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.

What to Expect

An evening, five movements.

Programming designed for cross-generational connection — performances, ideas, and warmth that move from afternoon light into twilight.

i.

Sunset Sounds

Acoustic music, spoken word, and movement from cross-cultural artists — programmed for the garden's evening rhythm.

ii.

Storytelling

Personal narratives of building, belonging, and rising — voices from across the Eastside.

iii.

Micro Speed Pitching

Emerging entrepreneurs and artists share ideas shaped by their identities. Three minutes. One spotlight.

iv.

Pack-the-Box Drive

A back-to-school giving initiative powered by an upcoming nonprofit partnership. Bring supplies, leave with new friends.

v.

Twilight Social

As the sky turns lavender and gold, we gather for an unhurried social that closes the evening with warmth.

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

Musicians, dancers, spoken-word artists, and storytellers — the lineup is nearly set, and we have room for one or two more. If you're an artist rooted in the Eastside or building cross-cultural work, we'd love to hear from you.

  • Acoustic & lightly-amplified sets preferred
  • Programmed to align with City of Bellevue sound permits
  • Professional photo and video coverage of your set
  • Submissions close Monday, July 20
Get in Touch
ii — Performers Three minutes.
One spotlight.

For Vendors & Orgs

Tabling is available with limited seats — your chance to be present where the Eastside is gathering. We prioritize Black-owned businesses, BIPOC-led organizations, and partners aligned with the event's mission.

  • Nonprofits & community orgs: free tabling
  • For-profit businesses: email for details
  • Ten tables total — first-come, first-served
  • Vendor applications closed Monday, July 20 — Vendor Village lineup announced soon
  • Setup support and on-site signage included
Join the vendor pool →
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 an Eastside student. It's the easiest, warmest way to participate — bring a notebook or backpack, leave with new friends.

Whatever you give, whether supplies or a gift of any amount, is a tax-deductible charitable donation through our nonprofit 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Final supply list announced once our nonprofit partner is confirmed.

Learn How to Give →
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. Board member at the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, SplashForward, and The Sophia Way.

Besa Gordon
Host
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

Pitch your idea.

Black entrepreneurs — apply to pitch at Golden Hour's Micro Speed Pitching Showcase. A short window on the mic to share what you're building, in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. Emerging and established founders welcome.

Apply to Pitch →
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.

Vendor applications are now closed. The full Vendor Village lineup will be announced soon — start planning your shopping trip.

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

The Sophia Way Shelter · Safety · Stability Bellevue-based nonprofit supporting women on the journey from homelessness to safe and stable living. Katoya R. Palmer sits on the TSW board.
King County Library System KCLS · Makerspace & Business Resources King County Library System (KCLS) is one of the busiest library systems in the nation, serving the residents of King County, Washington through 50 branches and robust digital services. KCLS is committed to equity, access, and building strong, community-centered partnerships that reflect and serve the diverse communities of King County.
Want to table?

We welcome nonprofits, mission-aligned businesses, and community organizations at Vendor Village. Priority for Black-owned businesses and BIPOC-led organizations. Tables are free for nonprofits and community orgs; ten tables total. Applications close Monday, July 20.

Join the vendor pool →
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.

Deputy Mayor Dave Hamilton City of Bellevue
Bellevue City Council Leadership
Executive Girmay Zahilay King County Delivering the Digital Welcome
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
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.

Fiscal Sponsor Charitable giving & community programming

Eastside for All is our fiscal sponsor. An East King County organization led by and for Black and brown community members, they organize 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 — all ages are welcome. Programming is designed for cross-generational engagement, and families are encouraged to attend together.
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. Accessibility seating is available throughout the evening for anyone who needs it. 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.
Yes. Bellevue Botanical Garden has accessible pathways and seating areas. If you have specific accessibility needs, please reach out to katoya@toyboxconsulting.net in advance and we'll make arrangements to support your visit.
We're opening pitch participation on a rolling basis. Email katoya@toyboxconsulting.net with "Micro Speed Pitching" in the subject line and a brief description of what you'd pitch.
Yes — tabling is available with limited seats. Nonprofits and community organizations can table for free; just RSVP your table at katoya@toyboxconsulting.net. For-profit businesses should email the same address for tabling details. First-come, first-served, with priority for Black-owned businesses and BIPOC-led organizations.
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 is hosted in partnership with Bellevue Botanical Garden, which has covered options. The date is firm: Sunday, August 23, 2026. Weather adjustments to programming (covered staging, etc.) will be communicated via email and social media leading up to the event.
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. 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