With Canada in the thick of a snowy winter, here are five ways Canadians can celebrate Black History Month in California.
We’re officially one day away from the beginning of Black History Month and while many Canadians will be taking in different activities and events locally, recent data tells us that a large portion will also be travelling abroad throughout February. There were over three times as many Canadians taking trips to the United States in February 2022 versus 2021, according to Stats Can.
California has events and programming going on for locals and visitors alike throughout the entire month, commencing with launch events like Santa Monica’s Black History Month Kickoff on February 1st.
With The Golden State being the fourth-most visited state by Canadians, Visit California has worked with its local partners to identify some local Black History Month initiatives that would make for excellent additions to any trips stateside throughout the month of February.
Here are five ways Canadians can celebrate Black History Month in California.
Explore Black history at Casa Del Ray Moro African Museum in San Diego
Located in Old Town San Diego, the Casa Del Ray Moro African Museum showcases an extensive collection of artifacts from ancient, colonial and contemporary periods of African history throughout the world. The museum also features a research center, a traveling exhibit program and international tours to African countries.
Celebrate Black history at the WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park is a converted water tower that has become a non-profit arts organization celebrating African diaspora and Indigenous world cultures through art exhibits, concerts, dances, outdoor festivals and educational virtual events. The vegan-friendly eatery inside the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park serves Caribbean-inspired dishes made with ingredients from their garden.
Oakland’s Black roots run deep. Celebrate Black History Month in The Town!
The Town boasts more than 50 Black owned shops and 60 Black owned restaurants. Visitors can take a Black Food Tour, join the Black Panther Party Legacy City Tour and enjoy a series of events like Black Joy on Wheels (community bike ride), Black Vines (a showcase of Black owned wineries) and the Black Joy Parade that celebrates the Black experience and community’s cultural contributions. The Black music scene is also booming with live shows at Yoshi’s, the Oakland Coliseum, the Fox and Paramount theaters sharing jazz, R&B, hip-hop, funk and soul. Plus, visitors can immerse themselves in history at Oakland’s African American Museum & Library or enjoy exhibits at OMCA (Oakland Museum of California).
Take in culturally rich programming at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora
San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is celebrating Black History Month with a month-long menu of film screenings, fashion, and food. In-person and online events (many free or free with admission) will connect audiences with MoAD’s programs, voices, and art and celebrate Black history, voices, and art.
Black excellence on display in Seaside
The city of Seaside invites visitors to celebrate Black excellence with the 38th annual Black History Month Exhibit on display at Seaside City Hall (440 Harcourt Avenue, Seaside, CA 93955). The art exhibit features works from Monterey County artists in various mediums and will remain on display until March 3rd. Visitors can also enjoy artist-enclave Sand City for craft brews at the Black-owned Post No Bills or create their own works of art at Johnny Wicks’ Locally Lit candle-making studio in Monterey.
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