Harlem Week 2019: Events Schedule, This Year's Theme

HARLEM, NY — One of Harlem's biggest celebrations kicked off this weekend and will continue through the month of August. Harlem Week started 45 years ago as "Harlem Day" and has since evolved into a full-month festival that draws millions of people to the Upper Manhattan neighborhood for a wide variety of events.

More than 2 million people are expected to attend Harlem Week events during the month of August, festival organizers said. The festival celebrates Harlem's "assets and unique flavor, promoting Harlem’s rich African, African-American, Caribbean, Hispanic and European history, cultures, arts, entertainments, and sports," the festival's website reads.

Here's everything you need to know about Harlem Week 2019:

History:

This year marks Harlem Week's 45th anniversary.

Harlem Week is a neighborhood tradition dating back to 1974. That year, a tribute to Harlem residents who stayed in the neighborhood through tough times was organized and called Harlem Day. As part of the inaugural Harlem Day, Seventh Avenue was renamed Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard to honor the long-time Harlem congressman and minister.

The event was a huge hit and inspired organizers to add more programs in the years following.

While the event has grown from a one-day celebration to a month-long festival, the core purpose remains the same. Harlem week is a celebration of what makes the neighborhood unique and is intended to promote Harlem's rich historic, cultural, artistic and religious traditions.

Themes:

This year's Harlem Week theme, "Our Local History Creates A Global Impact," reflects on the neighborhood's past and Harlem's impact as a global cultural force. Organizers of Harlem Week have also partnered with the City of Memphis, Tennessee this year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the southern city's founding.

Events:

Harlem Week will feature more than 100 events this year, according to organizers. Harlem Week kicked off with the annual "A Great Day in Harlem" celebration on Sunday, July 28 and will end with the Percy Sutton Harlem 5k Run on Saturday, August 24.

Two of the most anticipated yearly events always occur on the same weekend: "Summer in the City" on August 17 and "Harlem Day" on August 18. Both of these events span the entire day and include entertainment such as a children's festival, free swimming lessons, a fashion show for designers of color, a concert, an auto show and more.

Check out all the Harlem Week events on the festival website.