SAVE the DATE!
The EightDown™ Festival is a mecca for Black culture in Indianapolis. It’s a festival celebrating Black Unity and Excellence, taking place the first weekend in August (the 8th month) to promote community uplift within the Black community (are you Down?). "Ate down"; a slang term, most commonly used within Black and LGBTQ+ communities, is often used to express strong approval or praise. It's similar to saying someone "slayed" or "killed it," and is often used in contexts where someone has performed exceptionally well, particularly in areas like fashion, music, or performance.
Come celebrate with us as we highlight local entrepreneurs with over 150 Black-owned businesses inside the PMPHASE vendor marketplace, dance exhibitions and instruction from Power P Bounce & Co., @Steppin' with Shayla, G3 Steppers, Weight DRIP, Common Ground Urban Line Dance (CeeeeeGeeeeee)! and more on our "Culture in Motion" stage curated by Uzuri Asad.
The best DJs in the city will once again display their talents for bragging rights and a grand prize in the name of a beloved community DJ and friend in the DJ Skrill Memorial Heritage Cup Tournament in partnership with Vinyl Destination DJ Battle League featuring returning champion DJ Sounds by Cam, DJ Tone100, DJ Odessey, DJ Endy, DJ Like Mike, DJ Hustle Handz, DJ Hitman, DJ Oz and more!
Emcees will gather and display their lyrical prowess in not one but two Hip Hop Cyphers hosted by Jinx Eshaa and Joosi GotBars, and Artistry of a variety of mediums will be on display with live painting in our "Art in the Orchard" curated by Jamichael Kyng Pollard.
Annual Festivals
Naptown DONT SLEEP festivals are events designed to highlight Black Owned Businesses and give platforms to those who may not have the benefit of a brick-and-mortar establishment, website, or supply chain operation. Offering Black Business Owners a venue to network with other business owners and connect with the local community who will not only patronize, but support them beyond the day of the event.
Simultaneously, while galvanizing the Black Dollar, we utilize these spaces to offer resources and support such as mental health counseling, voter registration, health & wellness support (i.e. blood pressure checks, vaccinations, etc.), school supply giveaways and more.
We also use these spaces to highlight the arts through featured artists across mixed mediums as well as musical performers from throughout the state of Indiana. For more information on each of our annual festivals, click on the links below.
2024 Melanin in May Festival
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The Melanin in May® Festival
“A spring festival celebrating every shade of excellence, for those who flaunt their melanin with no apology.” – Dominic Dorsey (founder)
The Melanin in May ® Festival is a curated environment designed to be and affirm those who are unapologetically Black, while providing platforms to Black owned vendors, Black culinarians, Black musicians, and Black visual artists. -
EightDown™ Festival
The original Black Owned Business Block Party was first created in 2016. Developed as an affordable platform for Black Business Owners to connect with consumers interested in strengthening the Black dollar while cultivating a family-friendly, authentic, and unapologetically Afrocentric community environment. EightDown™ is that same festival evolved into so much more than a showcase of Black businesses, it is now also a proving ground for musicians, creatives and artists.
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Daptoberfest®
The Adinkra symbol at the top of the Daptoberfest™ seal is Gye W’ani or “rich living”. It translates to “enjoy yourself, joy of living, happiness and laughter.” That’s what Daptoberfest is all about. “Black Joy. Unfiltered. An unapologetically Black beer garden featuring melanin illuminated by the amber glow of hanging bulb lights, the roar of fire pits and the discriminate luminous hue of neon signs. All punctuated by the support of Black commerce.”
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The Black Business Bazaar
The first Black Business Bazaar was held in Indianapolis in 2016 and continues to be a popular avenue to bring together community members to celebrate the holiday season while giving back to others and supporting Black Owned Businesses. This event not only provides an opportunity to Encourage Black entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, but also health and wellness, and a celebration of all the melanated magic of the holiday season curating wonder in attendees young and old!
Interested in being a vendor for an upcoming festival?
Are you a Black Owned Business interested in being a vendor at a Naptown Dont Sleep Festival? We’re always looking for new #EbonyEntrepreneurs to add to our ranks! Please fill out the following form to subscribe to our listserve and get early alerts about all event registrations and happenings first! We hope to see you at a future event this year!
2024 Black Business Bazaar
Don’t Sleep! You’ll miss out on future events!
Upcoming events
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2nd Annual Black Power Couples Brunch
2.15.25 Living in the Moment Events
An event centered on the preservation and celebration of Black Love. Taking a cohort of Black Power Couples to share a meal and affirm and edify one another in another effort to fortify something so powerful that so many conspire to tear apart.
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2025 Melanin in May Festival®
5.24.25 11:00AM-5:00PM | CAFE
The fourth annual Melanin in May Festival ® will once again take place at the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside. Stay tuned as we announce performers and additional announcements regarding participants in the 2025 Black Owned Food Truck Battle Royale.
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2025 EightDown™ Festival
8.2.2025 1:00PM-7:00PM | Flanner House
EightDown is a festival celebrating Black Unity and Excellence, taking place the first weekend in August (the 8th month) to promote community uplift within the Black community (are you Down?).