Imagine Harlem Presents: The Soapbox Festival
About this Event
For the second annual Imagine Harlem, The Work of Love is more than a theme. It guides how we gather, share resources, care for one another, and imagine Harlem’s future. On the festival’s final day, we bring that work into public practice at St. Nicholas Park through art, storytelling, food, music, resources, rest, conversation, and neighborhood games.
The day is grounded in four ideas:
• Honest recognition: We cannot repair what we refuse to name.
• Accountability without shame: Love asks us to become more responsible to one another.
• Care as public infrastructure: Care becomes real through food, resources, rest, safety, and access.
• Radical imagination and commitment: Love moves us from naming problems to building what should exist.
Food and nourishment are central to that practice. Charles Pan Fried Chicken and Harlem Grown serve as the official food sponsors of Imagine Harlem 2026, providing free meals and fresh produce for festival attendees. Their participation reflects a simple belief at the heart of The Work of Love: caring for a neighborhood means making sure people have access to the things that help them thrive.
Each festival space honors a Black visionary whose life reflects the experience taking place there. Come create, play, rest, connect, eat, and imagine what Harlem could become. The festival is free and open to all ages.
FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES
• Marion Stokes Resource Station: Honoring activist and archivist Marion Stokes, connect with tools, services, and opportunities that help our community grow.
• Charles Gabriel’s Corner: Honoring Harlem chef and community icon Charles Gabriel, gather around food, hospitality, and nourishment. Presented with the support of official food sponsors Charles Pan Friend and Harlem Grown, this space will provide free meals and fresh produce for the community.
• Alma Thomas Imagination Garden: Honoring pioneering artist and educator Alma Thomas, children and families can create, explore, and express themselves.
• James Baldwin Stage: Honoring Harlem born writer James Baldwin through performances, community voices, dialogue, and collective imagination.
• James Baldwin Lawn: Rest, read, reflect, and engage in honest conversation inspired by Baldwin’s legacy.
• Althea Gibson & Kareem Abdul Jabbar Community Street Games: Honoring two groundbreaking athletes with Harlem roots through basketball, double dutch, movement, teamwork, and shared joy.
WHAT TO BRING
• A blanket or lawn chair
• Everything is free!
• Reusable water bottle and sun protection
• Comfortable clothing for outdoor activities, including yoga and field day activities
• Your family, friends, ideas, and neighborhood spirit
ABOUT IMAGINE HARLEM
Imagine Harlem is a civic and cultural platform produced by NewScope Media to reconnect and empower our community through storytelling, dialogue, creativity, play, and shared experiences.
The second annual Imagine Harlem takes place September 8 to 12, 2026. This year’s theme, “The Work of Love,” asks neighbors to practice care, honesty, accountability, repair, and imagination in public, not simply as values, but as responsibilities we share.
Throughout the festival, activations honor prominent Black leaders whose lives and work continue to shape how we understand truth, creativity, community care, and collective possibility. Among those honored are Marion Stokes, Chef Charles Gabriel, Alma Thomas, James Baldwin, Althea Gibson, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Their names and legacies help define what each festival space invites neighbors to practice.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
