20 ways to observe Black History Month in Atlanta

February marks Black History month; it’s a time to observe and celebrate innovators and events that have shaped American history. Atlanta is full of things to do in observance of a community that has influenced culture, growth and metamorphosis throughout the city. Here are our picks:

Create Dunwoody’s Black History Month cultural heritage celebration

This free event is great for the whole family and includes step and line dancing performances, a fashion show featuring Nigerian designs, vendors, raffles, live painting and more.

Location: Marriott Perimeter; Date: Feb. 1; Admission: Free; Time: 2-5 p.m.; Website: createdunwoody.org/bhcc

Black History Month at Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Children’s Museum of Atlanta is marking Black History Month with exhibits and activities highlighting African American leaders in science, art, and innovation. Events include interactive story times, hands-on activities, and exciting science experiments.

Location: Children’s Museum of Atlanta; Date: Feb. 1-29; Admission: $17.95-$19.95; Time: Sundays - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Website: childrensmuseumatlanta.org/programs/black-history-month-2024/

Honoring Black Voices — Literacy Bingo

Try your hand at bingo based on books penned by Black authors or with main characters who are Black. Build your knowledge of Black history and the Gwinnett County Library system’s collection.

Location: Gwinnett County Library - Centerville Branch; Date: Feb. 3; Admission: Free; Time: 5-6 p.m.; Website: gwinnettpl.libnet.info/event/15364761

Drummers Circle for Black History

As part of its Pink Lemonade series, the Pink Lion presents the Drummers Circle. Come see this dynamic music group and enjoy the plush aesthetic of this club inside the New Black Wall Street Market in Stonecrest.

Location: Pink Lion Jazz & Event Center; Date: Feb. 4; Admission: $25; Time: noon; Website: freshtix.com/events/drummers-circle-black-history

National Center for Civil and Human Rights

The National Center for Civil and Human rights will participate in the Bank of America’s Museums on Us program Feb. 7 and 8 with one free general admission ticket for eligible cardholders. Current exhibits include the “Lunch Counter Sit-in Experience,” “Broken Promises: The Legacy of the Reconstruction Era” and “A Committed Life: The Morehouse College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collection.” Even for non cardholders, this is a noteworthy experience worth paying for.

Location: National Center for Civil and Human rights; Date: Feb. 7-8; Admission: Free-$28; Times: Monday-Saturday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday - noon-5 p.m.; Website: civilandhumanrights.org/events/museums-on-us-february-2026/

Documentary screening

Learn about how the Black press has upheld the fourth estate in this screening of “The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords” at Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation. These are largely overlooked stories chronicling how Black journalists sometimes risked their lives and livelihoods to do their jobs. Discussion will follow the film.

Location: Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation; Date: Feb. 13; Admission: Free; Time: 6:45-10 p.m.; Website: eventbrite.com

Atlanta Black Expo

More than 250 exhibitors and 10 speakers will congregate at this three-day event showcasing excellence in Black-owned businesses. Experience great food and a kids’ expo too!

Location: Georgia World Congress Center; Date: Feb. 20-22; Admission: $15-$65; Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Website: atlblackexpo.com

‘Catching the Moon’ at Synchronicity Theatre

“Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream” is a musical that conveys the story of Toni Stone, a young girl who became the first Black woman to play for a professional, men’s baseball team. Based on the novel of the same name by Crystal Hubbard, it’s a tale about determination, heart and drive.

Location: Synchronicity Theatre; Dates: Feb. 20-March 15; Admission: Free-$45 (5:30 p.m. Sunday shows are pay-what-you-can); Times: Tuesday-Thursday - 10:30 a.m., Friday - 7 p.m., Saturday - 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Sunday - 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Website: synchrotheatre.com

Blackout Open Market

Culture and commerce come together at this fifth annual celebration. A new gaming event, Spades N’ More, kicks this block party off this year; participate in board games and more. Stay for performers and vendors from local Black-owned businesses.

Location: outside Scrum-did-dly-ump-tious and Truck & Tap; Date: Feb. 21; Admission: Free; Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Website: lvilleartscenter.com

Bus Tour: Explore Black History

The Explore Black History bus tour rolls out of Lawrenceville Female Seminary at 10 p.m. for a look at Black history and culture in Gwinnett County. Register by Feb. 14 and bring lunch to eat at one of the tour stops.

Location: Lawrenceville Female Seminary; Date: Feb. 21; Admission: $11 (Gwinnett County residents), $21 (nonresidents); Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Website: secure.rec1.com/GA/gwinnett-county-parks-recreation/catalog

Bold Minds: Black Inventors Pop-in

Explore the Marietta History Center‘s take on Black History Month. This pop-in is free and includes crafts and interactive activities.

Location: Marietta History Center; Date: Feb. 21; Admission: Free; Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Website: mariettahistory.org

African folktales at Aurora

Storytellers Mama Koku and Chetter Galloway share culture through folktales in observance of Black History Month. Experience the African storytelling tradition in person and come away educated and entertained!

Location: Aurora Children’s Playhouse; Date: Feb. 21; Admission: $7; Time: 11:30 a.m.; Website: lvilleartscenter.com

Stepping into Tradition: The Divine Nine

This program honors the achievements of the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s nine Greek lettered, historically Black fraternities and sororities. Attendees will also learn about the groups’ current projects and see how future generations can carry them forward.

Location: Dekalb History Center; Date: Feb. 26; Admission: Free; Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Website: dekalbhistory.org

Cartersville Black History parade

This fifth annual event begins at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville. The parade proceeds down Douglas Street and onto Church Street, then Erwin Street, Cherokee Avenue, Bartow Street, Main Street and Tennessee Street before ending at the church. See floats, classic cars and motorcycles, a dance troupe, the Divine Nine, and marching bands from across the state and Tennessee.

Location: Downtown Cartersville; Date: Feb. 28; Admission: Free; Time: 1:30 p.m.; Website: business.cartersvillechamber.com

‘We Shall Overcome’ tour at Oakland Cemetery

Free tours during the month of February highlight the accomplishments of this famous cemetery’s Black residents. The tour, titled “We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights,” highlights the stories of people who overcame discrimination to shape Atlanta’s history.

Location: Oakland Cemetery; Dates: Feb. 1, 2,9, 15, 16, 21 and 23; Admission: Free; Times (in order of listed dates): 11 a.m., 11 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 11 a.m.; Website: oaklandcemetery.com

Black History Month Project help

Students and adults looking for help with projects centered on Black history can find it throughout the month of February at the Fulton County Library’s Peachtree branch. Learn to use the library’s resources fully and expand your knowledge about the subject matter you’re studying. Visit during set-aside times listed below, or make an appointment with the library.

Location: Fulton County Library Peachtree branch; Dates: Feb. 2, 21 and 23; Admission: Free; Times: 3:30-5:30 p.m.; Website: fulcolibrary.bibliocommons.com

Roswell Roots

The 25th iteration of this community-wide festival celebrating Black history spans multiple events organized into categories: education, art, cultural history and performance. Key happenings include History to Hiphop, a concert honoring more than 200 years of music; the Bulloch Hall Black Experience tour and a showing of the Bailey-Johnson School & Community documentary.

Locations: Varied throughout the month of February; see website ; Dates: Varied; see website; Admission: Varies; see website; Times: Varied; see website; Website: roswell365.com/categories/roswell-roots/

Brook Run Park art exhibit

The city of Dunwoody will again host its Black History Month art exhibit at the Brook Run Park Skatepark. See featured artists’ profiles online before you go!

Location: Brook Run Park; Date: Month of February; Admission: Free; Time: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Website: dunwoodyga.gov

‘Repossessions: Transforming the Artifacts of Slavery and Jim Crow’

This group exhibition at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art showcases Black artists’ commissioned work using artifacts from the Jim Crow and enslavement eras. The title of the show references the artists’ process in taking possession of these items.

Location: Spelman College Museum of Fine Art - CI&A Bank of America Gallery; Date: Through May 1; Admission: Free; Time: Wednesdays-Saturdays - noon to 5 p.m.; Website: spelman.edu

The Madame CJ Walker Museum

Take a little time to celebrate one of history’s most famous entrepreneurs. This ode to female self-made millionaire Madame CJ Walker explores her life and career in hair care. At the same site, there’s also a museum dedicated to the former WERD Studio, one of the country’s first black-owned radio stations.

Location: The Madame CJ Walker Museum; Date: Ongoing; Admission: $8; Time: Tuesday-Friday noon-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday - noon-3 p.m.; Website: madamecjwalkermuseum.com/