Event Overview
Official Name: Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival 2025
Location: Annapolis City Dock, Annapolis, Maryland
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Theme: Celebrating the Enduring Legacy of African Culture, History, and Resilience
The Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival is a vibrant, family-friendly celebration of African heritage, culture, and perseverance. Held annually at Annapolis City Dock — a historic site where many enslaved Africans arrived in America — the festival pays tribute to the life of Kunta Kinte, a real person whose story was made famous by Alex Haley’s Roots.
Through music, dance, storytelling, food, and community engagement, the festival connects generations with the deep roots of African identity and Black excellence. The event draws thousands from across the country to honor heritage, uplift entrepreneurs, and educate attendees about the legacy and resilience of the African Diaspora.
History and Background
Founded: 1989
Founder: Leonard Blackshear, founder of the nonprofit Kunta Kinte Celebrations, Inc.
The Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival began with a vision to create a space where African American history and African culture could be honored in a positive, community-centered way. Leonard Blackshear’s inspiration stemmed from the impact of Alex Haley’s Roots, which brought to light the strength of ancestry and African pride through the story of Kunta Kinte — a Mandinka warrior captured and sold into slavery in Annapolis in 1767.
Blackshear believed Annapolis should embrace this history not with shame, but with celebration and truth. Thus, the festival was born.
🌟 Major Milestones:
- 1990s: Grew to include cultural dance troupes, craft vendors, and youth education
- 2000s: Expanded to 100+ vendors and live music stages
- 2017: Celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Roots miniseries
- 2020–2021: Continued virtually due to COVID-19
- 2024: Returned in full with record-breaking attendance and 200+ vendors
The festival is one of the longest-running African heritage festivals in the U.S., held at the very site where Kunta Kinte first arrived in America — making it deeply symbolic and uniquely powerful.
Why You Should Attend
The Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival isn’t just a cultural event — it’s a spiritual journey, a community gathering, and an educational experience. Here’s why it matters:
💡 Cultural Significance:
- Held on sacred historical ground where many enslaved Africans first touched American soil
- A celebration of Black resilience, creativity, and global African identity
- Honors the real-life story of Kunta Kinte — resistance, survival, and legacy
🎉 What You’ll Experience:
- A cultural marketplace with handmade crafts, African clothing, art, jewelry, and health & wellness vendors
- A full day of live performances, including African drumming, gospel choirs, step teams, jazz ensembles, and spoken word
- Educational exhibits and storytelling sessions for youth
- Panel discussions and workshops on ancestry, healing, and heritage
The vibe is one of joy, remembrance, and empowerment — where learning and celebration go hand in hand.
What to Expect This Year (2025)
🎤 Main Stage Highlights
Expect a rotating schedule of diverse entertainment from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM:
- African Dance Troupes performing traditional rhythms and modern interpretations
- Live R&B, Gospel, and Jazz Acts (past performers include Maysa, Marc Evans, and Unified Jazz Ensemble)
- Youth Talent Hour: Featuring local schools, step teams, and youth poetry slams
- Tribute Segment: Honoring ancestors and community leaders
🎪 Festival Areas:
- Cultural Vendor Row: Over 150 vendors representing Africa, the Caribbean, and local artisans
- Wellness & Healing Village: Holistic practitioners, yoga instructors, and mental health support
- Children’s Activity Tent: African mask-making, drumming circles, storytelling, face painting
- Education Tent: Talks on genealogy, African history, and African American economic empowerment
🗓️ Special Moments:
- Opening Ceremony & Libation (10:00 AM): Honoring ancestors and starting the festival in spirit
- Community Drum Circle (Midday): Open to all ages
- Legacy Moment (Afternoon): Reflections on the journey of Kunta Kinte and our collective roots
Ticket Types & Pricing
🎟️ General Admission:
- FREE and open to the public!
✨ Donations Welcome:
- Visitors are encouraged to support the festival via voluntary donations
- Donations go toward scholarships, programming, and community outreach
🛍️ Vendor & Performer Applications:
- Available via https://kkfest.org
- Booth fees start at $150 for artisans and food vendors
Travel & Logistics
✈️ Nearest Airports:
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI): ~30 minutes
- Reagan National (DCA): ~50 minutes
- Washington Dulles (IAD): ~1 hour, 15 minutes
🚗 Transportation & Parking:
- Downtown Annapolis becomes pedestrian-friendly during the festival
- Shuttle service & Park-and-Ride lots available from nearby areas
- Ride share drop-off zones designated near the City Dock
- Public Transit: Use Maryland Transit (MTA) routes to Annapolis
Arrive early — parking is limited, and traffic increases by midday.
Where to Stay
🏨 Recommended Hotels:
- Graduate Annapolis – Boutique, walkable from the festival
- The Westin Annapolis – Upscale, 10 minutes away
- Historic Inns of Annapolis – Colonial charm with modern comfort
- DoubleTree by Hilton Annapolis – Affordable with shuttle service
Check the festival site for special room blocks and partner discounts.
Where to Eat
Beyond food vendors on-site, Annapolis is known for its mix of seafood and Southern-inspired dishes.
🍽️ Festival Food Vendors:
- Jamaican jerk chicken
- West African jollof rice and egusi soup
- Soul food classics like turkey legs, mac & cheese, and greens
- Vegan Caribbean plates and natural smoothies
- Funnel cakes, lemonade, and snowballs for the kids
🍴 Nearby Black-Owned Favorites:
- Ms. Shirley’s Café – Soulful brunch
- Soul – Southern bistro with elevated flavors
- Curate Annapolis – Stylish café with local artisan goods
- Davis’ Pub – Casual and community-focused, near Eastport
Tips for First-Timers
👚 What to Wear
- Afrocentric attire is welcomed and celebrated — dashikis, headwraps, kente cloth
- Bring comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, and a hat
- Carry a refillable water bottle — hydration stations are on-site
🌦️ Weather & Safety
- The festival is rain or shine
- September in Annapolis can be warm and breezy
- Sunscreen, bug spray, and a portable fan are smart additions
📱 Networking & Connection
- Join the Kunta Kinte Festival Facebook group before you go
- Bring business cards if you’re an entrepreneur
- Use the hashtags to meet fellow attendees and amplify the experience
How to Stay Connected
- Official Website: https://kkfest.org
- Instagram: @kunta_kinte_heritage_festival
- Facebook: Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival
- YouTube: Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival Channel
- Hashtags: #KuntaKinteFest #RootsHeritageFestival #AnnapolisBlackCulture #CelebrateYourRoots
Final Notes
🎉 How to Register or Get Involved:
- General attendance is free — RSVP optional but encouraged at https://kkfest.org
- Vendor and volunteer forms are live on the site
- Press and media inquiries accepted through September 1
🦠 COVID-19 & Safety Policies:
- Outdoor event; masks encouraged in crowded spaces
- Sanitizing stations available throughout the venue
- Medical and first-aid tents staffed during the event
📅 Mark Your Calendar: September 27, 2025
The Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival is more than a gathering — it’s a tribute to identity, endurance, and the beauty of African ancestry.
Come celebrate your roots, your rhythm, and your story.
👉 Learn more, donate, or get involved at https://kkfest.org
