15+ Black History Month Events in Westchester (2025)

Click here for a list of 2026 Black History Month events.

Black History Month for 2025 has arrived. To celebrate, Westchester County comes alive with a diverse array of cultural events and exhibitions, from immersive dance workshops to soul-stirring musical performances and more. Westchester’s local arts organizations are offering unique opportunities to explore, celebrate and reflect on Black history and culture.

ArtsNews has compiled a selection of these enriching events, showcasing the depth and breadth of Black artistic expression across the county. These exhibitions include visual arts, music, theater, interactive experiences and so much more. This guide provides a gateway to vibrant representations of Black heritage throughout Westchester.

Upcoming Black History Month Events:

Through March 14, 2025
Black History & Culture: Eyes Wide Open
Presented by Bethany Arts Community
The fifth installment of this award-winning exhibition explores various aspects of Black history and culture through visual arts. Visitors can expect a diverse range of works that highlight the experiences, achievements and challenges faced by the Black community. The exhibition, curated by Ossining Village Historian Joyce Sharrock Cole, aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Black heritage while promoting dialogue on important social issues. (40 Somerstown Rd, Ossining)

Through April 27, 2025
Alvin C. Hollingsworth: And All That Jazz
Presented by Hudson River Museum
This exhibition, while not specific to Black History Month, highlights the work of Alvin C. Hollingsworth, a versatile artist known for representing the Black experience in America. The show explores themes such as jazz, the celebration of Black women, and Hollingsworth’s roots in illustration. The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into Hollingsworth’s career through never-before-seen paintings, prints and illustrations that were recently donated to the Museum by Marjorie Hollingsworth Mitchell, as well works on loan from local collectors. (511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers)

February 2025
Ancestors
Presented by Blue Door Art Center
This exhibition featuring nearly 30 artists celebrates Black ancestors and their connection to the present. The show, curated by artist Dennis Shelton, includes paintings, drawings, photographs, collage and sculpture. An opening reception on February 1 will welcome guests to meet exhibiting artists. (13 Riverdale Ave., Yonkers)

February 2025
Clay Art Center Featured Artist: Camille L. Beckles
Presented by Clay Art Center
Clay Art Center celebrates Black History Month by showcasing a collection of handmade dinnerware by New York-based artist Camille Beckles. This special shop features functional ceramics that blend artistry with everyday use. According to Beckles, she “create[s] well-balanced homewares with details that invite users to engage with their actions, rather than to passively participate in the routines of their day,” – for instance a textured mug that disrupts absentminded coffee sipping.” Visitors can explore and purchase Beckles’ work both online and in-person throughout the month. (40 Beech Street, Port Chester)

February 1, 2025
Beginners R&B/Soul Line Dancing
Presented by White Plains Public Library
Beginners of all stripes will learn classic and contemporary line dance styles rooted in Black dance traditions. Professional instructors will guide participants through energetic routines set to R&B and soul music. Taught by Steve “Fun Bunch” Dillard, the crowd will enjoy simple line dances that allow everyone to learn at a comfortable pace, while improving their memory and balance. (100 Martine Avenue, White Plains)

February 1 & 2, 2025
Black, Hot & Blue
Presented by Music at Asbury
Black, Hot and Blue is a musical revue that celebrates the rich traditions of Black musical expression. Performers will explore the interconnected roots of African American musical styles through blues, jazz and contemporary genres, tracing historical influences from spirituals to modern interpretations. The event pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Louis Armstong, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and more.  (Asbury Crestwood United Methodist Church, 1 Henley Road, White Plains)

February 2, 2025
Concert with Tenor Brandon Hornsby-Slevin
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library
Tenor Brandon Hornsby-Slevin stages a concert that explores African American classical music traditions. The performance features works by renowned Black composers, with a recital of songs including classical, spirituals and Broadway favorites. Hornsby-Slevin’s program demonstrates the breadth and depth of Black musical excellence, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the artistry of classical vocal performance through an African American lens. This program is presented in collaboration with Young Musicians of Westchester. (1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle)

February 2, 2025
The Greenburgh Black History Museum Initiative Opening Reception
Presented by Fairview Empowerment Group
The Greenburgh Black History Museum Initiative will host its inaugural exhibit at the Greenburgh Public Library, highlighting significant contributions from the Greenburgh community and beyond. Visitors can explore the exhibit, which features nearly 20 artists, activists and leaders, and attend light programming focused on the importance of Black History in Westchester. This event marks the first step in establishing a permanent home for this storytelling initiative. (300 Tarrytown Road, Elmsford)

February 6, 2025
A Road Trip Through The 5 M’s
Presented by Rye Arts Center
This multimedia presentation explores significant elements of Black history through the lens of five key themes: Migration, Music, Movements, Makers and Memories. The program traces the African American experience with archival footage, personal narratives and historical documents. Scholars and community historians will give insight into transformative historical journeys, from the Great Migration to contemporary social movements. (51 Milton Road, Rye, NY)

February 7, 2025
The Ray Blue Ensemble
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library
The New Rochelle Public Library celebrates Black History Month with an evening of jazz performed by The Ray Blue Ensemble. Ray Blue is an internationally acclaimed saxophonist and composer. Blue leads a performance that showcases the rich tradition of jazz in African American culture. The concert promises to be a mesmerizing experience for both jazz enthusiasts and new fans alike. (1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle)

February 10, 2025
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Presented by Jacob Burns Film Center
This 2018 nonlinear documentary follows two young African American men from rural Hale County, Alabama, over the course of five years as one attends college while the second becomes a father. The lens allows the viewer to contemplate ways in which Black communities are viewed and perceived.

February 11, 2025
Groundbreaking Black Comedians (Virtual)
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library
This virtual event features the evolution of Black comedy by shining a spotlight on pioneering performers who broke racial barriers in entertainment. The presentation, which features Godfrey Cambridge, Redd Foxx, Flip Wilson, Nipsey Russell, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and more, examines how Black comedians use humor to address social issues, challenge stereotypes and create cultural commentary. The program explores comedy’s role in social discourse and highlights the contributions of these comedians to American popular culture.

February 12, 2025
SOUL! Screening & Conversation: James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni
Presented by The Pocantico Center
Pocantico Center will present a special screening of a 1971 episode of WNET’s SOUL!, which featured a conversation between novelist James Baldwin and poet Nikki Giovanni. This dialogue explores Black life in America, the fight for racial justice and creative expression. The screening, part of the Literary Freedom Project’s yearlong celebration of Baldwin’s legacy, will be followed by a panel discussion facilitated by the Project’s executive director, Ron Kavanaugh, will include creatives tasha dougé, Asma Neblett and Peggy Robles-Alvarado. A reception and access to the Pocantico Center’s current exhibition will conclude the evening. (The David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center at Pocantico, 200 Lake Road, Tarrytown)

February 13
Black History Celebration in White Plains
Presented by Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins
County Executive Ken Jenkins will host a celebration for Black History Month at the Michaelian Office Building (9th floor), the office building of Westchester County Government, including speeches, refreshments and networking.

February 15 & 22
Hidden Figures
Presented by Jacob Burns Film Center
Based on real events, this 2016 film tells the previously untold story of three Black women working at NASA in the early 1960s. Despite racial and gender inequities in society and at the agency, the Black female mathematicians were instrumental in NASA’s launch of astronaut John Glenn into space during the historic “Space Race.”  

February 22, 2025
The Blues Trail
Presented by Pound Ridge Library
Internationally acclaimed Pound Ridge artists Vaneese Thomas and Pete Malinverni present “The Blues Trail.” This concert traces the evolution of blues music from its African American roots to its global influence. Through musical performances and historical context, the artists, who will be joined by guitarist Al Orlo, explore works from legends like Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Louis Jordan and B.B. King. The event offers an immersive experience celebrating the rich heritage of blues music. (13 Riverdale Ave Yonkers)

February 23, 2025*
Black History Month Concert
Presented by Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra
The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates Black History Month with a diverse musical program at Saunders Trades and Technical High School. This free concert features works from a variety of composers, including Florence Price, William Grant Still, Scott Joplin and Duke Ellington. Viola soloist Amadi Azikawe will perform, and the event concludes with a gospel choir finale featuring the Antioch Baptist Church Choir. (183 Palmer Road, Yonkers). _{*This concert was initially scheduled for February 9. The date has since changed and we adjusted this listing in accordance.}

February 25, 2025
Motown Records and Berry Gordy (Virtual)
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library
This Black History Month program showcases Berry Gordy’s revolutionary music label, Motown Records, which helped to transform popular music and American culture. Historian Rick Feingold will discuss Motown’s role in breaking racial barriers and launching careers of iconic artists like Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross. Archival footage and expert commentary will also reveal how Gordy’s entrepreneurial vision created a musical empire that bridged racial divides and redefined the sound of 20th-century popular music.

February 28-March 9, 2025
The Spirit of Truth
Presented by Bethany Arts Community
As part of Bethany Arts Community’s Eyes Wide Open exhibition, this stage play shares the untold journey of Sojourner Truth, specifically focusing on her time in the village of Sing Sing (now Ossining) during the 1830s. The play, written by Samuel Harps and directed by Mel Hancock, explores Truth’s involvement with a religious cult and her path to becoming a voice for freedom and equality. (40 Somerstown Rd., Ossining)

^{Photos (top to bottom): Alvin C. Hollingsworth’s Paris Blues on view at Hudson River Museum. Collection of the Hudson River Museum. Gift of Marjorie Hollingsworth Mitchell, 2021. (c) Estate of Alvin C. Hollingsworth; works by Camille Beckles (photo courtesy of Clay Art Center); Brandon Hornsby-Slevin (photo courtesy of New Rochelle Council on the Arts); still from Hale County This Morning, This Evening (photo courtesy of Jacob Burns Film Center)}