Kwanzaa Events in the Washington, DC Area

Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural celebration that was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement. The holiday is celebrated each year on December 26 through January 1 by African Americans as a way to reaffirm their heritage and culture and their bonds to one another as a community. Kwanzaa is celebrated with candle-lighting ceremony, a feast and gift-giving. Here are some special events honoring Kwanzaa around the Washington, DC area.

Kwanzaa Celebration at the Alexandria Black History Museum
December 10, 2011. 902 Wythe Street Alexandria, Virginia. (703) 838-4356. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the museum's annual program explores the history and significance of Kwanzaa. Learn about the principles of Kwanzaa, a seven-day cultural celebration that begins December 26 and ends January 1. At 4:30 p.m. "The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration" will be screened. This landmark, vibrant documentary uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience. Narrated by Maya Angelou, it traces the holiday's growth out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s to its present-day reality as a global holiday embraced by over 40 million celebrants.

Kwanzaa Celebration with Coyaba Dance Theater
December 17-18, 2011. 3225 8th Street NE Washington DC. The performance includes singing, dancing, drumming, storytelling and more.

A Kwanzaa Celebration
December 20, 2011, 10:15 and 11 a.m. Prince George's Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd. Cheverly, Maryland (301) 277-1710. African performance of dance, drumming, traditional music and storytelling. $10.