February is officially here, and along with that comes Black History Month and countless cultural events in the surrounding area. Luckily for us, our proximity to large cities like Washington, D.C. and Baltimore means there are plenty of great activities that allow us to celebrate African-American culture and history.
1. Take Part in a Reenactment of the Historic Greensboro Student Sit-ins.
The American History Museum is allowing visitors to immerse themselves in this important moment from civil rights history. Taking part in this performance allows Smithsonian visitors to experience the same training session that the brave men and women went through in the 1960s in preparation for the protest.
This activity is free and will take place each Friday of the month at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the American History Museum in Washington, D.C.
2. Learn About Art Created by African-Americans
For students who are more interested in art and culture, this special tour of the American Art Museum would be perfect. This tour focuses on the wide variety of art by African-American artists in the museum’s permanent collection. According to the Smithsonian education website, the art in this collection shows a “complex mingling of influences and experiences including spirituality, music and folklore.”
This free tour is offered Feb. 9–13, 15–18 and 20–28. All tours begin at 12:30 p.m., and participants should meet in the F Street lobby of the American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. For a complete list of Black History Month activities sponsored by the Smithsonian, visit smithsonianeducation.org.
3. Attend a Live Musical Performance.
Attending a musical performance is another great way to take part in Black History Month. The D.C. Public Library will host a concert featuring the Michael Brookins Jazz Band. Enjoy a night out and some good music while also celebrating African-American culture. The free performance will be held Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C.
4. Enjoy an Evening at the National Aquarium.
As part of the Cultural Series, the National Aquarium will be offering a wide variety of activities in honor of Black History Month. The evening will include dancing to live R&B and jazz music provided by Eugene Chapman, performances by Dance Baltimore, and an original play performed by the Aquarium on Wheels program.
All of these activities are included with the $13.95 National Aquarium admission fee, and the event will take place Feb. 7 from 5–9 p.m. at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Md. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit aqua.org.
5. Spend a Day with Your Family at the Walter’s Art Museum.
The African-American Family Festival is a great way for people of all ages to take part in Black History Month. This day of embracing African-American culture will include music, slam poetry performances and interactive art activities. Best of all, these events are completely free!
The African-American Family Festival will take place on Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. at the Walter’s Art Museum in Baltimore, Md.
Black History Month is the perfect time to take advantage of all of the cultural activities in nearby Baltimore and Washington, D.C. All of these events are a great way to treat yourself to a fun day away from school while also honoring African-American culture.