Celebrate Black History Month in Cleveland
Black History Events and Experiences for All Ages in The Land
It’s Black History Month in The Land, and while we celebrate Black history throughout the year, our city is hosting iconic events especially throughout February. Connect to the culture through dance, music, discussion and movies with offerings both in-person and virtual. Whether you venture out in the cold or prefer to stay home, we invite you to celebrate Black History in Cleveland.
Black History Month Performances
Queens Girl: Black in the Green Mountains
Karamu House | Feb. 12 - Mar. 8
Queens Girl: Black in the Green Mountains follows a young Black woman navigating identity, belonging and resilience as she comes of age in a predominantly white Vermont town.
Ancestral Remembrance Gala
Karamu House | Feb. 22
An evening of reflection and celebration honoring ancestors, legacy and Black cultural traditions through performance, ceremony and community gathering.
Community & Cultural Celebrations
Cuyahoga County Public Library
CCPL offers Black History Month programming across its branches, from hands-on art and poetry workshops to family-friendly game days and living history programs spotlighting influential Black figures.
Cleveland Public Library
Some Black History Month events include trivia days, bingo, crafts, and book clubs. CPL celebrates Black History Month with author talks, youth programming and community conversations, including keynote events tied to the Relay Cleveland exhibition and programs highlighting Black voices, wellness and leadership.
Major Attraction Celebrations
Cleveland Cavaliers Black Heritage Celebrations
Rocket Arena | Feb. 11, 19
The Cavs honor Black History Month with in-game celebrations on Feb. 11 and Feb. 19, recognizing individuals who have made lasting impacts on Cleveland’s Black community.
Cleveland Monsters
Rocket Arena | Feb. 20
The Cleveland Monsters celebrate Black Heritage Night on Feb. 20 with special programming and a post-game concert by hip-hop pioneers The Sugarhill Gang at Rocket Arena.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock Hall hosts a full-day Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 21 featuring Soul Train screenings, DJ sets, line dancing, live performances and month-long exhibits honoring Black artists and inductees.
Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art offers free guided Black History Month tours every Sunday and Wednesday in February, highlighting African American artists and works throughout the collection.
Film, Literature & Conversations
Literary Cleveland
Literary Cleveland | Feb. 20
Literary Cleveland joins the statewide celebration of Toni Morrison with a kickoff watch party and birthday reading, plus a virtual book club event honoring the Nobel Prize–winning author’s legacy.
City Club of Cleveland
City Club | Feb. 20
The City Club hosts On Morrison, a conversation with author Namwali Serpell on Feb. 20, exploring Toni Morrison’s influence, work and enduring cultural impact.
Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival x Cleveland Public Library
Cleveland Public Library | Feb. 21
The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival partners with CPL for The Black Is Beautiful Experience on Feb. 21, celebrating photographer Kwame Brathwaite’s seven-decade career uplifting Black identity and culture.
Neighborhood Events
The Nelson (off East 93rd)
The Nelson | Feb. 21
The Nelson hosts a community screening of Stokes’ Dilemma on Feb. 21, a documentary exploring Carl Stokes’ legacy and Cleveland’s role in the national civil rights movement.
ThirdSpace Action Lab
ThirdSpace Action Lab presents a series of February programs blending music, storytelling, food and cultural reflection, including interactive listening sessions and community-centered discussions.
