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Photographer Nichelle Short captured the magic and electric atmosphere at the day-long celebration July 13 at Riverside Park.

Attendees brave the heat during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Drumline members perform for attendees during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

The main stage is seen during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Attendees enjoy a performance during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Attendees dance to old-school R&B music from DJ SoundsByCam during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

A vocalist with Soul Lounge Band impresses the crowd with gospel notes and riffs to popular R&B songs during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Attendees pose for a photo under a decorative arch during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Model Keyona Young poses with a friend at the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Musician Austin Dean Hashford performs for a packed crowd during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

GANGGANG co-founder Malina Simone Bacon jams with family at the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Soul Lounge Band members perform a set during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

DJ 5laphouse is seen on the auxiliary stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Vendor Avenue is filled with attendees at BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Hosts JBland and Mariah Ivey learn how to groove from young attendees on the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Headliner BJ the Chicago Kid heats up the main stage.

Auxiliary stage host Lena Pringle enjoys a performance during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Attendees cool off in an IndyGo cooling station during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

Attendees line dance to “Can’t Get Enough” by Tamia at the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis. Credit: Nichelle Short for Mirror Indy

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See faces of glee at BLACK: A Festival of Joy

by Nichelle Short, Mirror Indy
July 15, 2024

<h1>See faces of glee at BLACK: A Festival of Joy</h1>
<p class="byline">by Nichelle Short, Mirror Indy <br />July 15, 2024</p>

<p>Photographer Nichelle Short captured the magic and electric atmosphere at the day-long celebration July 13 at Riverside Park.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy6-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28227" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees brave the heat during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy16-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28237" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Drumline members perform for attendees during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy22-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28243" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The main stage is seen during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy7-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28228" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees enjoy a performance during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy12-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28233" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees dance to old-school R&amp;B music from DJ SoundsByCam during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy17-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28238" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A vocalist with Soul Lounge Band impresses the crowd with gospel notes and riffs to popular R&amp;B songs during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy10-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28231" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees pose for a photo under a decorative arch during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy1-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28222" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Model Keyona Young poses with a friend at the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy13-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28234" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Musician Austin Dean Hashford performs for a packed crowd during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy18-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28239" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">GANGGANG co-founder Malina Simone Bacon jams with family at the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy23-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28244" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Soul Lounge Band members perform a set during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy14-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28235" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">DJ 5laphouse is seen on the auxiliary stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy24-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28245" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vendor Avenue is filled with attendees at BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy21-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28242" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hosts JBland and Mariah Ivey learn how to groove from young attendees on the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy19-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28240" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Headliner BJ the Chicago Kid heats up the main stage.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy5-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28226" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ajna Surah and Lacoya Love pose at the main stage.</figcaption></figure>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy20-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28241" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Auxiliary stage host Lena Pringle enjoys a performance during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy11-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28232" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees cool off in an IndyGo cooling station during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK_A_Festival_of_Joy9-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28230" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees line dance to “Can’t Get Enough” by Tamia at the main stage during BLACK: A Festival of Joy on July 13, 2024, at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/see-faces-of-glee-at-black-a-festival-of-joy/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p>
&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=28247&amp;amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mirrorindy.org/see-faces-of-glee-at-black-a-festival-of-joy/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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