Black History Month is a time to celebrate Black achievement, as well as reminding the community to get involved, support, and give visibility to the people and organizations creating change.
A theme is chosen each year by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). This year’s (2025) theme is ‘African Americans and Labor’.
Looking for ways to celebrate? Here are some of the Black History Month events taking place in Greater Palm Springs. All are open to the public, inviting the community to get engaged and educated.
PALM SPRINGS BLACK HISTORY COMMITTEE 15TH ANNUAL AWARDS GALA
When: February 1 | 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Palm Springs Black History Committee Annual Awards Gala will be held on February 1, 2025. The Awards Gala is The Palm Springs Black History Committees way of recognizing those individuals, groups, local and corporate businesses who have allied or contributed to the success and achievements of African Americans and our society.
Our Voices Our Stories: Celebrating Black Authors
When: February 1 |10 a.m.
The Palm Springs Public Library and Mizell Center are hosting this free community event to kick off Black History Month. The event features actress and author Jenifer Lewis as the keynote speaker, along with presentations and interviews with authors Christian Cooper, Rasheed Newson, and Trisha R. Thomas.
Soul Springs Festival
When: February 1 | 1 p.m.
Join the Soul Springs Festival at Downtown Park in Palm Springs for live soul and jazz performances, a sing-along, and a vibrant community vibe. With free admission, it’s a perfect day for music lovers and families alike.
Celebrating Black History Month Downtown Indio | February 8
Enjoy free games, food, vendors, guest speakers, live music, and more. Stick around for Indio’s Second Saturdays concert from 6-9 p.m. with E&J Movement performing Motown classics.
Palm Springs Black History Tour
When: February 17 | 9:30 a.m.
Join the Palm Springs Black History Committee at James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center for the Palm Springs Black History Tour.
Stories Untold: Howard Smith–Rediscovering A Lost Black Modernist
When: February 17 | 11 a.m.
This free Modernism Week lecture highlights the life and work of Howard Smith, a groundbreaking Black artist who gained recognition in Finland for his textiles, ceramics, and artwork, bridging Nordic and American design.
38TH ANNUAL CITY OF PALM SPRINGS BLACK HISTORY MONTH PARADE AND TOWN FAIR
When: February 22 | 11:00 a.m.
In celebration of Black History Month, the Palm Springs Black History Committee and the City of Palm Springs James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center will host the "38th Annual City of Palm Springs Black History Month Parade and Town Fair." The parade starts at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 22, 2025, on Palm Canyon Drive in Downtown Palm Springs. Immediately following the parade, the town fair is held at the new Downtown Park in Palm Springs across the street from the Palm Springs Art Museum.
Before the Tuskegee Airmen, Came the National Airmen Association of America
When: February 22 | 1:00 p.m.
Hear the true story of the group of foresighted, concerned, and dedicated individuals who came together in the mid 1930s in the Chicago area to form an organization that actively pursued and set the stage for the participation of African Americans in the fields of aviation and aeronautics. These prescient men included Chauncey E. Spencer, the presenter’s father.
Start planning your itinerary with these Greater Palm Springs events this weekend.
