Happy Nappy Day + Poets in the Park returns July 13 with hip-hop icon Kwamé, community poetry and natural hair celebration
The 23rd annual Happy Nappy Day – Poets in the Park festival will transform historic Gwynn Oak Park into a day-long celebration of natural beauty, music and spoken word on Sunday, July 13, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Founded in 2002 by loctician, entrepreneur and community advocate Malaika Tamu-Cooper, owner of Baltimore’s pioneering Dreadz-N-Headz Natural Hair Care Center, the free outdoor gathering blends a natural-hair expo with a live poetry-and-music showcase. Often called the city’s “Loc Mama,” Tamu-Cooper launched the event to create an inclusive space “where our crowns, our culture and our creativity could shine in the open air.”
“Happy Nappy Day has always been about embracing your own natural beauty — what you see is what you get,” says Tamu-Cooper. “On July 13, you’ll see Baltimore celebrating itself, outdoors, in rhythm and in community.”…