African American Annual Events

Updated February 2026

Perayaan MLK

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.

Black Heritage Celebration at the Dallas Arboretum

Now in its fifth year, the Black Heritage Celebration at the Dallas Arboretum spotlights Black designers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs during a two-day spring festival. Included with general garden admission, the event features live performances, vendor markets and cultural programming in one of Dallas’ most picturesque settings.

Texas Black Invitational Rodeo

One of Dallas’ most distinctive cultural events, the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo brings together more than 300 African American cowboys and cowgirls for a weekend of competition, culture and family fun. Now in its third decade, the rodeo highlights the often-overlooked legacy of Black cowboys in the American West, making it both entertaining and educational.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Dallas Black Dance Theatre adalah perusahaan tari profesional tertua yang terus beroperasi di Dallas. Selama lebih dari 40 tahun, DBDT telah menghasilkan kelompok penari yang beragam dan multi-etnis, termasuk kelompok kontemporer yang terdiri dari 12 penari profesional serta DBDT: Encore!, yang menampilkan musim tahunan mereka di berbagai tempat di AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Perayaan 17 Juni

Juneteenth memperingati berakhirnya perbudakan di AS dan dirayakan pada tanggal 19 Juni. Dallas menjadi tuan rumah Perayaan Juneteenth tahunan gratis, sebuah acara berbasis komunitas yang merayakan seni, sejarah, musik, makanan, keluarga, dan kebebasan. Acara ini juga mencakup kegiatan dan permainan yang menyenangkan, pemeriksaan kesehatan gratis, dan banyak lagi.

Sepak Bola HBCU

Held during the State Fair of Texas, the State Fair Classic is one of the most anticipated HBCU rivalry games in the region. Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University face off in a high-energy matchup complete with a legendary Battle of the Bands halftime show. This electric event draws thousands of fans to Fair Park each year.

Festival Harambee

Recognized as the oldest and largest African American cultural festival in North Texas, the Harambee Festival celebrates African heritage with live music, dance performances, cultural vendors, health screenings and family programming. The free, community-focused event continues to be a cornerstone of Dallas’ fall festival calendar.

Festival Jazz Tepi Sungai

Riverfront Jazz Festival semakin terkenal dengan menghadirkan beberapa nama besar dalam musik jazz, blues, dan R&B. Festival ini berlangsung pada bulan September selama akhir pekan Hari Buruh.