In the audience of an outdoor concert, a woman and man dance side-by-side as they look at each other, smiling. Two other couples dance in the aisle near them while a crowd sits on benches leading up to the main stage. In the background, the blurry stage is lit up in blues and pinks.

Every Way You Can Celebrate Black History Month at Disney Parks

By Jessica Benda

Celebrate Soulfully is a year-round initiative to highlight Black culture throughout Disney Parks—but the celebration is bigger than ever during February! Black History Month brings a boatload of special-edition art, performances, music, and food to numerous locations on both coasts... With so much ground to cover, we’ve created our very own roadmap in order to enjoy as many year-round and limited-time offerings celebrating Black History Month as possible!

Disneyland Resort

A photo of Main Street Opera House’s new exhibit, which takes up space on a cream-colored wall. Against the wall is a small, white fireplace mantle with two candelabras, one on each side. Above that is a certificate, and a large painting hangs above of a man sitting in front of a starry U.S. Capitol. To the mantle’s right is a bust of Abraham Lincoln and his portrait just above it. To the mantle’s left is a bust of Frederick Douglas and his portrait above it.

A new video in the Main Street Opera House lobby highlights the relationship between abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln, recollecting their work together against slavery. Narrated by Disney Legend Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, the installation features expert testimonials as well as Douglass’ family. A bust and portrait of Douglass sits near a bust and portrait of Lincoln, with a framed copy of a U.S. Department of the Interior letter recognizing Douglass as a free man. The video debuted on February 1 just outside Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln as a collaboration between National Geographic’s Yellow Border Team, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

“Celebrate Gospel” takes over Fantasyland Theater in an over-a-decade-old tradition. The special event runs two Saturdays from 2:30 to 7 p.m. PT, and guests are welcome to stay as long as they like. On Saturday, February 18, recording artist Jekalyn Carr takes the stage with special guest singer-songwriter Melvin Crispell III and a cappella group Sacred Groove. Then on Saturday, February 25, Grammy® Award-winning singer and radio host Erica Campbell is joined by special guest DOE and powerhouse vocal ensemble The Singers of Soul. Local community choirs will lend their talents on both weekends.

A photo of Tale of the Lion King, where six performers sing toward the audience. They wear traditional African-inspired clothing, with a brilliant yellow backdrop behind them. Silhouettes like giraffes, zebras, vines, and leaves adorn the backdrop, which shines in a half-circle like the rising sun.

The Fantasyland Theater is also home to Tale of the Lion King, a 24-minute stage show that showcases live music and dance inspired by the classic animated film’s cultural roots. The production runs on select days, and a schedule can be found here. Afterward, head to Troubadour Tavern next door for African-inspired cuisine, including special limited-time “Celebrate Gospel” eats.

At Disneyana, artists Ryan Riller and Larissa Marantz will be featured in showcases and signings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on Saturday, February 25.

Nestled in New Orleans Square, Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets is perfectly fitted to The Princess and the Frog. As per the seamstress’ style, the shop offers apparel and home goods with plenty of nods to the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. Bonus: Tiana, Naveen, and Dr. Facilier sometimes roam nearby!

Across the way at Disney California Adventure Park, beloved Black Super Heroes roam Avengers Campus. Black Panther and Captain America Sam Wilson greet recruits, while the Dora Milaje lead training sessions. And beginning in mid-February at Hollywood Land, you might meet 13-year-old super-genius Moon Girl from the Disney Branded Television and Disney+ series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.

Soulful singer Dime and her jazz quintet are the best band on Buena Vista Street, performing hits from the 1920s and ’30s. Five & Dime plays daily, and showtimes can be found here.

Downtown Disney District and Disneyland Resort Hotels 

Under the high ceilings of the Great Hall of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, we see the backs of three performers. The one closest to the camera plays the piano, while another strums the cello and one blows the trumpet.

The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage will host live bands on February evenings—primarily featuring R&B, reggae, funk, Motown, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel. Among the performers are LALA Brass, Forward Motion Band, and The Rhythm & Blues Brothas. On select days, the party kicks off early with gospel performances by Sacred Groove and The Singers of Soul in the afternoon. The music continues in the Great Hall of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa with live jazz on February evenings.

There’s no shortage of art either: Lovepop will feature two cards designed in collaboration with artist Anthony Conley for Black History Month. Meanwhile, artists Riller and Marantz will continue showcases and signings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT at the WonderGround Gallery pop-up location in the Downtown Disney District on Sunday, February 26. Plus, at the Disneyland Hotel, overnight guests can paint an animation cel with artwork from the animated film The Princess and the Frog.

Black-owned food trucks Wings ‘N Waffles and College Boy Cheesesteaks serve delicious chicken and waffle combinations and Philly cheesesteaks near the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage through Sunday, March 5. Over at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, try a special Peach Pie Old Fashioned cocktail. Find a detailed list of other limited-time food offerings throughout Disneyland Resort here. 

Walt Disney World Resort

A photo of the four dolls from the CreativeSoul Photography collaboration, each inspired by a classic Disney Princess. The dolls are Black with natural hair and ornate, Afrocentric dresses. The Cinderella-inspired doll wears a brilliant blue gown and carries a carriage purse, while the Tiana-inspired doll’s dress has gold embellishments. The Rapunzel-inspired doll wears long locs clasped by flowers and a puffed-sleeve purple dress, and the Snow White-inspired doll wears an afro with a blue, red, and yellow bow and a gown in the same colors.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has arrived, and as usual, it’s a celebration of cultural creativity. Among the artists featured are Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, founders of CreativeSoul photography, who crafted reimagined dolls of classic Disney Princesses through Afrocentric designs.

The Disney on Broadway Concert Series will feature several Black Broadway performers from Saturday, February 4 through Sunday, February 19 at the America Garden Theatre at EPCOT. Taking the stage are L. Steven Taylor and Kissy Simmons of The Lion King and Michael James Scott of Aladdin, on select dates. A performance schedule can be found here.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park offers a bounty of authentic African art, music, and clothing at Mombasa Marketplace. Be sure to catch the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe dance, drum, and perform; and for more music, groove at a Caribbean street party with Viva Gaia Street Band.

A black and white photo of Floyd Norman, who looks up from his half-done drawing of Donald Duck at the camera. He wears a white, long-sleeved shirt and glasses.

Disney Legend Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator, is honored at the Conservation Station: Sketch a Disney character during this hands-on experience, then find out how Norman used real-life animals as inspiration for beloved characters.

Magic Shots—special effects for your photos—are available throughout the parks. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a Disney PhotoPass photographer can enhance your photo with The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder; meanwhile, Princess Tiana, dressed in a new ensemble, jumps in as a Magic Shot at Magic Kingdom Park.

You’ll find a slew of delicious food debuts across Walt Disney World, including Tiana’s Mardi Gras Shake at Hollywood Scoops at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Shrimp & Grits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom... find a full food guide here.

Disney Springs

Stroll through Disney Springs Art Walk: A Canvas of Expression to enjoy colorful, diverse expressions of art, including those from Everett Spruill and David Anthony Geary. Additionally, two Black artists will paint their work live during Black History Month: Ernest Shaw works from Friday, February 10, to Wednesday, February 15, while Nneka Jones paints from Sunday, February 12, to Monday, February 20.

At the Art of Disney’s Disney Animation Spotlight, find displays celebrating Black animators that brought beloved films to life. Among them are tributes to animators Marshall Toomey and Ron Husband; storyboard artist Carole Holliday; and Walt Disney Animation Studios visual effects supervisor Marlon West.

While live Motown always plays at Disney Springs on Monday nights, Black musicians will now play on all three main Disney Springs stages on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights in February.