February is Black History Month, and Black history and culture are essential parts of Montgomery County, Maryland’s heritage. Take the opportunity to honor and learn more about Montgomery County’s Black heritage through these events happening all month long.
Take a Black History Road Trip
All month long throughout Montgomery County
Stories of the Underground Railroad are rich and rooted deep into Montgomery County. The multitude of historic sites and experiences make for an interesting self-guided road trip throughout the county to help understand the trials, tribulations, and heroism of the freedom seekers.
Black History Month Drop in Activity
February 1-28 from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Gaithersburg Community Museum
Head to the Gaithersburg Community Museum throughout the month of February and participate in a variety of engaging activities. Children can see a special poster exhibit celebrating Black heroes from Maryland. This is free to the community.
Black History Month Family Day at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
February 8, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
Families can drop-in to Black History Month Family Day at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park. Participate in hands-on activities including compass making, share what freedom means to you, map your own family tree, and more. Families can also listen in on storytime at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. The cost is free.
Black Alley
February 8 from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
BlackRock Center for the Arts
Black Alley has taken the finest ingredients of trap, rock, and go-go to create their own genre-bending sound called “Hood Rock”.
African American Family Stories & Poetry
February 9 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Olney Library
Join the Olney Library for a Black History Month Celebration featuring writer Francene Hill and poet Linda R. Moore as they share powerful family history, stories, and poetry. No registration is required but seating is limited.
MLK Day Chamber Music Concert
February 9 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Calvary Lutheran Church
The DC Chamber Musicians return to present their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, featuring works by Black composers. The concert includes the premiere of a lovely string quartet by a young musician member of DCCM.
Pilates Stretch with Debbie Clark
February 9 and February 16 from 9:15 am to 10:30 am
Virtual
This is a music-driven fusion of a mat-based pilates workout focusing on core strength, flexibility, balance, and overall body awareness. The class will lengthen and strengthen the muscles while giving you a full-body workout. Help you focus your mind, and send you back into your day feeling fully alive again.
Kid Museum Black History Month Celebration
February 9 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Kid Museum
Join the Kid Museum to honor and celebrate Black cultures and the contributions of Black artists, makers, scientists, engineers, and innovators at our Black History Month Community Celebration on February 9th from 10 am to 4 pm.
Afrobeat with Heinz Adjakwah
February 14 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Maryland Youth Ballet
Afrobeat Dance is a genre of dance created to accompany the upbeat and energetic rhythm of Afrobeat music, which originates from Sub-Saharan Africa, predominately West Africa. It is an ever-changing dance form with influences from traditional African dance styles, African street dance, and Hip Hop. New routines and moves continue to be created and inspire dancers of all ages/backgrounds everywhere.
Harmony & Heritage: A Black History Month Celebration of Love and Community
February 15 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Glen Echo Park, Bach Room
Join the Washington Conservatory of Music at Glen Echo Park where they’ll celebrate Black History Month in style. Honor the rich heritage and accomplishments of Black Americans while enjoying music, art, and good company. Listen to powerful stories of hope and resiliency, and weave a musical narrative that celebrates the spiritual
Dunnie Onasanya Choose Your Joy
January 18 – February 16 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
BlackRock Center for the Arts
First-generation Nigerian American painter and art educator, Dunnie Onasanya, presents an exhibition of new works alongside a series of Black History Month workshops and events. Her work is heavily influenced by her West African heritage, her faith, and an intuitive approach pulling from abstract expressionism, African masks, hamsas, and other historic symbols using bold colors, metallic paints, golf leaf, crushed glass, and jewels.
Thurgood Marshall: A Trail-Blazing Civil Rights Victory in Montgomery County
February 20 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Josiah Henson Museum & Park
This lecture series features local historians, educators, and more who will share their knowledge of local and regional history. Listen to an illustrated talk about civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall who delivered an early blow to school segregation right here in Montgomery County. This little-known legal case is often seen as the first step in Marshall’s successful drive to have separate schools for white and black children declared unconstitutional. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Admission is $5 per person.
Black History Month Workshop
February 22, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Hammer & Stain Rockville
Create your own customizable self-affirmations at Hammer & Stain Rockville. Choose from over 45 stencils to craft your masterpiece. The cost is $45 per person. Guests must register no later than February 15.
Black History Month Family Day at Josiah Henson Museum & Park
February 22 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Josiah Henson Museum & Park
Visit the Josiah Henson Museum & Park for educational, hands-on activities that demonstrate what a child’s life was like in Dawn, the settlement he created after taking his family to Canada via the Underground Railroad. The family-friendly event is appropriate for all ages. The cost is free with paid admission, $4 for children and seniors, and $5 for adults. Tickets available onsite.
Learn about Step Dancing
February 22 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Olney Library
Stepping is a complex synchronized dance-like performance that involves clapping, body slapping, vocalizations, and dramatic movements. The Howard University Step Team will explain the history of step dancing and provide a step-dancing demonstration. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to step dance. Registration is not required but seating is limited.
Film: Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round
February 22 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Kensington Park Library
Watch a documentary film covering the 1960 protests resulting in the desegregation of the Glen Echo Amusement Park. Come and witness the historical treasure of a prominent local cultural institution in honor of Black History Month. No registration is required, it’s free to the public.
Lalah Hathaway
February 22 at 8:00 pm
The Music Center at Strathmore
Five-time Grammy Award winner Lalah Hathaway blends soul, R&B, and jazz on her latest album VANTABLACK, showcasing her most powerful work yet. Released in June 2023, the album features WILLOW, Rapsody, Common, Michael McDonald, and others and explores the multiplicity of Black identity.
Blacktastic: Children’s Festival of Maryland Black History & Culture
February 26-28 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Virtual
Blacktastic features a collection of performances and segments by A4L teaching artists that bring students on a journey through time to learn about important historic Black Marylanders: minister Josiah Henson, abolitionist Harriet Tubman, unionist Isaac Myers, and film producer Sidney Clifton, and more.
Black History Month: A Discussion Across Genres
February 27 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
People’s Book
Listen to a panel discussion moderated by Michael King at the People’s Book in Takoma Park, MD.
Umfundalai with Miriah Auth
February 28 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Maryland Youth Ballet
Umfundalai is a Contemporary African dance technique that includes movement vocabulary from dance traditions throughout the Diaspora presented in a way which makes it accessible for anyone to perform traditional African dances.
