Chicago’s Black Women’s Expo is rolling back into town next weekend, turning McCormick Place into a three-day hub for conversation, culture and a serious dose of Black girl brilliance. The 31st annual BWe runs from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, Aug. 2 in the North Building, with a lineup that spans media, music, politics and wellness. Headliners on tap include Joy Reid, Keke Palmer and gospel powerhouse Le’Andria Johnson, with the weekend unofficially kicking off the night before at a Phenomenal Woman Awards gala reception on Thursday, July 30 in the Sky Room at the Obama Presidential Center.
Main-stage headliners and schedule
Joy Reid takes the Main Stage first on Friday with “A Conversation with Joy Reid” at 2:30 p.m., followed by a live taping of her podcast with special guests. On Saturday, Keke Palmer grabs the spotlight with a 2:30 p.m. headlining conversation, and Le’Andria Johnson closes things out Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The festival’s schedule lays out the full slate of appearances and set times, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Panels, politics and public-health programming
Beyond the star power, BWe digs into politics, policy and health with a slate of issue-focused sessions. A Saturday Town Hall titled “Battling for Our Voting Rights” is set for 1 p.m., bringing together Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Melanie Campbell and Stefanie Brown James for a conversation on ballot access and political power. The expo’s broader mix of civic discussions and sexual-health education programming is outlined by Chicago Defender.
Wellness, family programming and on-site activations
Keke Palmer is also stepping off the stage and into the studio, leading an exclusive Pilates session for 100 attendees on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. Participants will walk away with a Humana and “Practice by Palmer” Pilates mat as part of the activation. Throughout the weekend, iHeart Radio stations including WGCI (V103) will broadcast live from the show floor, while the expo’s “extras” include R&B karaoke, a Kidz Korner, a culinary pavilion and a range of family-friendly stops for browsing and hanging out. A more detailed look at the activations and daily highlights is available via ABC7 Chicago.
Tickets, hours and how to go
The expo is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the event’s attendee FAQ. General admission and exhibitor passes are being sold through TicketFalcon. Organizers and local media note that half-price adult tickets are also available at Walgreens stores across the Chicagoland area, per Chicago Defender.
Now in its 31st year, the Black Women’s Expo describes itself as the nation’s longest-running exposition dedicated to celebrating Black women and their impact across culture, business and civic life. For Chicago-area vendors, performers and small businesses, it is both a summertime tradition and a major marketplace that pulls thousands of attendees to the Near South Side each year, according to Choose Chicago.
