Black History Month Celebrations & Exhibitions Throughout the DMV & WV

It’s a month filled with celebration of Black art, culture, history, and impact. We welcome you to immerse yourself in this curated list of special events throughout the region.

From the sweeping historical landscapes found at the venerable Smithsonian museums to intimate gatherings in noteworthy local parks, there is something for everyone, at every age, with every kind of interest in exploring the rich and complex contributions and influences of Black culture in Our Nation’s Capital. Get out there and explore what this month has to offer!

Smithsonian: February 2025: African Americans and Labor

Celebrate Black History Month with Smithsonian events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts. The 2025 theme is “African Americans and Labor” with a focus on the various and profound ways that work of all kinds intersects with the collective experiences of Black people. There are events held every day throughout the Smithsonian network, including these highlights:

Black Diamond | S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW Washington, DC | February 4-7, 10:15 – 11 am
NMAACM Kids Story Time: The Way Champs Play | National Museum of African American History & Culture 1400 Constitution Ave. NW | February 15, 10:30 am – 12:45 pm
The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture Gallery Talk | G & 8th St. NW Washington DC | February 26, 5:30 pm
1965: Moments of Change | February 27, 6:30 – 7:45 pm (Zoom)
The Postal Museum | African Americans on Postage Stamps (virtual exhibit)
National Air & Space Museum | African Americans Take Flight (virtual exhibit)
HipHop and Rap Across the Smithsonian

Bold & Beautiful: After Dark | February 6, 7 – 10 pm

Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE Washington DC

Dive into the inspiring exhibition, “A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Art Education in Washington, DC, 1900–2000”, and honor the legacy of DC’s Black artistry and education through the decades. With music by Jerome Baker III, poetry making on a typewriter, and chocolate fountain with s’mores.

Sacred Spaces featuring Jabari Jefferson and curated by Martina Dodd | February 8, 12 – 4 pm

Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, 84 Franklin St. Annapolis

A tribute to local African American historic figures Harriet Tubman and Benjamin Banneker, this art installation narrates the connections between history and memory with the use of canvas works, sculptures, and oil paintings created from recycled books, clothing, and textiles.

Cheers and Beers: Black Brewers Tasting Party | February 8, 2 – 5 pm

MetrobarDC, 640 Rhode Island Ave. NW

Join metrobarDC and the teams at Black Brew Movement and DC Beer for a celebration of beers from Black brewers of the DMV. Your tickets gets you access to the afternoon tasting, a commemorative Black Brew Movement tasting glass, pours of each of the dozen beers, and discussion with the brewers, Black Brew Movement, and DC Beer teams. Pick one of two available time slots (2:00pm and 3:30pm), and enjoy your tasting in a 125-seat heated railcar bar & lounge.

Manumission Tour Company Black History Bus Tour | February 11, 10 – 11:30 am AND 12 – 1:30 pm

Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA

Ride with Manumission Tour Company on a 90-minute guided bus tour to visit various African American historic sites in Alexandria and hear stories of both enslaved and free African Americans prior to the Civil War as well as understand the stories behind some of Alexandria’s most well-known African American historic sites.

Great Performances at Mason | February 15 & 16

George Mason University, Center for the Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Dr., Fairfax, VA

Catch the performances of Versa Style Street Dance Company (Saturday, 8pm), named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, and August Wilson’s Tony Award-winning Two Trains Running (Sunday, 7pm), set amid the civil rights movement, the drama centers on Memphis Lee, an African-American diner owner whose business is set to be demolished for an urban renewal project.

For additional Black History Month events throughout Fairfax County, see more at Fairfax City Presents.

The Affrilachian Trail & Freedom’s Path: Stories of Courage and Liberation | February 22, 5 – 7:30 pm

321 South West Street Charles Town, WV

An introduction to the historical significance of the Appalachian region in African American history, the importance of cultural preservation, and storytelling in building civic pride. Followed by untold stories of Shields Green, John Copeland, and Dangerfield Newby, and African American participation in John Brown’s raid.

Artscreen “A Great Day in Harlem” | February 23, 7:30 pm

3740 Blenheim Blvd. (formerly Old Lee Hwy) Fairfax, VA

Directed by Jean Bach, this documentary compiles interviews with top jazz musicians in New York City in 1958 for a piece in Esquire magazine. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary/Features (1994), the film offers a captivating glimpse into a pivotal moment in jazz history. Doors open at 7 pm, and the film starts promptly at 7:30 pm.

See more events at ArtsFairfax.

DC Black History Film Festival | February 28, 5-11:30 pm

Lincoln Theater, 1215 U St. NW Washington, DC

This annual festival celebrates Black culture through art and film and is sure to educate, inspire, and entertain.

Finally, we’ll leave you with one last treat to explore, a celebration of local taste any day during Black History Month…

20+ Black Chefs and Black-Owned Restaurants & Bars in DC

Whether it’s a local vibe you’re craving or a flavorful step into another country without leaving town, these restaurants helmed by Black chefs or Black-owned entrepreneurs will give you a taste of a thriving DC-foodie scene that leaves you wanting more.

(And if you feel like trying out some recipes on your own, follow your tummy’s lead by cooking up some of these fantastic eats.)

Take a look at our website for all of our listings available throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.