African Festival of the Arts
Dates: Labor Day Weekend: Friday -Monday, September 1-4, 2023
Location: Washington Park – Chicago, IL
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Attendance: 250,000
Demographics: African American Families
Beneficiary: Africa International House
Theme: Celebration of African Culture
Overview:
In a city that prides itself in the quantity and quality of its summer festivals, The African Festival of the Arts (AFA) is one of Chicago’s crown jewels. Drawing hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country over the Labor Day weekend, African Festival of the Arts is considered to be the single largest African-centered event in the USA and the most important of its kind in Chicago.
African Festival of the Arts is the flagship program of the Africa International House (AIH).
During its 33 -year history, this four- day event has stayed perfectly true to its mission: to promote, preserve and propagate African American culture. The AFA is a series of festivals within a festival built around African culture: art, music, dance, history and current interests and pursuits.
Stimulation is the operative word used to describe the African Festival of the Arts (AFA). The visitor’s first rush of sights, sounds and sweet and savory smells are almost overwhelming. The senses can barely take it all in. The event is jam packed with cultural entertainment, education, shopping, food, drink and fun including:
- A Fine Arts Pavilion where more than $1M in art sales are exchanged.
- An African Market.
- A Drum Village.
- Three entertainment stages.
- National music headliners.
- Sponsorable pavilions that focus on African Heritage, literature, automotive, family and children, technology, spirituality, business/finance, green/energy, wellness/fitness, dance, education, film, fashion and others.
- An international food court.
The Art:
The Fine Arts Pavilion features hundreds of thousands of pieces of collectible art including everything from original oils, watercolors, pastel, mixed media, acrylics, wood, and metal sculptures, along with wearable art and jewelry. All art displayed at the AFA is juried and selected by a panel of experts. Hundreds of artists compete for the privilege of showing and selling their art. More than a million dollars in art sales occur in the Fine Art Pavilion each year.
Events & Venues
January Events
There are no events listed for this month.
February Events
Randolph Street Market
March Events
April Events
Salt Lake City Marathon & Lifestyle Expo
American Cancer Society- Walk and Roll
Golden-Con
The Black Women's Expo
Randolph Street Market
The Lucky 13
May Events
The Lucky 13
Do Division
Southwest Half Marathon
San Diego Taco Fest
Randolph Street Market
Taste of Mexico
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival
Sheffield Music Festival
June Events
Lincoln Park Greek Fest
Chicago Craft Beer Festival
Do Division
Taco & Tequila Festival
Wells Street Art Festival
Hyde Park Summer Fest
Taste of Mexico
Pilsen Food Truck Social
Diva Fest
Custer Fair Festival of the Arts
Fountain Square Artisan Fest
The Highland Park Festival of Fine Arts
Chicago Pridefest
World Pride Music Festivals
Pride in the Park
July Events
Eyes to the Skies
Windy City Rib Fest
Old School Reunion
Chicago’s Roscoe Village Burger Fest
Lake Forest 4th of July
West Fest
Festival Columbiano
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Starlight Festival (@ Yerkes Observatory)
Randolph Street Market
Chicago Brewing District’s Dancing in the Streets
Chicago Ribfest
Taste of River North
Chinatown Summer Fair
Lake County Fair
Lincolnwood Festival
August Events
September Events
African Festival of the Arts
Naperville Last Fling
Chinese Lantern Festival
Friends of Labor Festival
Winnetka Music Festival
Naper Pride Fest
Fiestas Patrias (Festival La Villita)
Bourbon & Barbecue Festival
Taco Fest
26th Street Mexican Parade
The Black Women's Expo
Taste of St Louis
El Grito del Delores
Bourbon and Blues
Chicago's Oktoberfest
Chicago Taco Fest
Randolph Street Market
Walk to End Alzheimer's
October Events
November Events
Randolph Street Market
December Events
Year Round Opportunities
Contact:
Norine Smyth
312.799.0354
nsmyth@sponsorchicago.com
The Market:
The African Market is the ‘shopping center’ of AFA. The ambience, aromas, colors, products, and transactions are true to the markets of Africa. Shoppers browse among the offerings of museum quality African art, unique beads, fabric, sculptures, baskets, musical instruments, clothing and wearable art.
The Drums:
Lending ambience to the festival is the Drum Village, led by Master Drummers Olu Shakoor and Baba Tyemba Mtu. The Drum Village operates continuously featuring world class drumming performed by some of the best drummers from around the world.
The Music & Entertainment:
AFA has three music stages, but music seems to be everywhere at the AFA. Every music offering- from the music of the world class drummers, to Blues, to House Music, and to mainstream national headliners- represents the very best in its class. Music is offered continuously throughout the event- a steady, three-day outpouring of the crème de la crème of African based music. Recent past national music headliners on the Mainstage included Angelique Kidjo, Chaka Khan, India Arie, Temptations, Julie Dexter with VLE, India Arie, Tito Jackson, Soweto Street Band, Brandy, Avant,Ahmad Jamal, Kool & the Gang, George Clinton, Erykha Badu, MC Lyte, Rachelle Ferrell, Les Nubians, and more.
Sponsorship Opportunity
The African Festival of the Arts’ Sponsor Benefits Menu offers sponsors a variety of ways to elevate, showcase and connect your brand to this audience of more than 250,000 African Americans in a relaxed and friendly setting.
The Sponsor Benefits Menu includes but is not limited to:
• Naming Rights to the event, event attractions, various pavilions.
• Logo inclusion in TV and print ads; collateral
• Tags in radio spots
• Links, logos and landing pages on event website
• PR Inclusion
• Signage
• Stage Signage
• Exclusive on-site sales
• On-site activation with varying footprint sizes ranging from 100’X100’ to 10’X10’
• VIP live welcomes on various stages and pavilions
• Customized promotions
• Hospitality
• Merchandising
• Use of marks and logos







