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With nearly 12,000 tickets claimed, The Home Depot Backyard’s 2023 BackYARD Fest celebrated the excellence of HBCU (Historically Black College and Universities) culture while also recognizing National Family Reunion Month through engaging and immersive programming. This free entry, family-friendly experience celebrated the cultural significance of HBCUs as well as the importance of family through the inclusion of art, live entertainment, local vendors, music, an outdoor movie screening of the hit movie Drumline, food, dance, and fun for all ages. There were also several HBCU, fraternity and sorority color-themed photo experiences that helped attendees create last memories for themselves and their families. Throughout the event, guests were able to celebrate their HBCUs with step shows, marching bands/drumline, fraternity, and sorority strolls as well as a vendor marketplace, music, and family fun for all.
Among the other activations was an outdoor skating rink, which was a first in the Backyard, that included an exhibition and youth instruction by the Atlanta Roller Derby, a basketball sport court activation with shooting drills by the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream Street Team, as well as a bike-powered spin art station sponsored by Piedmont Healthcare – providing attendees with a nice keepsake from the event. There were also several culturally significant activations, including a drum making and rhythm STEAM station provided by Brown Toy Box and an immersive DJ experience provided by Scratch Out Loud – which taught attendees how to scratch and spin vinyl records on the turntables – as well as a video gaming truck.
Additionally, we strategically partnered with black-owned businesses, particularly those with ties to HBCUs, to promote economic equity throughout the event. As a result, the event featured a robust vendor village and lineup of food trucks, while also showcasing black vendors, artists, and creatives. Among the businesses that we were able to partner with included WJZA Smooth Jazz 101/100, a Black and family-owned jazz station with strong ties to the local HBCUs in the Atlanta market. WJZA provided on-air promotional support of the event as well as on-site tent activation that featured giveaways, music, games, and more.
To tap into the cultural significance of the marching bands in HBCU culture, this event was highlighted by an in-person performance from the Atlanta Falcons drumline, which features several former HBCU band members. To celebrate the element of dance and stepping that’s prominent on HBCU campuses, YARD Fest featured a break dancing/step performance by the Dirty Bird Breakers while fraternity and sorority members in attendance were able to stroll to songs, like ‘Atomic Dog’ by Parliament-Funkadelic (synonymous with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.), that are commonly affiliated with their respective organizations.
Nomination Title: BackYARD Fest: A Summertime Celebration of HBCUs and Family
