It’s a centennial celebration for this year’s Black History Month.
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History has chosen “A Century of Black History Commemorations” for its 2026 theme, marking “100 years of national Black history celebrations and focusing on how these commemorations have shaped identity, fostered pride and advanced equality, highlighting the importance of preserving Black history within the national narrative.”
In February, events throughout South Florida are designed to honor, educate, entertain, engage and bring the community together. Here’s how you can get involved in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
BROWARD COUNTY
Deerfield Beach
The annual Black Heritage Banquet will honor those making a difference in the community from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Johnny L. Tigner Community Center, 445 SW Second St. Enjoy a cocktail hour, dinner and performances. For guests age 18 and older. Cost: $40. Visit eventbrite.com.
Fort Lauderdale
The city is organizing free events throughout the month. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.
- “Remembering Our Roots,” from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 7 at Riverland Park, 950 SW 27th Ave., will include music and dance performances from PLAY Fort Lauderdale after-school programs.
- Kijiji Moja (“one village” in Swahili) will feature tribal storytelling, entertainment, arts and crafts, plus vendors, from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at Lincoln Park, 600 NW 19th Ave.
- The Sistrunk Parade steps off at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28 with marching bands, step teams, classic cars and floats starting at Lincoln Park, 600 NW 19th Ave., then traveling east down Sistrunk Boulevard to Northwest Ninth Avenue. The festival will take place after the parade until 8 p.m. on Sistrunk Boulevard, from Northwest Ninth to Northwest 15th avenues, with music, interactive games, a kids’ zone, and food and merchandise vendors.
The South Florida Symphony Orchestra will premiere performances of Haitian American composer Nathalie Joachim’s Had to Be, which draws on Black Dandyism and African diasporic influences, performed by cellist Seth Parker Woods and Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances. Cost: Varies by venue. Visit southfloridasymphony.org. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. at the following dates and venues:
- Feb. 17 at New World Center, 500 17th St., Miami Beach
- Feb. 18 at The Parker, 707 NE Eighth St.,Fort Lauderdale
- Feb. 21 at Tennessee Williams Theatre, 5901 College Road, Key West
“Shifting Perspectives,” an art and photography exhibit, will be on display all month at History Fort Lauderdale, 231 SW Second Ave. It features works from artist Constance Ivana about social justice, the Black experience, women’s stories and nature, and also includes archival photographs from the History Fort Lauderdale collection and an art show and sale from Dillard Center for the Arts’ Advanced Placement program. Museum admission: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors; $7 for students (through age 22 with student ID); and free for members, military personnel and guests age 6 and younger. Visit historyfortlauderdale.org.
“Selma Is Now: The Photography of Spider Martin” is on display through June 27 at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. The exhibition features newly restored photographs documenting the 1965 marches in Selma, Alabama, from the James “Spider” Martin Photographic Archive at the Briscoe Center for American History in Austin, Texas. The center is closed Sundays. Free admission. Visit eventbrite.com.
Hollywood
The city’s African American Advisory Council is planning a Black History Month Celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2400 Charleston St. Theme: “Black History: Honoring Our Past, Defining Our Future.” The event will include a panel discussion and performance by orator Destin E. Ward with students from Bethune Elementary Performing & Visual Arts School. Free. Visit hollywoodfl.org.
Lauderdale Lakes
The city’s Black Excellence Parade & Festival is set for Feb. 7, featuring marching bands, cultural groups and community organizations. The parade steps off at 9 a.m. from Boyd H. Anderson High School, 3050 NW 41st St. After the parade, the festival pops up at Vincent Torres Memorial Park, 4331 NW 36th St., with music, cultural performances, food vendors and interactive experiences. Free admission. Visit lauderdalelakes.org.
Miramar
The fifth annual Afro-Carib Festival, featuring Steel Pulse, Shuga, Visions Band and more, will be Feb. 28 at Miramar Park Regional Amphitheater, 16801 Miramar Parkway. Doors open at 5 p.m. Cost: Free general admission, or $150 for VIP access. Prepaid parking is $12.50. Visit afrocaribfestmiramar.com.
Oakland Park
Soul Fest, a celebration of history, culture and togetherness, will take over Jaco Pastorius Park, 4000 N. Dixie Highway, from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 6. The outdoor festival will have food trucks, entertainment and a Kids and Family Zone. Free admission. Visit oaklandparkfl.gov.
Pembroke Pines
“Florida Talks: The Civil Rights Movement in Florida” will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Pembroke Pines Commission Chambers, 601 City Center Way. The speaker, J. Michael Butler, plans to “debunk the myth of ‘Florida exceptionalism’ in relation to the Black freedom struggle and demonstrate how this history remains relevant in modern America for better and worse,” according to the city. For guests age 18 and older. Free. Visit eventbrite.com.
Pompano Beach
The city is honoring the month with productions and play readings, art, music and film. For a full schedule, visit pompanobeachfl.gov. Two featured events take place on Feb. 21:
- The Tiger Trail Street Festival includes a parade, drumline performance, Kids Village, concerts, vendors and food, starting at 9 a.m. at the E. Pat Larkins Center, 520 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. Free admission. Visit tigertrailfestival.com.
- Exquisite: A Black Art, Food & Wine Experience will have a curated art showcase, performances and tasting stations from top Black chefs and mixologists from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. Proceeds support the Empowering Black Creatives Scholarship Fund. Cost: Tickets start at $71.21. Visit eventbrite.com.
Tamarac
Learn history through the Black Seminole Project presentation from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Tamarac Recreation Center, 7501 N. University Drive. Free. For more Black History Month events, visit community.tamarac.gov.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Boynton Beach
The second annual “Say it Loud: It’s Your World” celebrates Black creativity, expression and community through visual art, music, film and panel conversations from 4 to 9 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Boynton Beach Arts and Cultural Center, 125 E. Ocean Ave. Cost: $40.13. Visit eventeny.com.
Riviera Beach
The rotating art exhibit “Culture, Legacy, & Expression,” featuring works highlighting Black history, identity and lived experience, will be on display at the Riviera Beach Marina Village Event Center, 190 E. 13th St., from Feb. 3 to 28 (closed Feb. 16). Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends. Free admission. Visit Facebook.com/RBCRA.
Wellington
“AfriKin Art Wellington — A Century of Black History” showcases paintings, sculptures, photography, performance and interactive digital media exploring topics such as interconnectedness and diaspora, displacement and migration, regeneration and healing, and cultural continuity. Presented by the AfriKin Foundation, the exhibit will be on view from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 25, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 26-28, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 1 at the Wellington Community Center, 12150 Forest Hill Blvd. Free admission. Register at eventbrite.com.
Dress your best for the Black Luxe Picnic and Music Festival, which is set for 2 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd. DJs, bands, stilt walkers, food trucks and displays for photo ops are part of the event. Cost: Tickets start at $60.70. Visit blackluxepicnic.com.
West Palm Beach
“Wisdom and Witness: Honoring our Black Elders in Palm Beach County” will open with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, 300 N. Dixie Highway. The exhibit, on display throughout the month, “celebrates the remarkable lives of Palm Beach County’s Black elders, living and passed, who have shaped our community through their groundbreaking work in education, activism, public service, and entrepreneurship,” according to the nonprofit. Free. Register at pbchistory.org.
Black Art Matters will offer free live performances at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays in February at CityZen Garden, 400 Datura St. On the schedule: Teddy Derulo (Feb. 5), Taylor Ambrose (known as T. Rose; Feb. 12), the Palm Beach Lakes High School Choir (Feb. 19) and Shatayvia Dunn (known as Via; Feb. 26). Visit downtownwpb.com/bam.
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