What is M.A.N.iFest?

M.A.N.iFest (Music, Art, and Networking) is a two-day community event celebrating African American contributions in Fuquay-Varina. 

Founded in 2021 under the leadership of BrainSTEMology LLC (BSo), the event brings together local organizations to showcase history, culture, and artistic expression while supporting BSo’s mission to engage middle and high school students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics).

For the past five years, M.A.N.iFest has kicked off with a STEM event connecting students and their families with local business and industry leaders in STEM fields.

The main event honors Juneteenth through various artistic performances, offering the community a space to reflect on the contributions of African Americans following the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth decree.

M.A.N.iFest is guided by three key pillars:

Historic Preservation – Capturing and preserving the stories of African American legends in Fuquay-Varina and surrounding areas.

Education Enrichment – Expanding the STEM Networking Event to ensure year-round engagement and working toward a future legacy scholarship for students pursuing STEM careers

Community Engagement - Strengthening our focus on Edu-tainment, which highlights the impact of performing arts within the African American community and its connection to STEM fields.

Through these initiatives, M.A.N.iFest continues to celebrate culture, history, and innovation while fostering meaningful connections within the community.