Strategic Partnerships, Merchant Engagement

Harlem EatUp! is an annual festival, created in 2014 by Celebrity chef and Harlemite Marcus Samuelsson and veteran event marketer Herb Karlitz, designed to celebrate the food, culture, music and art of Harlem. As part of the festival’s mission and dedication to Harlem, the Festival donates proceeds from ticket sales to Harlem Park to Park, as well as Historic Harlem Parks, Citymeals-on-Wheels, and the Harlem EatUp! Foundation.

As Executive Director of Harlem Park to Park, Nikoa served on the Steering Committee for the festival; and led efforts each year as a strategic community partner for merchant engagement of restaurant participants, as well as vendor activation for The Marketplace, a non ticketed vendor pop up that takes place during the two-day outdoor festival featuring Harlem food and beverage brands from the Harlem Local Vendor Program.

The week long festival has grown its audience annually, attracting over 10K+ attendees.