Events held in Los Angeles unless indicated otherwise.

JANUARY

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Various events celebrating the life of the civil rights leader; Los Angeles; http://www.king-raleigh.org/natlevent/body.cfm

FEBRUARY

African American Art Festival
Featuring art exhibits, dance, music, food and spoken word; Star Eco Station, Culver City; http://www.culturela.org
 
Black History Month Celebration
Celebration includes musical entertainment, animal talks, ethnic vendors and crafts; Los Angeles Zoo; http://www.lazoo.org

Pan African Film & Art Festival
Culver City; Featuring over 150 films from U.S., Africa, Europe, Canada, South Pacific, Asia, Caribbean; With attendance over 200,000, PAFF is the largest Black History event in the U.S., Magic Johnson Theater or Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza; http://www.paff.org

African American Heritage Celebration
Celebration includes poetry, storytelling, jazz, blues, gospel, African artifacts and more; Angeleus Plaza; http://www.culturela.org

Miss African American Princess Pageant

Celebrity judges include Mad TV’s Debra Skelton and Supermodel Fashionista, Fumi as TV host Paul Ryan emcees; Acme Comedy Theatre, 135 North La Brea Ave; Hollywood; http://www.paulryanproductions.com

Ragga Muffin Bob Marley Day
Featuring top entertainers, food and crafts fair; past performers include Sean Paul, Arrested Development and Marley family members; Long Beach Arena; http://www.raggamuffins.org

African Heritage Festival
Featuring African music, food, drum circles, storytelling and more; Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach; http://www.culturela.org

MARCH

Jazztrax Desert Festival
Annual festival in a stunning desert location; Indian Wells Tennis Garden; http://www.jazztrax.com/jazz/desert.html

APRIL

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
America's largest literary event includes 300 booksellers, 400 book authors and 150,000 book lovers; UCLA, West Los Angeles; http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks

SpringFest
Harambee's Farmer Market presents this annual celebration of fresh fruit, vegetables, music, jewelry, African clothing and more; Crenshaw Blvd Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org

Garifuna Day Street Festival
Traditional African festival showcasing Garifuna food, music and culture; South Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org

International Family Film Festival
Edwards Canyon Country Stadium, Santa Clarita; http://www.culturela.org
 
Bones and Blues
Featuring lives blues music, barbecue, dominoes tournament; The Center, Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org

Black Business Expo
Expo featuring 500 vendors, Gospel Expo, West Coast Black Music Festival, Kids' World, Fashion Show and more; Los Angeles; http://www.blackbusinessexpo.com

MAY

 
International Capoeira Festival
Los Angeles; http://www.capoeirabrasil.com

UCLA Jazz & Reggae Festival
Annual two day festival featuring jazz and reggae artists; Los Angeles; http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/jazzreggae

JUNE

Juneteenth Celebration
Annual celebration of African American culture throughout the Los Angeles community; http://www.juneteenth.com

Big Bear Lake Jazz Trax Summer Festival
Big Bear Lake; http://www.jazztrax.com/bigbear.html

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

Long Beach Bayou Festival
Queen Mary Events Park, Long Beach; http://longbeachfestival.homestead.com/Index.html

African American Business Summit
Top Speakers, relevant topics, new Business Opportunities and Networking; sponsored by Turning Point Magazine and TPC Foundation; http://www.aabs2007.com

Turning Point Urban Business Summit

Los Angeles; http://www.turningpointmagazine.com

Leimert Park Village Book Fair

Los Angeles, CA; http://www.leimertparkbookfair.com

Hollywood Black Film Festival
Annual festival featuring film screenings, parties, panels and networking receptions; Hollywood; http://www.hbff.org

Bones and Blues
Featuring lives blues music, barbecue, dominoes tournament; The Center, Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org

JULY

Jazz and Blues Festival
Festiva features music, children's activities, food, arts and crafts; Vision Theatre, Leimert Park; http://www.culturela.org

Bill Pickett Rodeo
Star studded event that features black cowboys and cowgirls from around the country; past celebrities have included Denzel Washington, Sinbad, and Angela Bassett; Los Angeles Equestrian Center; http://www.billpickettrodeo.com

Brazilian Summer Festival
Annual festival featuring music, dance, arts and crafts; Ford Amphitheatre; http://www.culturela.org

Central Avenue Jazz Festival
Two day festival along Central Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Street; http://www.culturela.org

Los Angeles Black Pride Festival
Largest gathering of  Black men and women from the gay and lesbian communities; expected attendance is over 8,000; Westin Airport Hotel and Point Dune Beach, Malibu; http://www.culturela.org

Mid-Summer Nights Dream
Various events founded by Magic Johnson include Harlem Nights, Corporate Scholarship Awards Dinner, Celebrity Basketball game and more; Los Angeles; http://www.magicjohnson.org

AUGUST

Long Beach Jazz Festival
One of the premier California jazz festivals; past performers include Stanley Clarke, Randy Crawford, Phil Perry and Patti Austin; Long Beach; http://www.longbeachjazzfestival.com

Watts Summer Festival
Annual cultural festival featuring arts, music, food, fashion and more; South Central Avenue, Watts; http://www.wattsfestival.org

World Stage Jazz Festival
Leimert Park Village; http://www.culturela.org

Marcus Garvey Day Festival & Parade
Annual celebration honoring the life of Marcus Garvey; Elegant Manor, Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org

African Marketplace and Cultural Faire
Annual festival attracting over 250,000 people; featuring music, food, health fair, children's activities, film festival, tennis tournament, technology village and more; Exposition Park, Los Angeles; http://www.africanmarketplace.org

SEPTEMBER

Brazilian Street Carnival and Independence Day Celebration
Downtown Long Beach; http://www.culturela.org

Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival
Watts Towers Arts Center Amphitheater, Watts; http://www.wattstowers.us

Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival
Watts Towers Arts Center Amphitheater, Watts; http://www.wattstowers.us

OCTOBER

Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival
One of the nation's best jazz festivals; Avalon, Catalina Island; http://www.jazztrax.com

African American Film Marketplace & S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase
Sponsored by Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center; four day film festival featuring over 50 films, seminars, and vendor fair; Los Angeles; http://www.bherc.org

Unity Fest
Event includes Pan African, Asian, European, Native American, Latin American and Middle Eastern villages selling traditional foods; Verdugo Park, Glendale; http://www.culturela.org

NOVEMBER

Harvest Food Festival
Harambee's Farmer Market presents this annual celebration of fresh fruit, vegetables, music, jewelry, African clothing and more; Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org

Los Angeles Music Week
Los Angeles; http://los-angeles-music-week.com

DECEMBER

Kwanzaa
Begins 12/26; annual 7-day celebration of African American culture in variois venues around Los Angeles; http://www.soulofamerica.com/kwanzaa-celebrations.phtml