8 Events to Honor and Celebrate Black History Month in Austin
Discover these local events honoring Black history, culture and community
Black History Month, observed each February, honors the contributions and achievements of Black Americans throughout U.S. history. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the commemorative month. In Austin, organizations are marking the occasion throughout February and into early spring with performances, exhibitions, walking tours and community gatherings. Below are eight events highlighting Black history and culture across the city.
Create & Heal: The Art of Gospel at the Carver
George Washington Carver Museum
Thursday, Feb. 5, 6:30–8 p.m.
The Carver Museum hosts an evening of traditional gospel music performed by the Huston-Tillotson University Gospel Choir. The program highlights gospel’s roots in spirituals sung by enslaved Africans and its lasting role in Black religious and cultural life. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Seating is first come, first served. Light refreshments will be available.
Solar Saturday: Black History Month Kick-Off Block Party
George Washington Carver Museum
Saturday, Feb. 7, noon–6 p.m.
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To mark the centennial of Black History Month commemorations, the Carver Museum will host a full-day, campus-wide celebration. Programming includes a Black Makers Market, panel discussions, hands-on art activities, dance classes, financial literacy workshops and live performances. The event also coincides with the opening of a new exhibition featuring works by artist Steven Bernard Jones. Free and open to the public.
Early Era Collective Presents “Say That Again!”
Dougherty Arts Center
Feb. 19–21 and Feb. 26–28, 8 p.m.
Early Era Collective returns with the third annual run of “Say That Again!,” a performance blending street and contemporary dance, spoken word and live music. The production focuses on Black identity, culture and community, concluding each night with an audience-inclusive freestyle session. Tickets are donation-based, with a suggested $35 contribution.
Black History Walking Tours With Black Austin Tours
Various locations and locations
Led by Austin native Javier Wallace, these guided walking tours explore Black history in Austin from the city’s founding through the present day. Downtown tours examine the history of enslavement, routes to freedom through Mexico, and Black-owned businesses and institutions that once shaped the city’s core. East Austin tours focus on the 1928 Master Plan, the creation of the city’s historic “Negro District,” and the changing landscape of Austin’s Black community. Additional experiences highlight East Austin’s role in the Chitlin Circuit through music, food and cultural sites.
Black History Month Celebration at Meanwhile Brewing
Meanwhile Brewing Co.
Friday, Feb. 21, noon–5 p.m.
Meanwhile Brewing will host a Black History Month celebration featuring a vendor market of Black-owned businesses, live music and food specials. Soul and R&B band Honey Made performs in the afternoon, while Distant Relatives marks its five-year anniversary with limited food offerings and a beer collaboration available in the taproom.
February Open House: Black History Month Exhibit Reception
The Cathedral
Friday, Feb. 27, 7–10 p.m.
Works by Audrianna Woods, Grace Nguchu and Hailey Gearo will be on view in “Unmuted,” a Black History Month exhibition at The Cathedral. The show explores themes of Black identity, memory and resilience across painting and mixed media. Tickets include access to the exhibition, an open bar and the opportunity to meet the artists.
100 Year Black History Community Cookout
Austin Public Library – Carver Branch
Sunday, March 8, noon–3 p.m.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library will host a community cookout honoring Black history and the library’s role in East Austin. The event includes food, music, dancing, games, crafts and activities for all ages.
RISE: Freedom Communities Festival
Pease Park
Sunday, March 29, 2–5 p.m.
RISE returns to Pease Park on March 29 with an afternoon dedicated to honoring Austin’s Black freedom communities. Presented by the Pease Park Conservancy and Art Is Cool, the family-friendly gathering brings together music, food, hands-on activities and community conversation. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in for a relaxed afternoon focused on connection, learning and shared history. More details to come.
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