Broccoli City Festival 2024: Unity Through Music and Culture
Photo credit: Brittney Sims
The Broccoli City Festival 2024 ignited D.C. with unity and celebration during the final weekend of July. This year's event marked a significant upgrade as it moved to the city's newest sports venue, Audi Field, home of D.C. United.
The festival has experienced tremendous growth since its modest beginnings in 2013, with a crowd of 5,000 at the St. Elizabeth Campus. A staggering 50,000 attendees flocked to the festival in 2024, underscoring the need for a larger venue to accommodate its expanding audience.
More Than Just Music
Beyond the music stage, Broccoli City Festival is a platform for Black entrepreneurship and education. While the festival delivers an impressive lineup of performers, it also features a marketplace highlighting Black-owned businesses and BroccoliCon, offering valuable insights into networking and entrepreneurship.
Founders' Vision
Brandon McEachern, Jermon Williams, Darryl Perkins, and Marcus Allen, the founders of Broccoli City Fest, have stayed true to their mission for over 11 years. They have managed to grow the festival while keeping the focus on community and the betterment of Black businesses and talent. This dedication has garnered attention nationwide, attracting visitors from various cities, much like other major urban festivals such as Dreamville, ROOTS Picnic, and Made in America.
Photo credit: Brittney Sims
2024 Highlights and Improvements
Expanded Venue and Amenities
Audi Field proved to be an ideal venue for the Broccoli City Festival, offering a significant upgrade in comfort and accessibility. With increased seating capacity, diverse ticket options, and a prime location between two metro stations, attendees enjoyed a seamless experience. The vibrant Navy Yard neighborhood provided a wealth of dining and lodging choices, a stark contrast to previous, more isolated festival sites.
A Star-Studded Lineup
The 2024 lineup did not disappoint. Day one featured acts like Bryson Tiller, Lil Yachty and The Concrete Boys, PartyNextDoor, and Megan Thee Stallion. Day two brought performances by Key Glock, Sexyy Red, Kaytranada, Victoria Monet, and Gunna. Special guest appearances added to the excitement — Funny Marco, Alphonse Nicholson, and Issa Rae introduced Megan Thee Stallion's closing performance. Offset joined Gunna on stage. Local talents like host Little Bacon Bear and Mouse Jones kept the entertainment flowing with activities like the Twerk and Kiss Cam, and DJ Jae Murphy kept the crowd energized.
Photo credit: Brittney Sims
Diverse Food and Comfort
This year, they featured plenty of food vendors, water stations, cooling fans, and restrooms, ensuring comfort for all attendees. The Food Village showcased a variety of tasty and healthy options, primarily from Black-owned vendors, aligning with the festival's community-focused mission.
The Broccoli City Festival 2024 was an overwhelming success thanks to the expanded and well-chosen venue, a stellar lineup, and an atmosphere that balanced fun with educational and business opportunities. This year’s festival success cements its place as a unique and impactful event in the Washington D.C. area. Next year’s festival is already in the works, and it will be exciting to see how it continues to grow
Brittney R. Sims is a music journalist and medical provider in the Washington DC Metro area. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Brittney now calls Prince George’s County, MD, home. She graduated from Howard University and George Washington University and loves urban music.