Three day festival celebrates Black innovation and culture 825 different ways

825 Arts is presenting their second annual Black History Month Festival! On Feb. 20, 21, and 22n 825 University Avenue will light up for three straight days of Black joy. Each day celebrates a different form of Black Excellence, spotlighting Black men, Black women, and Black history (via Black To The Future day), while giving Black creatives their flowers.
The 20th is Black To The Future Day, which focuses on making learning fun, showcasing Black history and inventions through interactive, fun, and exciting stations, including activities with local organizations, cartoon animations, and a Black To the Future game show! Visitors of all ages can learn about inventions like the fire extinguisher, video games, and more, while challenging themselves to become future inventors.
On the day’s activities, Mercedes Yarbrough, 825 Arts’s Community Engagement Director, says, "Black To The Future shows Black history from a positive lens, and highlights the brilliance of Black minds with innovations and inventions. This event shows Black history and how we use inventions by Black inventors every day!"
The second day of the festival focuses on Black men's mental health and healing, featuring a live presentation of the podcast They Call Me Daddy, where three Black fathers share their perspective on parenting and what it is like to be a father today.
Last year's panel was a Black men's only space. This year, the event is open to all comers. Yarbrough says, "By opening up the space, we want to put Black fathers in the spotlight and celebrate them." She continues, "Men's day is important to show Black fathers’ presence and highlight their perspective on parenting, and to create a space that is safe for them to come together and express themselves. It's important that there's more spaces for Black men to unify and support each other with life and parenting. We want to show that they aren't alone."
Finally, day 3 of the festival focuses on the ladies. This healing-focused day highlights Black beauticians, showing off Black hair, and celebrating Black girl magic! With karaoke, candle making, and double dutch, this is a space for Black women to shine.
On the healing space this provides, Yarbrough notes, "Black women are usually the healers of their communities: one way they do that is through their hair. Their hair is their crown! This day is to give the  beautician healers, who make women feel beautiful, their flowers, while showcasing Black girl magic with fun activities."
Last year's festival featured two panels, a game show, a fashion show, and brunch, and saw over 20 vendors and 500 attendees. This year's event looks to grow on last year and continue to celebrate Black joy in all its forms, and hopes to shine a light on the community and the Black excellence within it.
Attendance is free, but space fills up fast, so if you’d like to reserve a spot in advance, grab tickets now on 825 Arts’s Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/825-arts-33089334233
If you can’t wait for the festival to get involved with 825 Arts, you can follow 825 Arts on Facebook, or find 825 Arts at @825arts on Instagram to see their full lineup of community programming.
If you’re curious about the Black History Month Festival, or want to get involved as a vendor, volunteer, or sponsor, check out 825arts.org or email mercedes@825arts.org for more information.