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.
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.
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.
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.
