Santa Barbara County Black History Month 2023 Events

The community-at-large is welcome to come and enjoy the events listed below (event details will be updated throughout the month of February).

Wednesday, February 1st - Black Light House Keepers, Presented by Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

At Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Children Show from 3 pm - 4:30 pm, Adult Show from 7 pm - 8:45 pm

Tickets are first come, first served

Thursday, February 2 - Evening on Literacy with Maya Payne Smart, Presented by Gateway Education Sevices

At La Cumbre Jr. High from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Free | register for the event!

Friday, February 3 - We are Here, The Fabric of Black Excellence | Black Community Gathering, Presented by NAACP Santa Maria-Lompoc

At Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturday, February 4 - Documentary Screening of “Maynard” with Q&A of Directors, Presented by Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Free at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 1 pm

Saturday, February 4 - Presented by NAACP Santa Maria/Lompoc

Saturday, February 5 - Coffee with a Black Guy: Frank Talk on Race, with James Joyce, Presented by Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Free at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 1 pm

Thursday, February 9, Coffee with a Black Guy: Combatting Institutional Anti-Blackness, with James Joyce, Presented by UCSB Multi-Cultural Center

Free at MCC Theater from 5 pm - 7 pm

Thursday, February 9, SBCC UMOJA MURAL Artist Talk, meet the Bay Area Mural Program Artist, hear the story behind the mural, & learn about the power of public art, Presented by SBCC UMOJA Community

SBCC Center for Equity & Social Justice (CC-228) Theater from 5 pm - 7 pm

Friday, February 10 - Old Fashion Friday & Love Potion Class Celebrating Black History Month & Valentine's Day, presented by Pura Luna Apothecary and Finch & Fork

$65 for the masterclass, you will learn how to boost desire through herbs, spirits, and food. Enjoy bites and Bourbon, music from Talitha Gabrielle, gift bags, and giveaways.

7 - 9 pm at Finch & Fork, Canary Hotel

Purchase a ticket today!

Saturday, February 11 - “Choice of Colors” Panel on Intersectionalities with Race, Presented by Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Free at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 1 pm

Wednesday, February 15 - Celebration of Black Joy, History, & Education, Presented by SBCC UMOJA Community

Free | 5:30 - 8 PM at UMOJA Village Space

Dinner, music, activities, and information provided

Friday, February 17 - Black History Month Celebration, Presented by Pacifica Graduate Institute & Alumni Association’s

Free at Pacifica Graduate Institute, Lambert Campus, 249 Lambert Road, Carpinteria, CA 93013

Register for the event!

Saturday, February 18 - Panel discussion: “Black Women Rock.” A pre-taped video conference of five dynamic Black women who’ve carved out careers in the rock music genre. Featuring Maureen Mahon, author/professor at NYU and artists Sophia Ramos, Shelley Nicole, Leah King and LaFrae Sci, Presented by Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Free at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 1 pm

Saturday, February 18 - Black History Month Celebration, Presented by NAACP Santa Maria/Lompoc

Free at Santa Maria Public Library at 2 pm

Saturday, February 18 - Black History Month Community Appreciation Celebration, Presented by Endowment for Youth Community

Wine Collective in Santa Barbara, 4-6 pm

RSVP by Feb 11th to Shevon Hoover

Saturday, February 18 - A Night With Vivian Storm

$25 tickets at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 7 pm

Sunday, February 19 - Live blues/rock with Jellyroll. Popular Santa Barbara blues rock band led by vocalist/harpist Morganfield Burnett, Presented by Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Free at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 1 pm

Sunday, February 19 - Black History Month Celebration, Presented by NAACP Santa Maria/Lompoc

Free at Lompoc Public Library at 2 pm

Thursday, February 23 - Ainissa Ramirez, Award-winning Materials Scientist, Science Evangelist, and author of The Alchemy of Us, Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures

UCSB Campbell Hall at 7:30pm

Register for the event!

Saturday, February 25 - 2nd Annual HBCU Virtual Fair, Presented by Gateway Education Sevices

Virtual from 10 am - 12 pm

Free | Register for the event!

Saturday, February 25 - Live Music with the “Funky Neighbors,” Presented by Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Free at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 1 pm

Saturday, February 25 - Black History Month Celebration, Presented by NAACP Santa Maria/Lompoc

Free at Pioneer Park in Lompoc from 11 am - 5 pm

Saturday, February 25, Black History Month Pop-Up Market, Presented by Pura Luna Apothecary, featuring Jamaican food and local vendors

Pura Luna Apothecary, 633 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara from 11am - 3pm

Saturday, February 25 - Mural Unveiling and Community Celebration, Presented by Endowment for Youth Community & North County Black Student Unions

Lompoc Theatre, Time TBD

In partnership with EYC, the high school BSU's in North County came up with a vision and a theme for a mural piece: "Embrace Love - Refuse Hate."  We have Manuel Unzueta and David Duerson as artists on the initial layout. The mural will be installed on the side of the Lompoc Theatre, and we will host a large community celebration for the reveal during Black History Month. Historical figures include MLK, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, Nelson Mandela, and a few other local figures such as Napoleon Kaufmann, Dorothy Jackson, and Jonathan Majors.  

Sunday, February 26 - Live Music with the “Cookies,” Presented by Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Free at Soul Bites, 423 State St. Santa Barbara, CA starting at 1 pm

Friday, March 3 - Dr. Thema Bryant, President of the American Psychological Association and author of Homecoming: Overcome Fear and Trauma to Reclaim Your Whole, Authentic Self, Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures

UCSB Campbell Hall at 7:30 pm

Register for the event!

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