Calendar: Celebrate Black History Month in Jacksonville with these events
Northeast Florida is rich in Black history, so it's no surprise to find a full calendar of Black History Month events going on in the Jacksonville area.
This year's events are wide-ranging, from big-name concerts to roundtables and fashion shows, festivals, luncheons and re-enactments. But February wasn't big enough for all of them, so there's a big Black history festival and parade booked for the first weekend in March.
Black history in Jacksonville: How did Black history designations go over in Jacksonville decades ago?
Vintage Times-Union: Pioneering Black pilot Bessie Coleman falls to her death over Jacksonville in 1926
Black History Month Read-in
Feb. 1 at the Hilliard Branch Library
Got a favorite passage from a Black author? You’re invited to read it (as long as it’s two minutes or shorter) and listen to Pastor Johnnie Green and others celebrate great Black writers. Info: nassaureads.com
‘A Place for All People’
Feb. 1 at Brentwood Public Library
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in Washington, D.C., in 2016. A traveling show of posters from the museum will be at the Brentwood library branch through February. Info: jaxpubliclibrary.org
Flight to Freedom Reenactment
Feb. 1-3 at Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine
In the days when Florida was under Spanish control, hundreds of slaves escaped from Georgia and the Carolinas and made their way to freedom at Fort Mose, the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. Reenactors show what life was like in 1738 through demonstrations and guided walks through the park. Info: fortmose.org
Celebrating Black History Month Through Fine Arts concert
Feb. 2 at Terry Concert Hall, Jacksonville University
Performers from JU’s College of Fine Arts celebrate Black History Month. Info: ju.edu
Black 365: Buy Out the Block
Feb. 3 at A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park
The Jax Melanin Market celebrates Black History Month with vendors, food trucks and a salute to Motown music. Info: melanincollaborativegroup.org
‘Classically Black’
Feb. 3 at the Waterworks, St. Augustine
Pianist Richard Alston performs a program of music by Black composers. Info: romanzafestivale.com
Black History Month show
Feb. 3 at Terry Concert Hall, Jacksonville University
JU's fine arts program celebrates Black History month. Info: ju.edu
Jacksonville Image Awards
Feb. 3 at the Wilson Center at FSCJ South Campus
Fifth annual ceremony honors members of Jacksonville’s Black community who have made a significant positive impact on the city. Info: fscjartistseries.org
Focus on A. Philip Randolph
Feb. 7 at Old St. Andrew’s Church
Former Sen. Tony Hill, Alan Bliss from the Jacksonville Historical Society, David Jamison from Edward Waters University and EWU student Travares Woodard hold a roundtable discussion on civil rights and labor leader Randolph. Info: jaxhistory.org
Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series
Feb. 8-17 at Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine
Music series brings big stars to the little park, site of the first free Black settlement in what is now the United States.
Common, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. $52-$139.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. $22-$79.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. $52-$139.
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, with Taj Farrant, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. $42-$99.
Keb' Mo', 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. $42-$99.
I Lived Here, As Well: The Story Continues
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in February, starting Feb. 8, at the Ximinez-Fatio House Museum in St. Augustine
Costumed actors lead a 60-minute tour of a 225-year-old boarding house to share the experience of living under slavery and immediately afterward. Info: ximinezfatiohouse.org
42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship Luncheon
Feb. 8 at the Herbert University Center, University of North Florida
Cheryl Brown Henderson, who was one of the children at the center of the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case, is the keynote speaker for the luncheon. Info: unf.edu
Bach to Blacknotes
Feb. 11 at the Waterworks, St. Augustine
Pianist Kyle P. Walker juxtaposes the works of Johann Sebastian Bach with that of modern Black composers Cecile Chaminade, Irene Britton Smith, Margaret Bonds, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Florence B. Price. Info: staugustinemusicfestival.com
Black Artists in the Collection Tour
Feb. 11 and 25 at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Staff members at the Riverside Avenue museum lead a tour of works by Black artists in the collection. Info: cummermuseum.org
Black Opry Revue
Feb. 15 at WJCT Soundstage, $50
Layna, Lori Rayne, Mia Borders and other musicians from Nashville’s Black Opry bring a little country to Jacksonville. Info: wjct.org
Black Professionals Roundtable
Feb. 15 at Davis College of Business, Jacksonville University
Black professionals share the stories of their success and network. Info: ju.edu
What's Your Hair Type? The CROWN Act
Feb. 16 at the Interfaith and SAID Lounge, University of North Florida
UNF's Intercultural Center leads a discussion about self-expression and individuality through cultural hairstyles in the workplace. Info: unf.edu
Kingsley Heritage Celebration
Feb. 17 at Kingsley Plantation
Living history demonstrations, ranger-led tours, performers and speakers take visitors back to the antebellum days. During an evening lumaria ceremony, names of those enslaved on the grounds will be read aloud. Info: timucuanparks.org
Black History Month Music and Trivia Night
Feb. 17 at Beaches Veteran Memorial Park, Atlantic Beach
Versatile Vibe will provide the music as teams compete in Black History trivia contests. Info: coab.us
Queen Quet
Feb. 24 at American Beach Community Center, Fernandina Beach
The chieftess of Gullah/Geechee Nation discusses "The Art of Survival from Carolinas to Florida." Info: eventbrite.com
Jacksonville Children's Chorus 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing' Concert
Feb. 24 at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church
The Jacksonville Children's Chorus performs a program centered around the "Black National Anthem." Info: jaxchildrenschorus.org
Young, Gifted and Black
Feb. 24 at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, $25
Young Jacksonville performers pay tribute to Young, Gifted and Black performers from the past, including Stevie Wonder, Destiny’s Child, the Jackson 5. Info: ritzjacksonville.com
Black History Movie Night
Feb. 24 at Jordan Park, Atlantic Beach
Bring your own snacks, blankets and lawn chairs for a free showing of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Info: coab.us
Black Student Union Fashion Show
Feb. 28 at Student Union Building, University of North Florida
UNF's Black Student Union teams up with apparel brand DTLR for a fashion show. Info: unf.edu
Black History 365 Parade and Celebration
March 3 at A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park
The Jax Melanin Market celebrates Jacksonville's rich Black History. Info: melanincollaborativegroup.org
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Black History Month 2024: Things to do in Jacksonville, Florida
