NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Save the date — Harlem Week is back and better than ever!
Starting Friday, the 48th annual, 10-day live and virtual experience celebrating the people, arts, culture, entertainment, and history that Harlem is known for throughout the world will honor the theme, "Inspiration, Impact, and Legacy."
Originally a one-day celebration, Harlem Week Chairman Lloyd Williams told 1010 WINS — a media partner of this year's event — that the event honors the resilience of the neighborhood, but it isn't going to shy away from the challenges that persist.
"Much of the [goals] have been accomplished, but nonetheless, we still see things, whether it is COVID, or whether we see the outbreak [of] gun violence that is taking place throughout the nation — certainly hitting the Harlem community — and we also are not focused as well as we must be on educational development for our children and so some of the things remain, but there are always new challenges and there are also great opportunities," he said.
Lloyd Williams, Chairman of Harlem Week.Harlem Week
The first week of this year's celebration will also include a salute to Harlem luminaries, featured musical performances, virtual dance parties, livestreams and cornerstone events such as the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run/Anti-Gun Violence Health Walk and "A Great Day in Harlem."
This year's festivities will also commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the NBA and the legendary Rucker Park and Harlem inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The celebration will kick off Friday with Senior Citizens Day, the first major public event for Harlem Week, at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building. The event will include health demonstrations, health testing, performances, a Demystifying Technology panel, a Senior Hat Fashion Show and more.
On Saturday, Harlem Week will host the Percy Sutton Harlem 5k Run & Anti-Gun Violence Health Walk. Centered around the theme "Save Our Children," the 2022 race and Health Walk serves as a call to action against gun violence in the community.
The first weekend will wrap up on Sunday with "A Great Day in Harlem," which will include performances and appearances by R&B artist Kenny Lattimore; a salute to 90-year-old Caribbean Legend Lord Nelson (aka "The Soca Daddy"); Uptown Dance Academy; Artz, Roots & Rhythm, Impact Repertory Theater; The Mama Foundation's Sing Harlem Choir, Isn't Her Grace Amazing Choir; and a Concert Under the Stars Salute to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album featuring Ray Chew and the Harlem Music Festival All Stars.
For more information, including how to experience the event virtually and a complete lineup of events, click here.
