Your Guide to Free Festivals for Black Culture Lovers
A Vibe Called Fest Presents a Guide to Budget-Friendly Festivals Worldwide
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.
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.
Free Festivals for the Culture
Nomadness Fest in Charlotte, NC
9.12 - 9.15
This is the first year that general admission tickets are free! My career started after attending Nomadness Fest in Newark in 2022 because it was the first time I saw people that looked like me as successful travel influencers. This event is the brainchild of Emmy-winning story teller Evita Robinson and focuses on connecting BIPOC travelers.
Nomadness Fest 2022 - Newark, NJ
9.20 - 9.22
Technically, it’s $1 but you can probably find that in the car so let’s call it free. This will be the second year for the event and it’s a perfect marriage of music, personal/business enrichment and entertainment. I’m not sure if the ticket price will go up so be sure to grab them now!
Panafest Celebration in Silver Springs, MD
9.21
Spend your Sunday celebrating pan African heritage with food, music, dancing, fashion and art.
Festival Del Cristo Negro (Black Christ) in Portobelo, Panama
10.21
Join over 60,000 Panamanians that take an annual pilgrimage to worship and honor the statue of Cristo Negro.
Garifuna Settlement Day in Dangriga, Belize
11.19
Last year, we went down to Belize for Garifuna Settlement Day, which is dedicated to celebrating the day that they arrived on the Belize shore. Simply put, the Garifuna are the Black Belizans. The main celebration takes place in Dangriga but we were in Placenca and had an amazing time. It wasn’t until the following day that we learned we missed the real festival.
Treme Fall Festival - New Orleans, LA
11.9 & 11.10
This festival is held annually to celebrate the rich culture of the Treme neighborhood, one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in the country. It’s free but funds raised through donations and merch purchases help with preservation and revitalization of this important community.
11.1 and 11.2
Can you think of a better festival than Carnival in New Orleans? I definitely can’t! This event is hosted by Friends of Culture, the premier Caribbean organization in Louisiana.
1.6.25 - 3.4.25
Fun fact: Mardi Gras starts on King’s Day which is January 6 and runs through Ash Wednesday each year. During this time window, there are a number of events, 2nd line parades, events and parties.
2.21.25 - 2.23.25
This will be the third year of 225 Fest. 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.
African American Heritage Festival - Charlotte, NC
2.22.25
This festival is 2023’s QC Nerve Best in the Nest "Critics Pick - Best Cultural Celebration.” Enjoy a free family day at the Charlotte Museum of History to celebrate Charlotte's Black history and culture. The 2025 event is titled "Black Country" and will emphasize the Black experience in rural Mecklenburg County through performances, guest speakers, panels, and more. Maybe it’s a nod to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album. What do you think?
Black Joy Parade - Oakland, CA
2025 Date TBD
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.
Black Heritage Festival in Lake Charles, LA
3.6.25 - 3.9.25
Details are still being hammered out for this festival but anticipate a great time.
A Vibe Called Fest keeps you up-to-date with all the important information for festivals and cultural events centered around Black people. Subscribe and check out our FesTEAval Blog posts and the Next Fests list.