It’s a month filled with celebration of Black art, culture, history, and impact. From museum exhibits to live theater, music, and film, there will be events for all ages. We invite you to check out our curated list of highlights this February, and we hope you will be inspired to explore what your communities have to offer.
Smithsonian
Celebrate Black History Month with Smithsonian events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts. There are events held every day throughout the Smithsonian network, including these highlights:
- Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask (film & discussion) | February 5, 6:30-9 PM | Anacostia Community Museum
- At the Vanguard (exhibit) | Through July 19 | African American History and Culture Museum
- Glenn Kaino: Bridge (exhibit) | Ongoing | Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Through the African American Lens: Our Blues Make Us Gold (film) | February 21, 2-4:30 PM | African American History and Culture Museum
- Innovative Lives: Dr. Harry Edwards (live online) | February 24, 1-2:30 PM | sponsor American History Museum, Lemelson Center
Cheers and Beers: Black Brewers Tasting Party | February 7, 3 – 6 PM
Join metrobarDC and the teams at Black Brew Movement and DC Beer for their 5th annual celebration of beers from Black brewers of the DMV. Tickets include access to the afternoon tasting, a commemorative Black Brew Movement tasting glass, pours of each of the dozen beers, and discussions with the brewers, Black Brew Movement, and DC Beer teams. Pick one of two available time slots (3 PM or 4:30 PM), and enjoy your tasting in a 125-seat heated railcar bar & lounge.

She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory | February 7 – January 16, 2027
Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum
Opening this month, She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory is a visionary presentation that examines the 250-year history of the United States of America through a Black Feminist lens. This exhibition brings together powerful, contemporary Maryland-based and internationally recognized Black women artists whose deeply personal and politically charged works bear witness to the past, illuminate its impact on the present, and conjure Afrofuturist visions.
Great Performances at Mason
- Virginia Opera: Intelligence | February 14, 7:30 PM & 15, 2 PM
Virginia Opera presents the state premiere of Intelligence, an operatic drama that tells a gripping true story of espionage, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom. - Les Ballets Africains | February 20, 8 PM
For more than 70 years, the riveting dancers of the national dance company for the Republic of Guinea have captivated audiences with their unique blend of traditional African dance, music, and storytelling. - Mason Bands Concert: Dope | February 24, 7:30 PM
Dope is a celebration of power, identity, and unapologetic expression. Featuring music by some of today’s most dynamic and visionary composers, this program amplifies Black voices and honors the trailblazing artistry that continues to shape the sound of now.
Living the Dream…Singing the Dream | February 15, 7 PM
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD
The combined Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel choirs of Washington Performing Arts, and the Choral Arts Chorus raise their voices in tribute both to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s achievements and to his ongoing, indelible impact. Through song, inspirational stories, and special tributes by community leaders, Living the Dream…Singing the Dream unites all who honor Dr. King’s ideals.
DC Black History Film Festival | February 20, 12 Noon – 11:30 PM
This year’s annual celebration of Black History through film, art, music, and culture will showcase 15 projects, comprising 2 scripts, 3 features, and 10 shorts from 176 submissions.
Free Admission | Reserve a Spot
Our Voices, Our Legacy: LCVC Black History Month Celebration | February 22, 2 – 5 PM
Our Voices, Our Legacy is a Black History Month celebration honoring the power of storytelling. Sharing our stories preserves history, reveals hidden truths, and inspires future generations. Through music, storytelling, youth voices, and community recognition, this event invites attendees of all ages to reflect, connect, and be inspired to tell their own stories.
Free Admission | Registration encouraged
Old Town Roots: 250 Years of Resilience | February 28, 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM
Alexandria Black History Museum
As the nation celebrates America 250, Manumission Tour Company invites you to look closer at the Port City of Alexandria. Beyond the nearby federal facades lies a 250-year legacy of Black courage, enterprise, and unbreakable spirit.

Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies | Through March 8
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC
This presentation of Tawny Chatmon’s work at NMWA marks a significant evolution in her photography-based practice. The exhibition debuts selections from her latest series, “The Restoration” (2021 to present) and “The Reconciliation” (2024 to present), which incorporate assemblage, embroidery, film, and audio narrative.
Chez Joey | Through March 15
Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage
The year is 1940-something, and Chicago’s night scene is sizzling. Enter Joey Evans. A slick-talking, velvet-voiced songster with dreams bigger than the bandstand. But in a city where the right connections mean everything, he is caught between a bright-eyed chorus girl and a wealthy baroness who can bankroll his big break—for a price. Inspired by John O’Hara’s novel, based on the ‘Pal Joey’ stories published in The New Yorker.
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