Join Us at EmpowerFest 2026 💦
A free community experience designed to create joy, connection, wellness, empowerment, and meaningful moments through recreation, creativity, shared experiences, and community.
Created with teens and young adults ages 12–24 at the center as our VIPs, while welcoming families and the broader community to show up, support, engage, connect, and celebrate together.
📅 Sunday, August 30, 2026
🕒 Main Festival: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
🏀 Basketball Tournament: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Location TBA)
📍 Event Location: Johnnie B Wiley - Pending Confirmation
💦 2026 Theme: WATER EDITION
Sustain • Protect • Empower
💧 Sustain — Create opportunities, relationships, and experiences that continue beyond event day and support the long-term growth, wellness, creativity, and success of teens and young adults.
🛟 Protect — Prioritize safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces where teens, young adults, families, and community members feel respected, supported, and able to show up authentically.
🌊 Empower — Provide resources, exposure, mentorship, encouragement, and experiences that help young people build confidence, discover possibilities, and realize their potential.
FREE & OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY
[Register] [Volunteer] [Become a Vendor] [Sponsor EmpowerFest]
About EmpowerFest
EmpowerFest is more than an event — it’s a community-centered movement created to build safe, empowering spaces through connection, creativity, wellness, joy, and shared experiences.
Now entering its 5th year, EmpowerFest has welcomed 500+ attendees annually and continues to grow as a signature community experience intentionally designed with teens and young adults (ages 12–24) at the center of everything we do.
Originally created as a healing and connection-centered experience in response to the events surrounding May 14, 2022, EmpowerFest has evolved into a powerful platform rooted in safety, belonging, resilience, opportunity, and authentic community connection.
Today, EmpowerFest brings together teens, young adults, families, community leaders, organizations, and local partners for a dynamic day of live entertainment, recreation, wellness experiences, mentorship, resources, and opportunities designed to inspire growth beyond the event itself.
While EmpowerFest is open to the entire community, the experience is intentionally curated with teens and young adults ages 12–24 as our VIPs — creating spaces where young people feel celebrated, heard, supported, invested in, and empowered to thrive.
This year’s Water Edition introduces a fun, high-energy summer atmosphere centered around joy, movement, unity, and positive engagement, creating memorable experiences in a safe and welcoming environment.
Our goal for EmpowerFest 2026 is to welcome 800+ attendees and build a team of 100+ volunteers to help create an unforgettable experience rooted in connection, impact, and community.
As EmpowerFest continues to grow, we remain committed to strengthening programming, building strategic partnerships, and creating sustainable opportunities that create lasting impact for teens, young adults, families, and our community.
#REALTALK Principles
At the heart of EmpowerFest are the #REALTALK Principles — #SAFETY, #RESPECT, #EMPATHY, #LOVE, #HONESTY, #CONFIDENCE, #MATURITY, #FOCUS, and #EMPOWERMENT.
These values shape the culture of our event and guide how we show up, communicate, celebrate, compete, support one another, and build meaningful community throughout the entire experience.
Our goal is for every attendee — especially our teens and young adults — to leave feeling seen, safe, supported, valued, connected, and empowered.
What to Expect
🏀 Basketball Tournament (Ages 12–24)
💦 Water Activities + Summer Fun
🎤 “Shoot Your Shot” Pitch Competition
🎧 Silent Disco Experience
🎮 Gaming Experiences
🎨 Creative + Beauty Stations
🎪 VIP Experiences (Curated for Ages 12–24)
🧘 Sensory + Healing Hour
🍔 Food Vendors + Community Marketplace
🎶 Live Performances + Entertainment
🤝 Community Resources + Opportunities
⛺ Healing + Wellness Spaces
Activities and schedule subject to updates.
Ways to Participate
Interested in getting involved?
✨ Attend EmpowerFest
✨ Volunteer
✨ Become a Vendor
✨ Sponsor EmpowerFest
✨ Register for the Basketball Tournament
✨ Apply to Perform
✨ Enter the Shoot Your Shot Pitch Competition
✨ Become a Participating Community Resource Partner
All registration and participation opportunities are available through our Linktree:
REALTALK LINKTREE
Schedule at a Glance
🏀 Basketball Tournament
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
🧘 Sensory + Healing Hour
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
🎤 Shoot Your Shot Pitch Competition
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
💦 Main Festival Experience
3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Additional schedule details coming soon.
Community Partners + Sponsors
EmpowerFest is made possible through the support of community organizations, businesses, volunteers, and local leaders committed to investing in the next generation.
Sponsors, partners, and supporters will be announced soon.
Interested in partnering with us? Contact us via email theempowerfest@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EmpowerFest free?
Yes — EmpowerFest is free and open to the entire community.
While everyone is welcome to attend, EmpowerFest is intentionally curated with teens and young adults ages 12–24 as our VIPs, and our goal is for more than half of event attendees to fall within that age range.
Coming with family or friends? Bring a teen or young adult with you and help us create a day centered on celebrating, investing in, and empowering the next generation.
Who is this event for?
Everyone is welcome; however, the experience is intentionally designed with teens and young adults (ages 12–24) at the center.
Do I need to register?
Some activities and participation opportunities may require advance registration, click here to view all the current options via our linktree.
Can I become a vendor, sponsor, performer, or volunteer?
Absolutely — opportunities are available through our registration hub.
Will photos and videos be taken?
Yes. Media may include but are not limited to photography, videography, interviews, livestreaming, and media coverage.
Contact Us
Questions? We’d love to connect.
📧 theempowerfest@gmail.com
📱 Text: 716-427-8698
🌐 www.realtalkbridges.org
Presented by: #REALTALKBRIDGES Inc.
Event Planned by: The Natural Hustle Entertainment, LLC
Ready to Be Part of EmpowerFest?
Whether you're attending, volunteering, partnering, sponsoring, performing, or showing up to support — there’s a place for you at EmpowerFest 2026.
Join us as we create a day filled with joy, connection, opportunity, and experiences that extend beyond the event itself.