Black History Month Events Around Greater Houston

Celebrate the lives, legacies and contributions of African Americans at Black History Month events happening in Houston throughout February 2023.

This February, Houstonians from all backgrounds can come together to honor the contributions of Black people in Houston, across the country and around the globe by taking in stories of lives and legacies, celebrating artistry, and taking the time to shop from local artisans and small businesses.

We’ve compiled a slate of concerts, arts performances, story sessions, panel discussions and more that celebrate Black History Month in Houston.

Plus, you can dig deeper into Houston’s community with 100+ Black-owned restaurants throughout the city’s neighborhoods, or by exploring the in-person and digital archives of the African American Library at the Gregory School.

2023 Black History Month Events in Houston

• Performing Arts Houston presents Dance Theatre of Harlem at Jones Hall | Friday, February 3 & Saturday, February 4 – The 18-member, multi-ethnic company offers a powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century, performing classics as well as contemporary works that celebrate African American culture. $34 and up. Friday 7:30pm; Saturday 2pm.
• Through the Lens of African American Women Film Screenings at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Friday, February 3 to Sunday, February 5 – This weekend film series highlights classic and contemporary films that consider the experiences of African American women. Screenings include Alma’s Rainbow (1994), The African Desperate (2022), The Watermelon Woman (1996), and Compensation (1999). $9 per screening. Times vary.
• Black History Month at Lone Star Flight Museum | Saturdays from February 4 to February 18 – On select Saturdays in February, Lone Star Flight Museum offers hangar talks and programming where visitors can learn about the lives and legacies of African American aviators, their contributions in the face of discrimination, and the Tuskegee Airmen. Included with general admission; $18; $15 for ages 12 to 17; $12 for ages 4 to 11; free for ages 3 and under. Times vary.
• Black History Month Story Time Series at Children’s Museum Houston | Select Weekends from Saturday, February 4 to Sunday, February 26 – Guest speakers from ABC13 join CMH in the Museum District for a weekend story time series where they’ll take kids through children’s books written by several African American authors. Guests include anchors Gina Gaston, Chauncy Glover, Melanie Lawson and more. Included with general admission; $15 for ages 1 and up. 1:15pm to 1:30pm.
• BLCK History Now! BLCK Market at Karbach Brewing Co. | Sunday, February 5 | No Cover – Close out the first weekend of Black History Month with a BLCK Market–run pop-up featuring Black-owned businesses, vendors and artisans at the Spring Branch brewery. 11am to 5pm.

• Educate to Elevate: Historic African American Educators at Rosenberg Library | Tuesday, February 7 | FREE – Join Sam Collins III in Downtown Galveston as he presents the rippling impact of historic African American educators in Galveston from 1865 to 1915, including Champion “CJ” Waring, John Rufus Gibson, Rev. Ralph Albert Scull, Jessie McGuire-Dent, and Viola C Fedford. 5:30pm to 7pm.
• Genealogy Workshop: The Search for Lost Relatives after Emancipation at Holocaust Museum Houston | Saturday, February 11 | FREE – Celebrate Black History Month at the Holocaust Museum with a three-hour workshop that explores the practice of formerly enslaved persons writing letters to the Freedmen’s Bureau and placing ads in newspapers hoping to reconnect with family after emancipation. Free with registration. 9:30am to 12:30pm.
• Black Cowboy Legacy Rodeo at George Ranch Historical Park | Saturday, February 11 – The 4th annual Black Cowboy Legacy Rodeo spotlights four generations of Black cowboys who worked alongside four generations of the George family, leaving behind a rich legacy of Black cowboy heritage that is unique to this part of Texas. Expect live entertainment, kids’ activities, food vendors, and rodeo competitions. $20 and up; $10 and up for ages 4 to 12. 4pm to 10pm.
• Black History Story Time: I am Enough at Fort Bend Discovery Children’s Center | Saturday, February 11 – As part of the Sugar Land children’s museum’s Black History Story Time Series, Grace Byers’ award-winning picture book I Am Enough helps readers learn to love who they are, respect others and be kind to one another. $15 for ages 1 and up. Noon.
• Black History Month Celebration at Avenida Houston | Saturdays from February 11 to 25 | FREE – All month long, Avenida Houston in Downtown is hosting a Saturday afternoon concert series that celebrates Black History Month, alongside an outdoor market of local Black-owned businesses and free family activities. Catch concerts on the live stage with performances from the worlds of Creole Soul, R&B, neo soul, gospel and Zydeco. 2pm to 6pm.
• 2023 Cactus Jack HBCU Classic at Minute Maid Park | Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19 – Debuting at Minute Maid, this weekend baseball tournament sees squads from six Historically Black Colleges and Universities in a nine-game slate over three days. Festivities also include a free college fair on Saturday, plus a HBCU celebration ($100), and a gospel breakfast on Sunday ($25). Tickets are $10 each day and offers admission to all three games that day; $27 for a three-day pass to all games. Games at 11am, 3pm and 7pm.
• From Africa to the White House & The Storm Is Here at Midtown Arts Center | Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 26 – Two original works by playwright Vincent Victoria form a double bill in Midtown, presenting From Africa to the White House, a collage of nearly forgotten African American men and women of the past; and The Storm is Here, which recounts the intertwining lives of two people during the insurrection of January 6, 2021. $25. Times vary.

• Young Audiences of Houston presents Abiyoyo at Levy Park | Saturday, February 18 | FREE – Learn about African customs and traditions with this performance from Twanda’s Theatre on Wheels, which tells a folktale story about a boy who plays the ukulele, a dad and his magic wand, and a hungry giant named Abiyoyo. 1pm.
• Moving Beyond Slavery: Identity, Culture & Global African History at SAiD Institute | Saturday, February 18 | FREE with RSVP – The Society for Africans in Diaspora hosts this conversation in West Houston with civic leaders about how to honor one’s ancestors by passing down a greater knowledge of history and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contributions of people of African descent. 6pm.
• Black Excellence Art Exhibition at Elevate Creative Studios | Sunday, February 19 & Thursday, February 23 – This exhibition on North Main features the work of 10 local artists that explore their own representation of Black Excellence. At the opening reception, enjoy complimentary cocktails and live music; or join in the nightcap session on Thursday for an opportunity to network with creatives and artists. $8 and up; increasing closer to the day of the event. Sunday 6pm to 10pm; Thursday 7pm to 10pm.
• Houston Grand Opera presents Giving Voice! at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church | Friday, February 24 | FREE – The opera partners with Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University for this epic concert that blends opera, gospel and spirituals. Hosted by KHOU’s Len Cannon, it features renowned tenors Lawrence Brownlee and George Shirley, soprano Nicole Heaston—who the New York Times praised for her “radiant voice,”—and more. Free with registration. 7:30pm.
• Freedom Walk at Community Park in Missouri City | Saturday, February 25 | FREE – Join with the Missouri City community for the second annual Freedom Walk through Community Park. Attendees walk a half-mile to Freedom Tree, where they’ll hear from local leaders, pastors, poets and performers, then return to the park for a celebration of unity and freedom. 10am.
• Black Literature Matters: Black History Bookfair at Five Central | Saturday, February 25 | FREE – Richie Fontane hosts a celebration of literature and culture at this book fair that highlights a range of perspectives and stories from Black literature. Shop from local Black-owned businesses, enjoy live music and brunch, and try your hand at free giveaways and raffles. 11am to 3pm.