The Southeast Tennis and Learning Center’s (SETLC) Annual Blacks in Wax living history program is one of the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation’s most unique and successful educational programs. The 2025 Blacks in Wax marks the 19th year of the program. This year’s theme is 1965 Voting Rights Acts & Now.

For this dynamic and inspiring showcase of young talent, we are seeking kids (ages 6-13) to transform into their favorite Black historical heroes. We will be selecting 20 children to dress as their hero and givea 2-3 minute presentation. Consider a Black history hero in one of the following fields: Sports, Inventors/Science, Activists, Movies, Arts (dance, song, poetry, etc). Think outside the box! To register your chld please send an email to Chayla.Ortiz@pgparks.com or call 301-586-2687 by 2/7/25. The program is FREE but family and friends must register to attend the presentation.

Parade: 12 pm - 1:30 pm at Annapolis City Dock@ The Alex Haley Memorial Statue. Click here for more information on Parade. Festival: 2 pm-9 pm @ Bates Athletic Complex.

Come out and join us for our FREE annual parade and festival at the Bates Athletic Complex. There will be one main stage, featuring headliners Beverly Crawford, Le’Andria Johnson, Vivian Green, Rakim the Rapper, Be’La Dona Band, and a host of local talent! Fireworks will immediately follow the show!

Get ready to immerse yourself in the infectious rhythms and vibrant energy of two-time Grammy-nominated Cha Wa, a musical force guaranteed to make you move and groove. This performance promises an unforgettable fusion of New Orleans brass band traditions, Black Masking Indian culture, and contemporary funk that will have you dancing at your seat from start to finish.   

Celebrate Juneteenth with the community, honoring freedom and unity in the city through music, food, and culture!

Join us for a day-long celebration as we gather with family, friends, and neighbors to honor the present and reflect on shared traditions and history.

Be sure to visit the gallery for our latest exhibition A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, D.C., 1900-2000, which traces the story of the teachers and students who made Washington, DC a truly unparalleled center for Black arts education.

Join us at Watkins Regional Park for a day filled with creativity and inspiration. Explore a variety of artworks from talented local artists, ranging from paintings to jewelry, photographs, and everything in between. Immerse yourself in the vibrant art market while enjoying live music. Grab tasty food and treats, some beer and wine, while connecting with your community!

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, this festival has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

The festival is open to all ages and will have several Activity Areas:

• Kid Zone: Free inflatables, rides, and sports clinics for kids.

• College and D9 Greek Row: Showcasing HBCUs and Black Alumni Associations to promote colleges and  if possible, offer onsite acceptance. D9 organizations will promote their respective organizations and chapter activities.  There will be a unity step show on stage.

• Marketplace and Info: Vendors will sell their goods and services, non-profit organizations will promote their services.

• Food Vendors: There will be two zones dedicated to local food and concession vendors.

• Amphitheater: Live entertainment.

• Artist’s Ave: Local artists will showcase their curated work for viewing and purchase.

• Physical and Mental Health:  This area is dedicated to groups focusing on physical and mental health services and will include demos.

Join us for the 5th Annual Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K

The Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K runs along the entirety of the Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail (see map inset). Definitely one of Washington, DC’s hidden gems, this beautiful off-road trail traverses between the Anacostia and Deanwood neighborhoods of the District, connecting five Civil War fort sites throughout. Race participants should be cautioned, that this is a proper trail run (i.e. dirt, elevation & not for the faint of heart).

Exhibit: January 27 – March 31, 2024 ; Mon-Fri : 8:30am-5pm; Sat : 9am-4pm

Public Reception: Feb 4, 2-5pm

The M-NCPPC Black History Program returns to Harmony Hall Arts Center with its annual exhibition in honor of Black History Month. For over 40 years, the Black History Program has worked to preserve, honor, and celebrate Prince George’s County’s rich African American heritage. The annual exhibition is part of this tradition. Come out and explore stories from our county’s past that highlight the challenges and triumphs of the African American community.

The host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut and New York Times bestselling author of The Man Who Sold America now traces the extraordinary lives and legacy of civil rights icons Medgar and Myrlie Evers, situating Medgar Evers’s assassination as a catalyzing moment in American history.

Celebrate the success of "Blackout," the collaborative effort of six Black, women authors. With its focus on proudly showcasing Black love in all its forms, and an upcoming Netflix film and TV series, this pivotal novel has been cemented as its own piece of contemporary Black History.

AGE GROUP: | Teen (13-18 yrs) |

Renowned photographer Steven Shames offers a presentation of rarely scene images featured in Comrade Sisters: The Women of the Black Panther Party. Co-authored with former party leader, Ericka Huggins, the book chronicles the history of women and their importance within this critical grassroots movement. Shames’ presentation will be followed by a conversation moderated by NMAAHC curator of women’s history Angela Tate with Huggins, and special guests as they explore how Comrade Sisters rewrites the record of the women who, as teachers, students, writers, musicians, medics, mothers, daughters, aunties, worshipers, factory laborers, grew the movement by taking the well-being of the community into their own hands. Copies of the book will be for sale and signing courtesy of Smithsonian Books.   

Register for Free Tickets

Service projects: Birthday cards for seniors and care packages for seniors.

Donations needed: mini hand sanitizers, mini tissues, lip balm, travel lotion, word find books, adult coloring books, and 5 pack colored pencils.

Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in an interactive discussion with Montgomery County Council Member Will Jawando author of "My Seven Black Fathers." Also, participate in designing buttons for a service project and watching videos about Dr. King's contributions to the civil rights movement. Seating is limited so registration is recommended.

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture - Livestream Tour with Robert Kelleman of Washington, DC History & Culture

Commemorating our nation’s true Independence Day.

Host: Rev. James A. Forbes Jr.

Mistress of Ceremonies: Tamara Tunie

Speakers: Martin Luther King III, Iva Carruthers, David Crawford, Annette Gordon-Reed

Performers: Wayne Brady, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joseph Joubert, Alicia Hall Moran, Aeolian Choir, Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, Batoto Yetu, Tiny Starr Ensemble

Honorees: Robert F. Smith, Sheila Jackson Lee, Bryan Stevenson

Presented by Healing of the Nations Foundation in association with Carnegie Hall

Watch Online at Carnegie Hall’s Facebook or YouTube, and join the conversation.

For more information: https://juneteenth-ny.com

New York Theatre Barn will host a free live stream of excerpts from the civil rights-themed musical Freedom Riders, in honor of the individuals who challenged the American South status quo when buses were segregated. The digital event will stream on NYTB’s YouTube February 24 at 7 PM ET.

The presentation will also include a conversation with the writers Richard Allen and Taran Gray and a special appearance by one of the last surviving Freedom Riders: Charles Person.

READ: How the Real-Life Freedom Riders Inspired a New Musical

The performance will feature Jennifer Sun Bell, Kevin "Blax" Burroughs, Anthony Chatmon II, Tyla Collier, Meagan Flint, Deon’te Goodman, Payson Lewis, Eboni Muse, Michael William Nigro, Ebony Pollum, Leonard Patton, Scott Redmond, Nygel Robinson, Clayton Snyder, Erin Vanderhyde, Brynn Williams, and Davon Williams.

WATCH: Broadway Alums Anthony Chatmon and Brynn Williams Sing 'You Are the Wind' From Freedom Riders

Freedom Riders has been developed with Barn Stage Company, New York Musical Festival and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. A previous showcase at NYMF welcomed the late Congressman John Lewis, who serves as one of the main inspirations for the musical.

Panel discussion: The History of Stepping with Step Afrika.

CLICK HERE for event on M-NCPPC Facebook.

We will delve into African American history by providing education and entertainment through music. The origin of African American music started to the beat of the drum. Join us for Uncle Devin’s interactive concert incorporating African American history, music, and instrumentation.

Ages 3.5 - 10

Fee: Resident $5; Non-resident $6

Performances: 10:15am-11:15am; 12:15pm-1:15pm

This powerful production will introduce audiences to poignant events and notable names of the Civil Rights Movement. This acclaimed show focuses on the tumultuous years between 1955 and 1968 and shines light on important milestone in our history, including: the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the SCLC, Brown v. Board of Education, the Sit-In Movement, the Freedom Riders, the March on Washington, and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Viewers can expect to meet important figures and hear inspiring songs of the era.

Recommended for grades 3-8

Tickets: $8

Acclaimed historian, and NMAAHC interim director, Dr. Spencer R. Crew will be interviewed by Juan Williams, co-host of FOX News Channel's The Five, about his recently published biography of America's first black supreme court justice. Entitled Thurgood Marshall: A Life in a American History, the book chronicles Marshall's legendary career as a civil rights litigator and founder of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Book sale and signing courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises.

Snow Date: Feb 15, 2020

Theme: "We've Come This Far In Our Genealogy By Faith"

Keynote Speaker - C. R. Gibbs, Author and Lecturer

A Free Conference Hosted by: African-American Special Interest Group; Washington DC Family History Center - Branch of the FamilySearch Library; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints;
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc.; State of Maryland & Washington, DC Chapters; Central Maryland; Prince George's County, Maryland; Montgomery County, Maryland
Agnes Kane Callum - Baltimore, Maryland; James Dent Walker - District of Columbia

Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye, which means "beautiful heart that sings", embodies the heart, passion, and activism of Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin combined with the Spirit and Determination of Fannie Lou Hamer.

To help celebrate National Engineering Week, NMAAHC will highlight the long lineage of African American engineers. From the earliest people of African descent using their knowledge of rice cultivation to the newest generation of technology prodigies and inventors, the contributions of African Americans to the nation’s prosperity, history and culture are significant. This program will introduce our visitors to the world of engineering and share how African Americans have shaped and influenced the world.

The City's MLK Program is organized by the Diversity Committee and is centered around the students who are finalists in the City's MLK Art Contest. Each of the student finalists will be recognized during the short program and at the end of the event, the contest winners will be announced. ** Please Note: There is a chance of snow on Saturday. If Prince George's County Schools cancel Saturday activities, then this event will be canceled.