This summer, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most anticipated cultural festivals returns to the heart of Seattle’s Central District. Umoja Fest 2025 is set to take place on August 2–3, 2025, at Judkins Park (2150 S. Norman St., Seattle, WA 98144), bringing together families, neighbors, and visitors from across the region to honor and celebrate the vibrancy of Black and African diaspora culture.

At the core of Umoja Fest is its deep connection to Seattle’s Africatown and the enduring spirit of the Central District. The festivities kick off with the Africatown Heritage Parade March on Saturday, August 2, at 1:00 PM. Throughout the weekend, families can explore a dynamic lineup of attractions, including Children’s Village, Vendor Marketplace, Delicious Local Eats, Community-Centered Activities, and Live Music Performances.

The live show will feature local and national stars, including the legendary Johnny Gill, hip-hop icon Mr. Cheeks, and dance floor favorite Cupid The Line Dance King.

On August 12th, 2025, American R&B star Joe Thomas, known mononymously as Joe, will perform at the Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe. The show, which will commence at 4:00 PM, promises to be an unforgettable evening of soulful music and timeless hits.

In the early 1990s, Joe rose to prominence after releasing his debut album, “Everything.” He followed it with a series of successful albums under Jive Records, including “All That I Am” (1997), the international bestseller “My Name Is Joe” (2000), and the multi-certified albums “Better Days” (2001) and “And Then…” (2003).

There will be grilling and grooving at the 2025 Heart of America Hot Dog Festival presented by Hy-Vee on Saturday, August 9th, at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. Attendees will be treated to live entertainment, ballpark foods, local food trucks and more.

Created by the NLBM (Negro Leagues Baseball Museum) in 2013, the Hotdog Festival celebrates the historical connection between Black Americans national pastime and the all-American hotdog, with proceeds benefitting the NLBM.

The sizzling musical lineup includes Silk, Eric Benét, Rose Royce, Larry Dodson (legendary voice of the Bar-Kays), the dynamic duo of Jeanette Harris & Tom Browne, and The Bloodstone Review. Click here for tickets.

The 2025 Summer Jam Food Festival, which was to take place on Saturday, June 28th, and Sunday, June 29th, at SeatGeek Stadium (7000 S Harlem Avenue) in Bridgeview, Illinois, has been postponed to Sunday, August 31st. The organizers shared the following statement on their blog:

“We regret to inform you that this event has been postponed to August 31st. We appreciate your understanding and will share updates once details are confirmed. Thank you for your continued support. – R&B Summer Jam Food Fest Team.”

For additional information, visit: rnbsummerjam.com

Legendary singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer Stevie Wonder, who is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, will be taking his “Love, Light & Song” tour to the United Kingdom in July.

As of this writing, he and his team have confirmed five dates in the UK; these include two arena shows and three festivals. See below.

July 3: Lytham, Lytham Festival
July 5: Manchester, Co-op Live
July 7: Birmingham, Utilita Arena
July 9: Cardiff, Blackweir Fields
July 12: London, BST Hyde Park

R&B legends Brandy and Monica, who collaborated on the mega hit song “The Boy Is Mine” in 1998, will embark on a co-headlining tour across the U.S.A. this fall. They will be joined by Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, and the 2025 American Idol winner, Jamal Roberts.

“The Boy Is Mine” tour will commence in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 16 and will run through December 7th, ending in Houston, Texas. See below all confirmed dates and locations as of this writing.

Oct 16
8:00pm
Heritage Bank Center
Cincinnati, OH

Oct 17
8:00pm
Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee, WI

Oct 18
8:00pm
United Center
Chicago, IL

Oct 19
8:00pm
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, IN

Oct 30
8:00pm
FedExForum
Memphis, TN

Oct 31
8:00pm
State Farm Arena
Atlanta, GA

Nov 1
8:00pm
First Horizon Coliseum at Greensboro Complex
Greensboro, NC

Nov 2
7:00pm
CFG Bank Arena
Baltimore, MD

Nov 7
8:00pm
T-Mobile Arena
Las Vegas, NV

Nov 8
8:00pm
Oakland Arena
Oakland, CA

Nov 9
7:00pm
Kia Forum
Inglewood, CA

Nov 13
8:00pm
Spectrum Center
Charlotte, NC

Nov 14
8:00pm
Colonial Life Arena
Columbia, SC

Nov 15
8:00pm
Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Birmingham, AL

Nov 16
7:00pm
Enterprise Center
St. Louis, MO

Nov 20
8:00pm
Barclays Center
Brooklyn, NY

Nov 21
8:00pm
Prudential Center
Newark, NJ

Nov 22
8:00pm
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ

Nov 23
7:00pm
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, VA

Nov 29
8:00pm
Little Caesars Arena
Detroit, MI

Nov 30
7:00pm
Capital One Arena
Washington, DC

Dec 5
8:00pm
Smoothie King Center
New Orleans, LA

Dec 6
8:00pm
Dickies Arena
Fort Worth, TX

Dec 7
8:00pm
Toyota Center – TX
Houston, TX