Black History Month Events – Williamsburg, Yorktown, Newport News and Hampton Roads – February 2025

Celebrate Black History Month in the Historic Triangle and Hampton Roads by visiting the following events

Events are across Hampton Roads including Williamsburg, James City County, Yorktown, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach!

2025 Black Artist Showcase at Jamestown Settlement

The 2025 Black Artist Showcase at Jamestown Settlement is connecting the past and present through contemporary art and 17th-century history. The showcase will be open daily in February from 8 am-5 pm.

Plan to attend the opening reception for the 2025 Black Artist Showcase at Jamestown Settlement, Saturday, February 1 from 6 to 8 pm. meet some of the artists featured in the showcase and view exciting works of art while enjoying live music by the Hampton University Faculty Jazz Trio, light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Hear from featured artists during the evening about their works and inspiration. More info and tickets here.

Black History Month programs at Jamestown Settlement culminates on Saturday, February 22 with “After Angelo,” named for one of the first African women in Jamestown, celebrating modern African American life and culture through art, performance and community conversation. See the schedule of events and activities HERE.

Be sure to check out the immersive gallery exhibits, films and education programs at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown on the cultural legacies of West Central Africans brought to Virginia in the 17th century. More info

Programming for Black History Month at Colonial Williamsburg

More than half of 18th-century Williamsburg residents were African American. Join Colonial Williamsburg in February for Black History Month as they shine an even brighter light on our year-round African American programming and discover the untold stories of those who lived, loved, and strove to create a better future. Most of the programming can be accessed with your day pass, annual membership or Good Neighbor Pass. The Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg is offering free admission.

Live Programming at the Hennage Auditorium in Colonial Williamsburg

There are many programs at the Hennage Auditorium this month celebrating Black History Month. Discover these American stories of resilience and explore the lives of those that lived, loved, and strove to create a better future. Performances include Judith and Daniel, Measure of a Man’s Worth, Nation Builders Discuss Slavery, God is My Rock, and All Things Possible. Learn more on Colonial Williamsburg’s Black History Month page.

Special Event: Come Freedom, Come

Hennage Auditorium
Thursday, February 6 from 5:30 – 6:20 pm
Free & Open to the Public!
Get ready for a powerful journey with Valerie Davis of Arts for Learning as she brings the remarkable story of Martha Ann Fields to life! Martha, an enslaved cook and unsung hero of Virginia, exemplifies the power of freedom and empowerment in…More Info

 Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

Admission to the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg is now FREE! They will have special programming in February related to the “I Made This” exhibition and Black History Month and include the following:
“Works by Black Artists and Artisans” each Tuesday in February at 2 p.m. that will look at objects in “I made this…” as well as works on view in other galleries. This tour is free.
“A Quilter’s Story,” each Thursdays in February at 11 a.m., will examine the story of Emma Russell, quilter, and enjoy a mini-quilting project. There is a $5 fee for this tour.

The Art Museums will also offer a self-guided tour highlighting objects by Black artists on view in other galleries throughout the museum. This self-guided tour, which features some newly acquired objects, will show visitors that these works of art and their makers are important pieces of the American story.

Tour the museum galleries, including the “I Made This” exhibition, to explore decorative and folk art made by Black American artists and artisans. More information on this exhibit and workshops.

Black History Month Dinner at Campbell’s Tavern

Enjoy a late lunch or dinner with a thoughtfully curated dinner menu at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern. Inspired by African American influences on Colonial cuisine and culture, this special offering honors tradition and history through expertly crafted dishes. Tuesday, February 4 – Saturday, February 28 from 4 – 8 pm (except for the 9th, 10, 17th & 24th). Reservations are highly recommended.

Black History Month Programs at the Williamsburg Regional Library

Cultural Heritage Series, takes place Sundays in February at 3 pm in the Williamsburg Library Theater.
February 2: Life in the Reservation Community
February 9: The Historic First Baptist Church Concert Choir
February 16: Gospel Recording Artist Min. Angela Weddington
February 23: Sankofa

Additional Programs:
February 8: Roots & Rows Hair Braiding Workshop from 11 am – 2 pm at the Stryker Center
February 18: Virtual Author Talk with Pulitzer Prize Finalist Lee Hawkins at 2 pm (Virtual)
February 20: Motherhood and Self-Emancipation among Enslaved and Servant Women at 2 pm at the Stryker Center
February 22: Walk with You: The Story of Dred Scott and the Blow Family of Virginia at 10:30 am at the Williamsburg Library Theater

More information on each of the Cultural Heritage Series events and additional programs celebrating Black History Month at the Williamsburg Regional Library HERE.

Tour one of the first Free Black Settlements in the United States right here in Freedom Park on February 22 from 1:30-3 p.m. Come hear historical facts, information about the land and tour the settlement’s dwellings that are historically accurate of the early 1800s. Registration is not required. Meet at the Free Black Settlement area within the park. Weather dependent. Ages 12+. FREE!

Rebellion & Runaway Walk at York River State Park

How did African slavery begin in the Virginia Colony and did they seek freedom from their condition?  Did any European indentured servants and Native Americans resist their lot as well?  Walking with us you will discover stories of rebellious conspiracies and courageous runaways and how they overcame the challenging terrain of Tidewater Virginia to elude their oppressors. This program is on February 15 at 10 am. Reservations are required.

A Celebration of Black History and Culture. This event is free and open to the public. Wednesday, February 5 from 11am – 4 pm at the Historic Triangle Campus in Williamsburg and Thursday, February 6 from 11 am – 4 pm at Hampton Campus in Hampton. Questions call 757-825-2711.

Every Wednesday and Saturday in February at 11am at Fort Monroe’s Casemate Museum at 30 Ingalls Road. join a fascinating tour where we will bring to light the little-known stories of those who shaped the history at Fort Monroe and beyond. We’ll share the wide-ranging impact of Black labor and the full force their knowledge and experience had on America. With a special behind-the-scenes visit, we will see up-close the craftsmanship of those who built the largest masonry fortification in the nation. No registration required. For more information email visit@fortmonroe.org or call 757-690-8181.

Experience the Hampton Black History Driving Tour

The 400 Years Forward driving tour explores Hampton Virginia’s African American heritage sites. Sites like the Emancipation Oak, Little England Chapel, Tucker Family Cemetary, Fort Monroe National Monument, Aberdeen Gardens, this historic neighborhood was built for “Blacks by Blacks” in 1935 and Hampton History Museum. Check out the Hampton Black History Driving tour this February.