Black people in Boston have been a trending topic on social media lately — and Summer ’25 is out to prove just how ethnic and cultural the city really is. Festivities have been popping up all over, and they’re giving nothing but CULTURE.
Sure, Boston is known for its championship sports teams and prestigious universities, but this summer has been a loud reminder: the city has serious cultural flavor.
Mayor Wu’s Summer Dance Party Series
We kicked off our mid-summer wrap-up with Mayor Michelle Wu’s Summer Dance Party Series on July 25th at Government Center, presented by the DJs of SILK. The night was filled with smooth R&B tracks, good vibes, and a crowd ready to groove.
The best part? It was free to the public, with food provided by the new Jamaican restaurant Blue Mountain. Love to see Mayor Wu showing support for live events and cultural happenings in the city. The second of the Summer Dance Party Series took place this past weekend on Aug 9th with an Island vibes theme. Local Afrobeats artist Odio and official Islndz Sounds artist Maura Delgado both performed.
Boston While Black Family Reunion
The very next day (July 26th), a few different events were going on in the city. The 5th Annual Boston While Black Family Reunion took over Lawn on D — and for the first time, expanded deeper into the Seaport District. Founder & CEO Sheena Collier continues to provide a safe, celebratory space for people of color to gather, connect, and enjoy Boston.
Food trucks and vendors held it down — including @everybodygotta_eat, @bostoncookiekitchen, @suyajoint, and @bibimboxtruck, just to name a few. The event was headlined by Roxbury native & Spelman grad Nay Speaks, delivering a standout performance. Major props to Sheena and her team for creating such a powerful community moment.
Black Market’s Summer of X Block Party
That same day, Nubian Square came alive with Black Market’s 5th Annual Summer of X Block Party. The lineup? Local acts Most High Kingdom (Najee Janey, Milkshaw Benedict, Sean Wire), DJ sets by Dee J Dex and Kool DJ Red Alert, and a headlining performance from Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, and the Get Fresh Crew.
It was amazing to see two unapologetically Black events happening at the same time in Boston — both pulling huge, energized crowds.
Kerm’s Day
Just a few miles away, also on July 26th, the guys from the Kerm’s Shop put together their 5th annual Kerm’s Day in Randolph, MA. The event took place at Randolph Middle School after a quick venue switch. Nonetheless, supporters, vendors and spectators from all over came to commune and be festive. The aim of the event is to celebrate life and to bring a safe place for families and friends to enjoy community. 
Bentopia: The Day Party of the Summer
Fast forward to Sunday, August 3rd — the highly anticipated Bentopia went down at The Yard in Charlestown’s Hood Park. With a massive 2,000-person capacity, this was dubbed the biggest day party of the summer. Music was on lock with DJ Storm, DJ PapaDon, DJ TGIF, and of course DJ Real P. Boston’s movers and shakers came out dressed to impress — the vibes? Very vibey. Very cool. Very Black Boston.
Major Concerts Lighting Up the City
Boston has also been getting spoiled with big-name shows this summer:
- Tyler, The Creator – July 8 @ TD Garden
- Russ – July 18 @ Xfinity Center
- Davido – August 1 @ Agganis Arena
- Clipse (Let God Sort Them Out Tour) – August 3 @ Roadrunner
- Lil Wayne (Carter VI Tour w/ Belly Gang Kushington, French Montana, Tyga & more) – August 3 @ Xfinity Center, Mansfield
Crew Love Boston’s Annual Basketball Tournament
On August 9th, Crew Love Boston hosted their annual basketball tournament at Harambee Park. The matchups were Mattapan vs Hyde Park and Roxbury vs Dorchester — battling it out for bragging rights and the official Crew Love Trophy.
Each team was sponsored by Jaylen Brown’s 741 Performance, which was a huge look for the players and the community.
Hyde Park Day & Spark the Block
The very next day (August 10th), the city kept the momentum going:
- Hyde Park Day at Cleary Square brought together local vendors, residents, and community leaders for a neighborhood celebration.
- Meanwhile, Spark FM hosted their Spark the Block party — complete with food, drinks, vendors, live music, DJs, and performances. Big love to Ms. Hotsauce and her team for putting on another community gem.
Boston’s Cultural Meter Is Rising
From day parties to block parties, family reunions to live concerts, Boston’s mid-summer scene is proving that this city’s cultural pulse is stronger than ever.
It’s a blessing to witness. Who knows — maybe Boston is finally building that cultural rep. 😎
Photo Credit 📸 : @visitbostoncity @bostonwhileblack @mistersolutions @otgbillboards @blackmarket @zhanerenee1 @b.ent_ @russ @davido @clockworkmusicinc @2blunttv @741performance @hydeparkmainstreets 📸