27 Atlanta Jazz Festival
5/29 - 6/2 HBCU Festival - Charlotte, NC
6/8 Parade the Circle - Columbus, OH
6/9 Odunde Festival - Philadelphia, PA
6/22 - 6/23 AFRAM -Baltimore, MD
6/12 - 6/19 Indy Juneteenth - Indianapolis, IN
7/4 - 7/7 Essence Festival of Culture - New Orleans, LA
7/17 - 7/21 Festival of the Lakes - Hammond, IN
Festival employee at Festival of the Lakes doing a hat trick to pass time.
In one of my previous posts I talked about the magic of festivals focused on Black culture. But, this isn’t exclusive to people of the African diaspora. It’s the reason for everything from Lunar New Year celebrations and Pride parades to Diwali and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations worldwide. In a country that touts itself as a melting pot, sometimes it’s nice to be able to plug directly into your “home” culture. The good news is, if the budget is tight and you can’t afford mega festivals like Rolling Loud and Lovers and Friends you’ve still got lots of options to recharge your spirit in great company.
2.25.24
Last year was the inaugural 225 Fest and there were more than 14,000 people in attendance. 225 is the zip code for the greater Baton Rouge area so this event is centered on the richness that creates the gumbo that is Baton Rouge culture.
Black Joy Parade - Oakland, CA
2.25.24
There’s a lot in a name! There are numerous events in conjunction with this event including an adult prom, Black Vines, the oldest Black wine festival in the States and a finance seminar for Black women titled EmpowerHER. Costs vary for events but the free festival will have food and craft vendors, a Best in Flow competition, family-friendly activities and, of course, a parade.
Springing the Blues - Jacksonville, FL
4.5.24 - 4.7.24
This three-day festival is located at an open-air, beachside amphitheater and focused on one of the musical genres that anre indigenous to the US. Artists from across the country come out each April to celebrate and perform.
French Quarter Fest - New Orleans, LA
4.11.24 - 4.14.24
French Quarter Fest started in 1984 and 30 years later its supports around 1,700 local New Orleans performers and brings in music artists and acts from across the country to light up 20 stages in the crescent city. FQF generates almost $15 million in tax revenue each year for the New Orleans community.
Jacksonville Jazz Fest - Jacksonville, FL
5.23.24 - 5.26.24
Returning to its roots at Metropolitan Park and unveiling a fresh experience at the Daily’s Place Amphitheater, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival will fill the streets with beloved artists’ sweet sounds. For over 40 years, this free festival has united music enthusiasts for a weekend of food, drinks, community and, of course, music!
Atlanta Jazz Festival - Atlanta, GA
5.25.25 - 5.27.24
If you’re in love with Andre 3000’s flute album “New Blue Sun,” you’re in luck! He’ll be joining performers like Cecile Mclorin Savant, Olatuja and Lizz Wright on stage for three days of jazz and positive vibes at Piedmont Park.
5.29.24 - 6.2.24
The HBCU Festival brings the energy of HBCU’s homecomings into one big weekend happening in Charlotte. The HBCU Festival will provide educational and enrichment experiences designed to elevate the HBCU community through live entertainment, keynote speaking engagements, networking opportunities, leadership development, recruitment, and more.
Parade the Circle - Columbus, OH
6.8.24
Parade the Circle is a summertime celebration of Black culture in all its excellence. This free event features artwork and costumes created by local artists as well as interactive family fun like face painting, dancing and musical performances. Vendors will also be on site selling crafts, food and artwork.
Odunde Festival - Philadelphia, PA
6.9.24
Odunde Festival has been bringing people together since 1975 and is touted as the largest African-American festival in the States with up to 500,000 attendees each year. The event started in Philly to celebrate the Yoruba culture of West Africa but is a celebration of all African cultures and brings in around $28 million dollars for the city annually but the event is free.
Indy Juneteenth - Indianapolis, IN
6.12.24 - 6.19.24
The executive director of Indy Juneteenth and his wife are college sweethearts from my Alma Mater, Indiana State University. They pour so much love for the Indianapolis community and our culture into this week of events and other activities through the year. There are a variety of events over a week’s time including a free college and career fair, parade & festival and is wrapped up with a fireworks show on Juneteenth.
Baltimore AFRAM - Baltimore, MD
6.22.24 - 6.23.24
For two days, people from all walks of life come together to enjoy national entertainment, local eats and much more. This is your chance to see live performances from Busta Rhymes, Mya, October London, Alex Isley, Karen Clark-Sheard for my favorite price!
Essence Festival of Culture - New Orleans, LA
7.4.24 - 7.7.24
Here’s something I didn’t know until last year, the majority of Essence Fest events are FREE! I’ve been three or four times now and have always focused on the evening concert series which does cost, but there are numerous daytime events that with no cost including the Wellness Zone, BeautyCon, a family day and a new event focusing on the mens (that’s not a typo) Essence in His Zone. In addition, after COVID, they’ve continued to livestream the evening concert series so people can join the festivities from home.
Festival of the Lakes - Hammond, IN
7.17.24 - 7.21.24
More info will be available soon but last year’s festival in the Chicago area included free concerts from Ashanti, Ja Rule and Twista and a gospel brunch. There’s also a carnival and numerous performances that are free with a few concerts that have a charge. Last year we paid to see Lil Wayne on Saturday followed by an amazing fireworks show over Lake Michigan. Information hasn’t been released for 2024 but based on our experience last year, this is an event you want to consider.
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