To commemorate February in meaningful ways, here are some options to celebrate Black History Month in Philadelphia.
Smith Memorial Playground
At Smith Memorial Playground, Philadelphians can celebrate Black History Month in Philadelphia with their new exhibit ‘Leaders and Legends of Philadelphia.’ A kickoff for the showcase will take place this Monday, Feb. 5, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and this free, family-friendly event honors the contributions of local African American leaders across a wide range of fields, the release notes.
The exhibit, which features educational displays focusing on each honoree’s life and achievements, will be on display until Feb. 29. As the release also notes ‘Leaders and Legends’ has been installed on Smith’s 6 ½ acre playground and is free to the public. Visits to the exhibit are welcome during Smith’s visiting hours, Tuesdays through Sundays between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3500 Reservoir Dr., smithplayground.org
Red Owl Tavern
To commemorate this month, Red Owl Tavern will be serving up a special menu crafted collaboratively by Chefs Ron Hicks, Phillip Kizer, Morgan Revell, and Rasheen Young. The offerings will be at the venue throughout February and will feature dishes like pan-fried salmon cakes served with fries and cajun aioli, a milk chocolate parfait with peanut butter mousse, crushed pretzels and salted butter brittle, and a Southern chicken cassoulet boasting smoked chicken, black-eyed peas and braised collards.
As the release states, a portion of proceeds from these limited-time menus will benefit Farmer Jawn, a Black-woman-owned 128-acre working farm with a mission to educate and reintroduce farming into the lifestyles of urban people, in order to cultivate physical, social, and environmental health, while building a model that enables regenerative organic food production by and for underserved communities.
433 Chestnut St., redowltavern.com
Museum of the American Revolution
The Old City establishment will be honoring Black History Month in Philadelphia with a series of different events and activations. Highlights include First-Person Theatrical Performances where Philadelphians can meet Elizabeth Freeman, a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement – and won, Gallery Highlight Tours that dive into Black voices of the Revolution, discovery carts, pop-up talks, take-home crafts and more.
A full list of events can be found online.
101 S. 3rd St., amrevmuseum.org
Free Library of Philadelphia
In honor of Black History Month, Musicopia is partnering with the Free Library of Philadelphia to share a special edition of its popular Bucket Drumming program, a release notes. Dates for the program (Feb. 5, 14, 20 and 26) will take place at different libraries around the city (check online for exact locations.)
Geared towards children age 5 to 12, this program will be lead by Musicopia Teaching Artist Leon Jordan, Sr. and it will explore one of the most intuitive forms of music making: percussion. Genres explores during the workshop will include jazz, Caribbean, traditional classical, and current pop.
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia
This month, Hyatt will be featuring their Black History Month Showcase constructed by a mix of some of Philadelphia’s most talented Black artists, whose work has been curated by local art curator Ginger Rudolph featuring textiles, paintings, photography, illustrations, and sculptures.
To complement the exhibit, there will also be a “Hear the Makers” discussion panel on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. with Philadelphia Inquirer lifestyle reporter Elizabeth Wellington, plus Rudolph as well as featured artists Caff Adeus, Devon Harrison, Jillian M Rock, and Steven CW Taylor. More information can be found online.
1620 Chancellor St., hyatt.com
Please Touch Museum
Locals can head to the Please Touch Museum to celebrate Black History Month in Philadelphia this week for their First Wednesday activation. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, Philadelphians can explore the venue with discounted tickets at $2 per visitor from 4 to 7 p.m. As the release notes, this month’s programming for the museum will also be geared towards celebrating Black history, with an interactive African dance performance by the Living Arts Dance Studio and a captivating show by music educator and entertainer Mister Boom Boom.
4231 Avenue of the Republic, pleasetouchmuseum.org
