13. International African Arts Festival

Photograph Courtesy of Solwazi Afi Olusola

Beginning in 1971, the International African Arts Festival (IAA) has shaped Brooklyn’s cultural landscape. Each year Commodore Barry Park is transformed into an outdoor African oasis. The International African Arts Festival celebrates traditional and contemporary expressions of numerous African cultures through film, dance, and other art forms. Artists such as Steel Pulse, The Mighty Sparrow, KRS-1, Lauryn Hill, and India Arie have appeared at the Festival. You can purchase African art, jewelry, body oils, fabrics, artifacts, hand-carved marble sculptures, body oils, and more at the festival’s African market. There will also be an outdoor Food Court that offers a variety of traditional soul food and spicy Caribbean dishes along with African, Latin, vegetarian, seafood and gourmet cuisine.

The 2019 Independence Day festivities will feature performances by Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Clifton Anderson Sextet, Dinizulu Cultural arts Institute – African Dance and more. The festival will run from July 4th through July 7th. You can purchase single or multi-day passes here.