35+ Black History Month Events in Greater Houston

Celebrate the lives, legacies and contributions of African Americans at 35+ Black History Month events happening in Houston throughout February 2024.

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.

2024 Black History Month Events in Houston

All Month Long

• Art + Africa: Who Are We? Culture, Tradition & Humanity at SAiD Pan African Library | All Month Long | FREE – This month-long exhibition at the Society for Africans in Diaspora Institute features work from artists Charles Washington, Gbenga Ayeni, Audrianna Woods and Uche James-Iroha, with each giving an artist talk on different nights in February. This year’s theme explores how culture and tradition, both important aspects of life, can also lead to conflict in society, sometimes catastrophically. Opening receptions held on Thursdays at 7pm.
• The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection at Holocaust Museum Houston | All Month Long – This exhibition celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black Americans from 1595 to present day, and is considered one of the most comprehensive surveys of African American history and culture outside the Smithsonian Institution. On view through Sunday, June 23. $22. 10am to 5pm.
• The Founders Round at Project Row Houses | Through Sunday, February 18 | FREE – On view since October, this special artist round at the Third Ward site salutes the founders of Project Row Houses and their invaluable contributions. Featuring curated artwork by each founder, the houses honor the legacy of artists Floyd Newsum, Bert Samples, Jesse Lott, George Smith, James Bettison and Bert Long, Jr. Open Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5pm.

• Vincent Victoria presents Love, Marriage & Heartbreak at Midtown Art Center | Thursday, February 1 to Sunday, February 11 – Culled from the slave narratives obtained during the 1930s and adding a modern backdrop, this play shares tales of love, marriage and the many heartbreaks experienced by enslaved African Americans in the American South before emancipation in 1865. $25; $20 for students and 65+. 8pm; Sunday 3pm.
• We’ve Got to Keep Moving at Ensemble Theatre | Saturday, February 3 to Saturday, February 17 – This production centers on a group of high school students about to perform a Black history play at their school. But after realizing their fellow peers don’t see racism and inequality in today’s society, they call upon their ancestors to tech a valuable lesson on Black history and the need to keep fighting today’s injustices. $10. 11am.
• BLCK Market: Black History Month at GreenStreet | Saturday, February 3 to Sunday, February 25 – Every Saturday and Sunday in Downtown, BLCK Market hosts a Black History Month celebration, offering a chance to honor the history an contributions of the Black community while shopping local businesses, checking out cultural exhibits, and enjoying delicious bites and live music. Limited free admission; $15 after that. 1pm to 5pm.
• BLCK Market’s BLCK History Now! Festival at Karbach Brewing Co. | Sunday, February 4 & Sunday, February 25 | FREE – More than 100 markets later, the team behind BLCK Market continues to celebrate Black-owned businesses with two dates at Karbach, featuring local vendors, food trucks and plenty of family-friendly fun, with appearances by a DJ from 97.9 The Box. 11am to 6pm.

Weekend of Friday, February 2, 2024

• Through the Lens of Black Women Film Screenings at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Friday, February 2 to Sunday, February 4 – This weekend film series highlights classic and contemporary films that consider the experiences of African American women. Screenings include Mountains on Friday; All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt and Invisible Beauty on Saturday; and Naked Acts on Sunday. $9 per screening. Times vary.
• Living History with Luis Padilla at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum | Saturday, February 3 – Celebrate the start of Black History Month with the unique experience of an historical reenactment by storyteller Luis Padilla as a Buffalo Soldier. $10. 10am to 4pm.
• Woodson Black Fest 2024 at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston | Saturday, February 3 | FREE – This third annual fest returns to CAMH to kick off Black History Month. Visitors can expect spoken word performances from former Houston Poet Laureates Outspoken Bean and Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, plus music, dance, a comic and illustrator panel, and more. 1pm to 4pm.
• Playwriting 101 with ShaWanna Renee Rivon at the DeLuxe Theater | Sunday, February 4 | FREE – The historic Fifth Ward theater is the site of this playwriting workshop, where ShaWanna Renee Rivon teaches the basics of storytelling, story arch, character development and building conflict—all based on Houston’s Black history. Participants must bring a laptop or pen and paper. Noon.

Week of Monday, February 5, 2024

• DaCamera presents A Little Day Music at Wortham Center | Wednesday, February 7 | FREE – This edition of the free monthly concert series celebrates Black composers and musical artists with a one-hour performance, highlighted by works from Chevalier de Saint-George, William Grant Still, Brooke Wyatt, Jill Scott and more. Noon.
• Black Geneology Workshop at Holocaust Museum Houston | Saturday, February 10 | FREE – This day of presentations and discussions center on plantation tourism and preservation in the South, how enslaved people are depicted at these sites, and how plantation records can help with researching the formerly enslaved. Free with registration. 10am to 1:30pm.
• Black Representation in Comics at Smith Neighborhood Library | Saturday, February 10 | FREE – Local comic book creator and publisher Lane Fobbs discusses Black superheroes, Black creators and more in this event in honor of Black History Month at the Third Ward library. Free with registration. 11am.
• The Negro Soldier Movie Screening at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum | Saturday, February 10 | FREE – This 1944 documentary showcases the contributions of African American soldiers to the American war effort in World War II. Following the film, museum staff will be on hand for a brief Q&A. Free with RSVP. 6pm.
• Souls of Black Houston at Hobby Center | Saturday, February 10 | FREE – Honoring Black History Month, this performance also commemorates the dance company’s 20th anniversary. It features Colored Carnegie as a highlight, telling a vital story of Houston’s Black history, in which Black residents petitioned for the building of the Houston Colored Carnegie Library at a time when no institution of its kind existed for non-white citizens. The night is rounded with performances of Sugar Shack, Black Bodies in White Spaces, and two alumni works. $38 and up. 7:30pm.
• Charlie Wilson in Concert at Arena Theatre | Saturday, February 10 – Just days after gracing the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a new star, the legendary R&B musician and former frontman of the Gap Band comes to Houston for a night of soulful hits. $95.50 and up. 8:30pm.
• I Went to the Dance Movie Screening at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Saturday, February 10 & Sunday, February 11 – Explore the world of Cajun culture and Zydeco in this Les Blank documentary from 1989 that recounts the history of the toe-tapping music and includes appearances from legends like Michael Doucet and BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, and many others. $9. Saturday 7pm; Sunday 5pm.

Week of Monday, February 12, 2024

• The Reconciliation at Fort Bend University Branch Library | Monday, February 12 | FREE – The Society of Justice & Equality for the People of Sugar Land hosts this commemoration of the 6th anniversary of the discovery of the Sugar Land 95. The reception features tributes to people ensnared in convict leasing, and update on the SL95 memorialization project, awards and honors for local justice fighters, and more. Free with RSVP. 6pm to 9pm.
• Rhythms & Reflections: Echoes of Black Legacy at Discovery Green | Friday, February 16 | FREE – DJ Flash Gordon Parks and artist Phillip Pyle II come together at the Downtown park space for a night of music and images that highlight the wards and contibrutions of Black musicians from Houston. Roller-skating club Daisies and Pancakes will also explore the Black cultural connection to roller skating in Houston. 7pm to 10pm.
• 2024 Cactus Jack HBCU Classic at Minute Maid Park | Friday, February 16 to Sunday, February 18 – The weekend baseball tournament returns, featuring 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.
• Black History Now at Bagby Park | Saturday, February 17 | FREE – Enjoy a full day of song, dance and education at this Black history event in Midtown. Highlights of the free, family-friendly festival include performances from the Ensemble Theatre, poetry readings, TSU Jazz Ensemble, a history presentation from Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, African dance and drums, a local market, food trucks and nonprofit vendors. Kids can also enjoy face painting, temporary tats, DIY stickers and chalk art. 10am to 5pm.
• Black History Experience at Children’s Museum Houston | Saturday, February 17 – Celebrate the African American spirit at this celebration of Black history with storytimes, interactive experiences, and musical performances in the Museum District. $17 for ages 1 and up. 10am to 6pm.
• Young Audiences of Houston presents Abiyoyo at Levy Park | Saturday, February 17 | 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.

• Afrobeats in America Festival at Discovery Green | Saturday, February 17 – This full-day festival celebrates the sounds and impact of Afrobeats in the United States. Head to the Downtown park space to enjoy performances by artists like DJ Jimmy Jatt, Kelly Hansome, Omawumi, Ajaeze and many more, plus a fashion show, food trucks, DJs and a screening of a Netflix documentary. $50 and up. 2pm to 10pm.
• Tour & Workshop: Photo Walk in Freedmen’s Town | Saturday, February 17 | FREE – Presented by the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, three artists on display in This Way: A Houston Group Show will take participants through the historic Fourth Ward community, providing an opportunity to take photographs while considering visual storytelling and the ethics of photojournalism. 3pm to 5pm.
• Black Excellence Art & Cocktail Party at Elevate Creative Studios | Saturday, February 17 – 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, photo ops, appetizers and more. $40 and up. 7pm to 11pm.
• Black Art Houston at Multiple Locations | Saturday, February 17 to Monday, February 19 | Many FREE – This citywide celebration of contemporary Black art is a weekend full of exhibition tours, interactive workshops, artist open studios and much more. The three-day event is held at many major institutions like Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; Community Artists’ Collective; Houston Museum of African American Culture, and many others. Most experiences are free, and you can view the schedule of events at the MFAH website or through partner institutions. Times vary.
• Artist Talk: Ava Cosey at Holocaust Museum Houston | Sunday, February 18 | FREE – The Houston artist is joined by Khambrel Marshall for a discussion on her work, “Ancestor’s Touch” on display in The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection. Free with RSVP. 2pm.

Week of Monday, February 19, 2024

• On the Verge Theatre presents Tied at Bering Church | Wednesday, February 21 to Sunday, February 25 – This moving play focuses on Daniel, who lost his daughter in the 1963 bombing that claimed the lives of four little girls in Birmingham. Houston playwright and actor Jason Carmichael takes to the stage in this one-man show that’s back at On the Verge by popular demand. $35. Wednesday to Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 3pm.
• King James at Rec Room Arts | Friday, February 23 | Ongoing – This poignant story of male friendship follows Shawn and Matt across 10 years, as they use sports to express feelings and ideas they otherwise couldn’t. The play explores their friendship through the lens of LeBron James’ career milestones. This production runs through Wednesday, March 6. $40. 7:30pm.
• Freedom Walk at Community Park in Missouri City | Saturday, February 24 | FREE – Join with the Missouri City community for the third 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 with a dance showcase and live music. 9am to 4pm.
• Black History Month Celebration at Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts | Saturday, February 24 | FREE – The Spring museum hosts a family day celebration with a storytime and craft from the Michelle Project, West African drumming from Joy of Djembe, and free art activities inspired by the work of influential Black artists. 10am to 2pm.
• Living History with Allen Mack at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum | Saturday, February 24 – Allen Mack, founder of Austin’s Living History Foundation, comes to the Museum District for a historical reenactment covering the Civil War Era through the Interwar Era. $10. 10am to 4pm.
• A Journey Through Black History with Dr. Jei Pearcey at St. John’s Downtown | Saturday, February 24 – This afternoon event features guided meditations through four periods of significance in African American history, helping participants to more deeply connect with Black history. Following the meditations, there will be a Q&A and fellowship to alleviate some of the emotional intensity, as well as a baked goods sale. Tickets by donation. 11:30am to 3pm.
• Black History Culture Fest at Avenida Houston | Saturday, February 24 & Sunday, February 25 | FREE – Close out Black History Month with a weekend celebration in Downtown Houston, featuring a local marketplace from BLCK Market, exciting live performances and delicious food. 2pm to 6pm.

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