Every February, communities across the United States celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. Fredericksburg, Virginia, is no exception. This charming city, known for its rich history, plays a key role in telling the story of African Americans from the colonial period to modern-day accomplishments. Black History Month in Fredericksburg is a time for reflection, education, and celebration of the diverse legacy of Black individuals who helped shape the region and nation. Here are some ways you can celebrate this Black History Month in Fredericksburg:
Visit an Exhibit
The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is an excellent resource for history lovers and boasts two impactful exhibits that should be visited this Black History Month.
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Living Legacies: African American History in the Fredericksburg Area: “Living Legacies” features compelling objects, images, and narratives, supported by a digital exhibition and catalogue, ensuring that the stories of Fredericksburg’s African American community are preserved and shared for years to come. Visit this powerful exhibition, open for 3 years, and be part of a meaningful exploration of history and heritage. (Credit: FAM)
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A Monumental Weight: The ‘Auction Block’ in Fredericksburg, Virginia: In 2019, following three years of focused community conversations, the Fredericksburg City Council voted to relocate the Auction Block associated with the sale and hiring of enslaved people from its original location at the corner of William and Charles Streets. The Auction Block was moved to the FAM in fall 2020 and opened to the public with an accompanying temporary exhibition soon after. In November 2022, the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) opened new, permanent exhibition A Monumental Weight: The Auction Block in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Recognizing the immense historical and emotional significance of this complex object, the FAM worked with members of the community to create this exhibit. (Credit: FAM)
The Fredericksburg Visitor Center is also celebrating with a month-long exhibit focused on the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, which officially became part of the US Civil Rights Trail in 2024. Stop by the Visitor Center to view the exhibit and grab a copy of the Civil Rights Trail guide to tour the trail yourself.
Attend a Great Lives Lecture at UMW
The University of Mary Washington is featuring three revolutionary African-American jazzmen on the February 19th edition of their Great Lives Lecture Series. Attend this free lecture and learn more about the incredible musical legacies of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and William Basie.
Learn about African American History Central Rappahannock Regional Library
African American Innovators Series: Throughout the month of February, explore a rotating series of self-guided activities highlighting contributions of African American innovators who changed history with their contributions. For grades K-6. Innovators featured include:
- Mae Jemison, engineer and astronaut
- Jerry Lawson, video game engineer
- Wallace Amos, founder of Famous Amos Cookies
- Bass Reeves, cowboy and explorer
- Alma Thomas, artist
Lunch & Learn: Unsung Figures in African American History: On February 13th, CRRL will be releasing a new edition in their Lunch & Learn series focused on individuals whose significant and multifaceted contributions have often been overlooked.
Celebrate African American Literature and Music at the African American Read-In
Join the Greater Fredericksburg Chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc. and CRRL Fredericksburg on February 7, 2026 from 10am-12pm for an event filled with literature and music celebrating African American history. Reflect, celebrate, and honor the voices and stories that continue to shape our world. This year’s lineup includes: musical performance by Branch Ministries and special talk by local author Zoevera A. Jackson.
Attend Events Hosted by UMW’s James Farmer Multicultural Center
Throughout the month of February, UMW’s James Farmer Multicultural Center hosts many public events to honor Black History Month. Attend one or all!
- Colors of Africa | (Rescheduled Date: February 21)
- Colors of Africa seeks to celebrate the culture that Black people create. Whether it is Black people of the African continent, African Americans, or the Caribbean, Blackness is a transnational and multicultural experience and it ought to be celebrated as such.
- Black History Month Kick Off Lunch: Southern Soul Food Lunch | February 3, 11:30am
- Gospelfest | February 7, 3pm
- Join gospel choirs and praise dance teams as they engage in spiritual song and dance.
- Early 20th Century Black Authors’ Influence on the Civil Rights Movement | February 9, 5pm
- This program offers the opportunity to hear about the research that students have written on the early 20th century Black authors and their influence on the civil rights movement. This panel will be moderated by Dr. Danny Tweedy and sponsored by the Department of English and Linguistics.
- Speaker Fred Watkins | February 11, 7pm
- Fred Watkins has been a professional photographer for over four decades, traveling worldwide and photographing celebrities and heads of state from Nelson Mandela to Muhammad Ali. He is the only African American to be in the White House Press Corps covering United States Presidents from George H. W, Bush to Donald Trump. He began his career in the streets of New York as a paparazzi and worked in the Time-Life photo New York City. He worked his way up doing freelance photography for Time, Life, and People magazines.
- Sinners | February 13, 7pm
- Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their Mississippi hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back (Credit: IMDb).
- Great Lives: Ellington, Armstrong, and Basie | February 19, 7:30pm
- This is the story of three revolutionary American musicians, the maestro jazzmen who orchestrated the chords that throb at the soul of twentieth-century America
- The Black Arts Showcase | February 20, 6pm
- For the Culture will be hosting an event highlighting Black artists across the Fredericksburg area. It will feature musical performances, clothing, art, and food will be provided at the event.
- Poetry & Jazz: Unapologetically Black at The Soul Lounge | February 23, 7pm
- Join Women of Color for an open mic event celebrating Black creativity, resilience, and excellence through live poetry, storytelling, and jazz. Students and community members are invited to perform or enjoy the soulful atmosphere, featuring live jazz music, mocktails, and refreshments.
- Black History Month: African/Mardi Gras/Caribbean Dinner | February 24, 5pm
Explore the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail
Modern image of Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) BLENDED with historic photo – Stop 1 on the Fredericksburg, Virginia Civil Rights Trail (Part 1).
The Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail follows the stories and sites of the local Civil Rights movement and highlights the role of Black residents in Fredericksburg’s history. This tour includes sites where Black people created educational, housing, and business opportunities in the midst of Jim Crow era segregation, as well as buildings where people protested racial segregation in the 1950s and 1960s. As in the rest of the United States, Fredericksburg’s Civil Rights history continues into the present and this tour includes sites associated with Black political leaders in the mid to late 20th century and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020.
See all of the events for Black History month, educational resources, and more.
Updated 1/29/2026.