The Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival returns this month with a fresh lineup of performers.
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
The annual Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival returns at the end of the month to celebrate local artistic talent.
The free festival will take place Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28, at The Plaza at 300 Ashland. The lineup includes DJs, dance performances, and vocalists from some of Brooklyn’s most renowned cultural institutions.
“Downtown Brooklyn is home to a thriving arts scene and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership showcases the best of our local talent at one of our neighborhood’s most beloved public spaces,” said Regina Myer, president of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership “There is something for everyone to enjoy at DBAF and we look forward to welcoming the community back for a two-day celebration of our borough’s creative spirit.”
On Friday, DJ Spinna starts the festival with a set featuring special guests, including DJ K.Tea and two-time Grammy nominee Dawn Tallman, known as the Queen of Gospel House music.
The evening lineup also includes a performance by NuTribe, which, in partnership with the Mark Morris Dance Group, showcases a fusion of black dance styles like waacking and Krump.
DJ Spinna will end the night with a dynamic mix of electronic, house and dance music.
On Saturday, the day will begin with interactive experiences from local arts organizations like 651 Arts, Brooklyn Ballet and Dancewave, followed by BAMkids’ Afro-Caribbean music and movement workshop.
Natie Music, known for her blend of Kréol Soul, jazz, and hip hop, will deliver a standout performance, while St. James Joy brings an upbeat afternoon dance party. Later, soulful singer GhettoFalsetto and #SampleSaleMusic’s innovative take on jazz, blues, and hip-hop sampling close out the evening.
“We’re thrilled for this annual celebration of the neighborhood’s rich creative ethos to be held at the Plaza at 300 Ashland,” said Kate Gavriel, cultural affairs director at Two Trees Management. “We’re grateful to partner with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership to program the Plaza, whose purpose is to provide gathering and performance space for Brooklyn’s artistic community.”
The 2024 Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival kicks off at The Plaza at 300 Ashland on Friday, Sept. 27, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continues on Saturday, Sept. 28, from noon to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Check out the full schedule of events and get more details online.