African American Annual Events
Celebrate the diversity of Dallas all year long. Cultural festivals and events and incredible dance and musical performances are just a few of the experiences the Dallas community has to offer.
![](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f00895e36efe68254a363acdbc87eb33 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f1e9604a6934b04eb144c7e1870e50df 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=48467010c660715d5c33364213d44a84 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=bf7624b800ef4e28a1096c5c473202ea 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=5d1a1b278612e771a1308e38225068ea 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=e054cfa13d6fbb4c77c093693236d3a3 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b85d8533756fade93c50c2d06ee70f54 1920w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=07218ca042e6d16c51ffd757fb4dad7a 2560w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/MLK-Parade.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=d62dd87737b5782fee24c17253ee3705 3600w)
MLK Celebration
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center honors MLK with a weekend-long celebration every January. The festivities begin with the MLK Celebration Fair, a college, health and career fair hybrid held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. The MLK Candlelight Ceremony is an evening event featuring a keynote speaker and vigil honoring Dr. King. The weekend ends with the MLK Parade through South Dallas featuring marching bands, dance teams and colorful floats. All events are free to attend.
Texas Black Invitational Rodeo
Attend the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo in June for a unique rodeo experience, featuring more than 300 African American cowboys and cowgirls competing for prizes. For more than 25 years, the rodeo has provided a fun and educational experience for visitors with a glimpse of the historical contribution that African Americans made during the settling of the western United States.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
The Dallas Black Dance Theatre is the oldest, continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas. For more than 40 years, DBDT has produced a diverse and multi-ethnic group of dancers, including a contemporary company of 12 professional dancers as well as DBDT: Encore!, who perform their annual season at various venues at AT&T Performing Arts Center.
Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the US and is celebrated on June 19. Dallas hosts a free annual Juneteenth Celebration, a community-based event celebrating art, history, music, food, family and freedom. The event also includes fun activities and games, free health screenings and more.
![](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0df09957773b3538aded9ac8d328a22d 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d731f65f0b7e5140eea2ea9f46ffe29b 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=857c88ff4866c07727b4ddc18a43cd0d 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=e3c13cfaa0784bccf72419afab2368cd 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=5b18cf046ae090d963dfa42ee67e1561 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b870533c9da4cb4f2704143b86fde18f 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=89e1f8c13408402fdf4cb5b7aa837543 1920w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=1ababd91c99ca45d74b04a53e20169ea 2560w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/blog/JAVI0977.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=6656b550b62fc82b363c4f417875db89 3840w)
HBCU Football
Dallas brings the State Fair Classic to the State Fair of Texas every fall. This HBCU rivalry game between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University is always an exciting showdown, with a Battle of the Bands halftime show sure to captivate the entire stadium.
Harambee Festival
The Harambee Festival is the oldest and largest African American cultural event in DFW. Held in October, this free community-based festival celebrates the African culture with musical performances, free health screenings, a balloon release and food trucks.
![A performer at the Riverfront Jazz Festival in Dallas, TX.](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=a79c91a1b8dc1e1a47e56b95303d4838 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=8f078ff7f53e776dfcf9f3490bddbf8e 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e00d0bc4c422c5512574d15020822bcd 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=8a81e895ea92c4d6a766434263d918af 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=7fd224275c87e0853163f6401c2be44d 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=af7384294aeaef7a8413e4d4e5554129 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b585f063da2335f5e9baf6db75fa3570 1920w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=a237cf9d292de5cb8557d458d4288026 2560w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/Riverfront_Jazz_Festival_Javier_Mejia_03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=863d3e385b6c6d3c0383274dffcd6e36 3840w)
Riverfront Jazz Festival
The Riverfront Jazz Festival is making a name for itself, bringing in some of the biggest names in jazz, blues and R&B music. The festival takes place in September during Labor Day weekend.
More African American Culture
![Dallas Arts District](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District-Foundation-Dallas-skyline.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5086&fp-y=0.3271&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=bb5131e9e83e91acee49b17456cfc51e 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District-Foundation-Dallas-skyline.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5086&fp-y=0.3271&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=26b79a134fd9b4debf00948097b27aff 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District-Foundation-Dallas-skyline.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5086&fp-y=0.3271&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=947bce2a1602aeef53b4b66a8e2dbc71 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District-Foundation-Dallas-skyline.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5086&fp-y=0.3271&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=5cfd41b1be0f2a94dd0c81589411df31 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District-Foundation-Dallas-skyline.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5086&fp-y=0.3271&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=01006b10999dddb1ea52b295173da518 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District-Foundation-Dallas-skyline.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5086&fp-y=0.3271&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=8ee5b8a3f380ace3554fc6053134960f 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District-Foundation-Dallas-skyline.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5086&fp-y=0.3271&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=e14d44942b0b574db42e37a2e027f19f 1920w)
![](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/Invasion_04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.3497&fp-y=0.4741&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=95c52f3d794d85e30aab1d5dac9914fb 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/Invasion_04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.3497&fp-y=0.4741&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=3d4ae7999f8e5a5164ccd704bd6d7981 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/Invasion_04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.3497&fp-y=0.4741&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=6e049453b24d044fb4e42761543cf8d2 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/Invasion_04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.3497&fp-y=0.4741&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=da5b0b26d629fb5def2ee63ed5d38fbf 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/Invasion_04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.3497&fp-y=0.4741&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=02dfdb00a52cf450832218d79f944d25 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/Invasion_04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.3497&fp-y=0.4741&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=ab223540d35230eb3498fa922904d695 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/food-and-drink/Invasion_04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.3497&fp-y=0.4741&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=14bda192486a47424f70c3dabae597db 1920w)
![people walking around and enjoying a sunny day in the Dallas Arts District](https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=69912ca86ee93a79d5d1cc1a8820ea05 320w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=1eb9028670927685a6fb909752a0124b 540w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=3ff177e6e8ad2686a1770c425fef2ee1 768w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=e4a6211046eacac346fadd63e750c77f 1024w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=ab2499ad02bb9e21ea166d48ed0d2598 1200w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=a7bd9b6ec2119df69726deaa634027de 1440w, https://visit-dallas.imgix.net/images/general/Dallas-Arts-District.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=c3a1035bdbbb00950a4d8158a77586f7 1902w)