Events held in Houston unless indicated otherwise.

JANUARY

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Annual event honors the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; http://www.king-raleigh.org/natlevent/body.cfm

FEBRUARY

Black History Month
Annual celebration of African culture; Kuumba House; http://www.kuumbahouse.org

Houston Black Film Festival
Past honorees and invitees include Keenan Wayans, Queen Latifah, Morgan Freeman, Omar Epps, Nia Long, Ice Cube, Vivica Fox and Robert Townsend, festival includes Book to Screenplay Search, Celebrity Fashion Show, Awards Gala, Gospel Jamboree, round table discussions and more; Alley Theatre, Houston; http://houstonblackfilmfestival.org

APRIL

Houston Children's Festival
One of the city's largest events, the festival offers five stages of entertainment, Family Adventure Zones and over 350 fun family activities; Downtown Houston; http://www.houstonchildrensfestival.com

WorldFest: Houston International Film Festival
One of the world's largest international film and video festivals; various Houston locations; http://www.worldfest.org

Houston International Festival
Attracts over 500,000 people; annual multicultural celebration encompassing 20 city blocks; featuring international food, performers, arts and crafts; Festival Plaza, Reliant Park; http://www.ifest.org

MAY

Riverside Music Fest
Featuring Creole/Caribbean/Soul food, art gallery exhibit, music, and childrenís activities, near George Brown Convention Center; http://www.supersoulfest.com

Pan-African Cultural Festival
Memorial Day Weekend; An annual outdoor festival celebrating the African American cultural experience, ancestry, heritage and tradition from throughout the African Diaspora; music, dance, storytelling and other expressive art forms from the Caribbean, East, West and South Africa and other areas show the rich cultural influence of African Americans; sponsored by SHAPE Community Center; Miller Outdoor Theatre area, Hermann Park; http://www.shape.org/Pan-African

JUNE

Juneteenth Festival
Annual celebration of the African American holiday; Houston; http://www.juneteenth.com

Real Men Cook
Family celebration and fundraising event; Houston; http://www.realmencook.com

JULY

Harambee African Heritage Festival
Featuring contemporary music and dance from Houston and Africa; Kuumba House; http://www.kuumbahouse.org

AUGUST

Houston CaribFest
The biggest annual celebration of Caribbean arts and crafts, music and cuisine; Houston; http://www.houstoncaribfest.com

Houston International Jazz Festival
Jazz musicians from around the world celebrate the birth of jazz with a weekend of performances; Houston; http://www.jazzeducation.org

OCTOBER

Art and Music Festival
Fun-filled family celebration of African American art, culture, history and heritage; features a wide variety of art for sale and exhibition, live musical performances, children's activities and types of cuisine; Project Row Houses, Houston; http://www.projectrowhouses.org

DECEMBER

Kwanzaa Celebration
Begins 12/26; annual 7-day celebration of African American culture at various venues in Houston; http://www.soulofamerica.com/kwanzaa-celebrations.phtml