The 5th annual Black Culture Festival is coming to Parcel 5: What to know

The annual Black Culture Festival, now in its fifth year, will take place at Downtown Rochester’s Parcel 5.

The Founder, Will Powers, has been working with Shanell Jeffries and Jessica Spencer since November 2023 to plan the highly anticipated event. This festival celebrates Rochester's Black community through culture, food, and music. This is also the first year the City of Rochester will be one of the sponsors for the festival.

"We should be able to enjoy our culture without feeling shame, without feeling like it's something to hide," Jeffries said. "And also to offer it to other people so they can enjoy it and see what we have to offer as a community."

On festival day, guests can enjoy live music, food vendors, and other small businesses from Noon until 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28. There will also be a scholarship presentation and a variety of events guests can participate in, including:

• Youth Talent Expo
• Spades Tournament
• Fashion Show

Students who plan to attend a historically Black university or college (HBCU) in the Fall will be eligible for the scholarship grant. The award will start at $500, and students must submit a video essay showcasing their understanding of and appreciation of black culture.

Visit theblackculturefest.com/scholarship/ to learn more.

Here are some businesses that you can expect to see at the festival:

R&R Takeout

This family-owned pop-up restaurant is dedicated to providing quality soul food and BBQ at an affordable price. It also offers catering for private events like birthdays, anniversaries, and festivals.

Love Babe Boutique

Founded in 2020, Love Babe Boutique opened as a women's clothing boutique with hand-crafted skincare & bath products. Following the loss of both her parents in 2023, the owner sought something to help her cope with the grief. Now, the boutique provides a variety of high-quality body butter, scrubs, face mist, bath salts & bath bombs.

Footprint Enterprises

Ivy Caldwell founded this faith-based organization to help women with their emotional trauma. Through coaching, workshops, and virtual sessions, Caldwell hopes to help people heal by sharing their stories.

Visit theblackculturefest.com to learn more about the festival.

Genae Shields is the business & development impact reporter. Reach out at gshields@gannett.com or on Instagram:@genaebriphoto for questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your continued support!