Sunday · August 23 · 2026
★ Held during National Black Business Month ★

Golden Hour Unboxed

A celebration of Black entrepreneurship
on the Eastside.

Bellevue Botanical Garden Free · All Ages Golden Hour → Twilight
RSVP Free → Sponsor This Event
About the Evening

When the sun softens, we show up.

August is National Black Business Month. When the sun begins its descent over the Eastside on August 23, something remarkable happens. The light softens. The air warms. People slow down — and they show up for one another.

Golden Hour Unboxed is a free, cross-cultural evening at Bellevue Botanical Garden where Black entrepreneurs, artists, families, and allies gather under the sunset to mingle, share, and rise together. It's a celebration of the many ways our community contributes to the Eastside — through art, food, storytelling, mentorship, and the everyday brilliance of building something from nothing.

This is more than an event. It's a platform — for emerging Black entrepreneurs to mingle with seasoned professionals. For families to experience cross-cultural exchange in real time. For artists, vendors, and community builders to be seen and supported.

Plan Your Visit

Find your way through the garden.

Golden Hour Unboxed is held at the Aaron Education Center inside Bellevue Botanical Garden — 12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA. Enter at the Garden Entrance by the parking lot; the Education Center is a short, accessible walk just past the entrance. Explore the full garden map and accessible routes below.

Come early and walk the garden. The Bellevue Botanical Garden is open to the public all afternoon — arrive whenever the light calls you, wander the pathways, and make an evening of it. The Aaron Education Center doors open at 5:30 PM for check-in; program begins at 6:00 PM.

Open Garden Map (PDF) →

Map & access guide courtesy of Bellevue Botanical Garden.

What to Expect

An evening, hour by hour.

Doors at 5:30. Program at 6:00. Twilight Social until 9:00. Programming designed for cross-generational connection, moving from afternoon light into twilight.

Melissa Margain

“Keep the Receipt” · Melissa Margain

Storyteller for the Convening · 6:56

Every entrepreneur has receipts, and not just the ones printed on paper. Melissa’s piece is about the unseen investments behind every dream — the sacrifices, the setbacks, and the quiet acts of faith that never make the highlight reel.

An author, poet and speaker who collects stories the way some people collect passport stamps, she is drawn to the beautifully awkward, deeply human moments we usually keep to ourselves. A U.S. Army veteran with a career in public service, she is as comfortable in a boardroom as on an open mic stage.

All night, no schedule required

Nineteen tables. Black-owned businesses and makers selling inside, community organizations out in the garden. Everything you buy goes straight to the person who made it.

Pack the Box, our school supply drive. The schools cover pencils now — what they don't cover is backpacks, water bottles, headphones, coats, hygiene items and classroom supplies. Gift cards are welcome and quietly our favorite.

The Black Hair Care Drive, out in the garden. Hair care products for young people across this county, now in its third year.

A donation station, staffed all evening. Cash or check. Gifts go through Eastside For All, our nonprofit partner, so your giving here is a charitable donation.

Get Involved

Find your way in.

Whether you're coming for the sunset, the connections, or to share what you've built — there's a path for you.

For Attendees

Black entrepreneurs, allies, families, multicultural neighbors, and anyone who loves a good sunset — this is for you. Bring your people. Wear something that makes you feel beautiful.

  • Free admission · All ages welcome
  • An evening to stand, stroll, and mingle — seating available for accessibility
  • Reserved parking at WISC (12241 Main St) · short walk to the Garden · Rideshare encouraged
  • Garden-casual dress · Shoes you can move in · Layers for twilight
RSVP on Eventbrite → See the Program
i — Attendees Show up.
Stay awhile.

For Performers

The lineup for August 23 is set and submissions are closed. Thank you to everyone who reached out — the response was more than we had room for.

  • Spoken word is part of this year's program
  • Professional photo and video coverage throughout the evening
  • We keep every submission on file for what comes next
See the Program
ii — Performers The lineup
is set.

For Vendors & Orgs

Vendor tabling and the storyteller roster are both full for August 23. Nineteen tables are confirmed — Black-owned businesses and makers selling inside, community organizations out in the garden. Come as a guest and meet all of them.

  • Twelve businesses and makers selling inside, alongside the program
  • Seven organizations and initiatives out in the garden
  • Storytellers wear a corsage — look for one and you have found a story
  • Everything you buy goes straight to the person who made it
See the Program →
iii — Vendors Build connection
under the sun.

For Press & Media

We welcome media coverage of Golden Hour Unboxed. The full press release and save-the-date image are public; the full press kit (high-resolution flyer, headshots, brand assets, sponsor and partner credits, and interview availability) is available on request.

Golden Hour Unboxed — Save the Date — Sunday, August 23, 2026 at Bellevue Botanical Garden
Save the Date · Public Asset Public-facing event collateral. Share freely. Download →
  • Full press release — live
  • Save-the-date image — public (above)
  • Event flyer (1080×1350) — public
  • Brand assets & headshots — on request
  • Interview availability with organizers
  • On-site media credentials by request

Press contact: Katoya R. Palmer · katoya@toyboxconsulting.net

Request Press Kit → Interview Request
iv — Press A platform,
not a passive showcase.
Stay in the loop

Get Golden Hour updates.

Event news, sponsor and vendor opportunities, and ways to volunteer, delivered to your inbox.

Get event updates
Community Initiative

Pack the Box.
Send a kid to school.

Bring back-to-school supplies and pack a box for a student in need. It's the easiest, warmest way to participate — bring a notebook or backpack, leave with new friends. Everything collected goes to the schools with the highest need, PreK through high school.

Whatever you give, whether supplies or a gift of any amount, is a tax-deductible charitable donation received through Eastside For All, a DBA of Alliance for a Just Society, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

See supply ideas → Ask a question
Behind the Evening

The team bringing it to life.

Producer, host, and event management — the people stewarding the evening from concept to closing toast.

Katoya R. Palmer
Producer
Katoya R. Palmer
Founder · ToyBox Consulting & Management

Strategist, cultural producer, and Bellevue-based small business owner. Builds at the intersection of community, equity, and execution.

On the boards of
Bellevue Chamber of Commerce SplashForward The Sophia Way
Besa Gordon
Emcee
Besa Gordon
Besa Gordon Media

Voice of the evening. Multimedia journalist and storyteller carrying the program from sunset to twilight.

Charmaine Madden
Event Management
Charmaine Madden
Event Management & Logistics Coordinator

Operational backbone of the evening — vendor coordination, run-of-show, and day-of logistics.

Follow the Build

We’re building this in public.

A first-year event, a City grant, and no safety net. Every week I post what it actually takes — the yeses, the declines, the budget math, the parts nobody puts on a flyer.

Updated weekly · @katoyapalmer
Golden Hour TikTok series — five clips from @katoyapalmer Watch the series on TikTok
Endorsements

In good company.

Golden Hour Unboxed is part of the City of Bellevue's Cross-Cultural Center without Walls — programming designed to celebrate the multicultural fabric of the Eastside.
NAACP State Area Conference Alaska · Oregon · Washington Sheley Secrest · President
Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Joe Fain · President & CEO
SplashForward Susan Pappalardo · Executive Director
Get involved

Take the stage.

Three ways to get involved with Golden Hour — an open-mic pitch showcase for Black entrepreneurs, a call for artists to perform, and a hand behind the scenes as a volunteer. All vendor, speaker, and performer applications close Monday, July 20. Earlier submissions get first look.

For Entrepreneurs

The pitch lineup is set.

Applications for the Micro Speed Pitching Showcase are closed for August 23. Three founders will each take two minutes on the mic, in front of a live audience and a panel of judges, with live feedback after. Come watch them.

See the Program →
For Artists

Take the mic.

Musicians, spoken word artists, poets, storytellers, and performers — an open call to bring your voice to Golden Hour. Original work rooted in the evening's themes of Black entrepreneurship, community, and belonging is especially welcome.

Submit Interest →
For Volunteers

Lend a hand.

Help the evening shine — setup, check-in, guest experience, and teardown. Every shift and role is welcome.

Volunteer with us →
Vendor Village

Also at the table.

Fourteen Black-owned businesses and artists plus six community organizations are joining us. Start planning your shopping trip.

Community organizations tabling at Golden Hour Unboxed — mission-aligned neighbors bringing resources, connection, and welcome to the Vendor Village.

Shop Vendors

Shop Black-owned at Vendor Village

Fourteen Black-owned businesses and artists tabling with us on August 23 — and two more who could not make this one. Shop all of them. Click any logo to learn more →

Abela Essence — abelaessence.com Click to learn more →
Ahoy Aura Travels Helping overworked professionals reclaim peace and joy through curated travel Click to learn more →
Blessed and Thankful Amazing products that remind you of how far you've come Click to learn more →
E'stique Boutique Eccentric trinkets — all for your spirit
Jungle Jordan Inspiring the next generation to connect with wildlife Click to learn more →
Kay's Paint Joint Visual Artist Click to learn more →
LaMecca Arts Art Beyond the Canvas Click to learn more →
MELA Gifts Handcrafted gifting, wrapped with love Click to learn more →
Mister Postman Access to art, business, and enterprise is our inheritance Click to learn more →
Noire Essentials Candle Co. A soulful, modern approach to home fragrance Click to learn more →
SWF-Seasons Clothing Luxury streetwear for any day, any season Click to learn more →
TEA MOSS SHOP Refresh Your Soul Not able to join us on the 23rd Shop them anyway →
The Sauce Sweet with a little tang — goes good on EVERYTHING! Click to learn more →
Thrifty206 Curated vintage for collectors, creatives, and everyday style Click to learn more →
TY Design Original art and design Not able to join us on the 23rd Shop them anyway →
Zara Jo Beauty Supply A Central District beauty supply built for Black hair care Click to learn more →
Everything is full

Vendor tables, storyteller spots and pitch slots are all closed for August 23. Thank you to everyone who put their name in — there was more interest than one evening could hold. The best way in now is to come as a guest, and there are nineteen tables waiting for you.

See the Program →
With Gratitude

Civic champions.

First voices in support — public servants who saw the vision early and lent their offices to lift Black Business Month on the Eastside.

Katoya R. Palmer accepting the Black Business Month proclamation from the Bellevue City Council on August 4, 2026
Proclamation Received · August 4, 2026
"Bellevue welcomed me with wide open arms, and made room for me at table after table. I want every Black business owner building in this city to feel that — because every entrepreneur deserves that kind of welcome."

— Katoya R. Palmer, accepting the City of Bellevue's proclamation declaring August 2026 as Black Business Month, delivered by Deputy Mayor Dave Hamilton on behalf of Mayor Mo Malakoutian and the Bellevue City Council.

Watch the moment on TikTok →
Proclamation Signed · King County
"Black Business Month takes on particular meaning on the Eastside, where a new generation of Black founders, makers, and small business owners is reshaping the cultural and economic fabric of our communities."

— King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, proclaiming August 2026 as Black Business Month and recognizing Black Entrepreneurship on the Eastside. The proclamation will be read at Golden Hour Unboxed by Angela Phan, East County Relations Manager, King County Executive Office.

Read the full proclamation →
King County proclamation declaring August 2026 Black Business Month and recognizing Black Entrepreneurship on the Eastside, signed by Executive Girmay Zahilay
Deputy Mayor Dave Hamilton City of Bellevue
Bellevue City Council Leadership
Executive Girmay Zahilay King County Digital Welcome & Signed Proclamation
Sponsors & Partners

Thank you to the partners lighting the evening.

Golden Hour Unboxed is brought to life by partners across sectors. Conversations welcome at any level — from presenting partner to in-kind contributor.

Become a supporter or sponsor →
Presented by Producing Partner
Programming Partner
Title Sponsor Underwriting Event Experience
Event Caterer Catering Labor Sponsor
Event Partner Marketing & Promotions
Tanise Love
Tanise Love
Co-Founder, Sync Seattle

Seattle-based speaker, social impact expert, and event curator. Co-founder of Sync Seattle, a community-driven events company that has hosted 125+ experiences connecting people to one another, to local businesses, and to Black-led causes. Through her storytelling, Substack (Vibing Through Grief), and greeting card line (Lingering Love Notes), she helps people feel seen and choose joy.

Derrick Love
Derrick Love
Co-Founder, Sync Seattle

Seattle-based technology and product leader with 20+ years shaping enterprise data platforms, security programs, and AI-driven solutions. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and co-founder of Sync Seattle alongside his wife Tanise, he is dedicated to mentorship and community servant leadership.

Media Partner Media Coverage & Storytelling

Converge Media is an Emmy Award‑winning, Seattle‑born producer of news, shows, and films that center Black voices across the Pacific Northwest — and they’re helping tell the story of Golden Hour Unboxed.

Nonprofit Partner Charitable giving & community programming

Eastside For All is our nonprofit partner for this event. A DBA of Alliance for a Just Society, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, they are an East King County organization led by and for Black and brown community members, organizing for a safe, welcoming, and just Eastside. They receive, receipt, and safeguard every charitable gift made to Golden Hour Unboxed. eastsideforall.org

Why This Event

Bellevue is one of Washington's most diverse cities. Intentional spaces for Black entrepreneurs to be celebrated and seen by their neighbors are still rare on the Eastside.

Golden Hour Unboxed is a free, public evening built to close that gap — for Black entrepreneurs, their families, and the whole Eastside community that gathers around them.

We hold this gathering in August, during National Black Business Month, because the timing matters. We hold it at Bellevue Botanical Garden because the place matters. We hold it as part of the City of Bellevue's Cross-Cultural Center without Walls because the structure of belonging matters.

This isn't a passive cultural showcase. It's an active exchange — Black entrepreneurs, allies, and neighbors sharing names, ideas, and how to find each other after the sun sets.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Still curious? Email katoya@toyboxconsulting.net and we'll get back to you.

Golden Hour Unboxed is free to the public per our agreement with Bellevue Botanical Garden. RSVP secures your spot but does not include a charge. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly for refreshments and seating.
Yes — please do! Bellevue Botanical Garden is open to the public all afternoon and is a beautiful place to wander. Arrive whenever you like, take in the pathways and plantings, and make an evening of it. The Aaron Education Center doors open at 5:30 PM for Golden Hour Unboxed check-in; the program begins at 6:00 PM.
Yes — all ages are welcome, and families are encouraged to come together. The evening is designed to work across generations. The Garden is a living collection, so please keep everyone on the paths and keep an eye on little ones near the plantings. There is no dedicated childcare or kids programming, but there is plenty of open space and room to move. Strollers do fine on the main pathways.
Golden Hour Unboxed is designed as an unhurried, flowing evening at Bellevue Botanical Garden's education facility — most guests stand, stroll, and mingle their way through the program. Tables are set up for vendors, food, and the Micro Speed Pitching Showcase. Accessible seating is set up inside the Aaron Education Center, and there are benches and seating areas throughout the Garden grounds. If you'd like to request accessibility accommodations in advance, email katoya@toyboxconsulting.net.
Because we are in peak summer season at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, we have reserved overflow parking for our guests at Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC) · 12241 Main St, Bellevue WA 98005 — a short walk east of the Garden along Main St. Look for Golden Hour Unboxed signage as you arrive. Build a few extra minutes into your arrival window to make the walk over comfortably. Carpooling and rideshare are still encouraged. We are expecting a big turnout, so if you can arrive before 5:30 you will have an easier time parking — and so will everyone behind you.
Yes. Most of the main Garden pathways are packed gravel built to meet ADA standards, so they work for wheelchairs and walkers. There are several disabled parking spots in the Garden’s lot, and accessible restrooms near the Trillium Store. The Garden does not have wheelchairs available to loan, so please bring your own equipment. Inside the Aaron Education Center we will have seating for anyone who needs it, and our team can help you find a spot. If you have a specific accessibility need, email katoya@toyboxconsulting.net ahead of the event and we will make arrangements. For the facility itself, the Garden’s own accessibility page is the best source: bellevuebotanical.org/accessibility.
Service animals are welcome. Pets are not permitted at Bellevue Botanical Garden, so please leave the dogs at home for this one. That is the Garden’s rule and it applies to every visitor.
Bellevue Botanical Garden runs its own site with everything about the facility — hours, maps, parking, accessibility, the Trillium Store, and what is in bloom: bellevuebotanical.org. We are guests there on August 23. The Garden is open to the public that same day, so other visitors will be enjoying it alongside us.
Pitch slots for August 23 are closed and the lineup is set. Three founders will each take two minutes, with live feedback from our judges. Come watch — it is one of the best twenty-five minutes of the evening.
Tabling is closed for August 23 and all nineteen tables are booked — Black-owned businesses and makers selling inside, community organizations out in the garden. We would still love to hear from you for what comes next: email katoya@toyboxconsulting.net.
We welcome partnership conversations at any level. Whether you're interested in being a presenting partner, programming sponsor, community supporter, in-kind contributor, or media partner — we'd love to design something together. Reach out to katoya@toyboxconsulting.net for our sponsor & partner outreach kit.
The event happens. Sunday, August 23 is firm, and the Aaron Education Center is indoors — so smoke, rain, or heat will not cancel Golden Hour Unboxed.

What would change is the shape of the evening. Much of the experience is built around being outdoors: the Garden, the patio, the way the vendor village breathes across the space. If air quality, heat, or rain makes the outdoors unwise, we will move the program and the layout inside and adjust the run of show accordingly.

If conditions look uncertain in the days before the event, check this website — it is where we post the most current plan, and we will send the same information by email and social media. Please check before you leave the house on the 23rd.
We are expecting a big turnout, and that is a good problem. Golden Hour Unboxed is built à la carte — there is no single moment you have to be seated for. Four things are happening: the Garden itself, the vendor village, the Micro Speed Pitching Showcase, and the Pack the Box drive. Take them in whatever order suits you.

The most useful thing you can do is spread out your arrival. Doors open at 5:30 and the program begins at 6:00, so the heaviest crowding will be right at six. If you come earlier and walk the Garden first, you will have a better evening — and so will everyone behind you. Wander, come back, sit down, go out again. Nothing is missed by moving at your own pace.
Bellevue Botanical Garden is a living collection and a public garden, open to other visitors that same day. Please stay on the paths, leave the plantings alone, keep an eye on little ones near the beds, and take your cups and plates with you. Treat it the way you would someone's home, because that is closer to the truth than a venue rental. We would very much like to be invited back.
Pack the Box is our back-to-school drive, and everything collected goes to the schools with the highest need, PreK through high school. Bring anything new and unwrapped to the registration table when you arrive.

Bellevue and most neighboring districts now provide required classroom supplies, so the most useful gifts are the things they don't cover — backpacks, headphones, hygiene items, adaptive and sensory supplies, and the classroom items teachers buy with their own money. Gift cards are the easiest of all. See the full list of supply ideas.
Garden casual — think effortless evening wear. Layers are recommended as the temperature can shift from the warm afternoon into a cooler twilight. Shoes you can stand and stroll in, since most of the evening is spent on your feet. If the sun is out, a parasol, sun hat or sunglasses makes the walk through the garden much more comfortable, and the light at that hour is worth being outside for. Check the forecast the day before — we post updates at goldenhourunboxed.com/updates. The botanical setting invites a celebratory, culturally expressive aesthetic — wear what makes you feel beautiful and yourself.
August 23 · 2026

See you in the golden light.

RSVP is free. Bring your people. Wear something that makes you feel beautiful. Plan to stay for the twilight social.

RSVP Free on Eventbrite → Become a Sponsor