Black History Month: Where to Attend Asheville Events This Week

1. City context and registration advisory

Black History Month in Asheville this February marks the 100th anniversary of the observance rooted in the work of Carter G. Woodson, while the city is also observing America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The City of Asheville’s Parks & Recreation program is framing many February activities to reflect both observances and says, “All events are free, but advance registration is recommended as space may be limited.” For artists who want to participate in city-run exhibits, contact jjohnston@ashevillenc.gov or call (828) 552‑1707 and consult the APR program guide at City of Asheville Parks & Recreation for full registration details.

2. Feb. 6, 3rd Annual Black Storytellers at YMI Cultural Center

The Asheville Chamber lists the 3rd Annual Black Storytellers on Feb. 6, 5–8 p.m., at the YMI Cultural Center as an evening dedicated to honoring Black voices, stories and creative expression. The event listing notes tickets are available (ticket price not provided in the listing), so plan to check YMI’s event page or contact the Chamber for ticketing details. This program is a repeat of a growing local tradition that spotlights spoken-word, oral history and community storytelling.

3. Feb. 9, Moonlight screening at Pack Memorial Library

Pack Memorial Library hosts a screening of Moonlight on Feb. 9, 5–7 p.m.; it’s the first in a two-part film series honoring African American History Month and will include light refreshments. The library screening is free and positioned as a community film series entry point, ideal for families or neighbors wanting a low-cost cultural night downtown. As a public-library program, it’s a convenient option for those who want cinema tied to broader local programming.

4. Feb. 11, Opening reception: Black History Month Through the Eyes of Art

The Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center (285 Livingston St.) opens “Black History Month Through the Eyes of Art” with a reception on Feb. 11, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; light bites will be served. The exhibit runs through Feb. 28 during regular center hours and is free to the public; the city invites artists to submit their information via email to jjohnston@ashevillenc.gov or by phone at (828) 552‑1707. The City emphasizes planning ahead because APR programs fill up fast and many require advance registration.

5. Through Feb. 28, Black History Through the Eyes of Art exhibition (Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Center)

The exhibition at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center is described as an opportunity to “take a look at Black history through the eyes of local artists and how they acknowledge and honor the past.” Artwork remains on display through Feb. 28 at no charge, making this a week‑long visual anchor for the month. For artists and curators, the show is both a public platform and a civic partnership with Asheville Parks & Recreation.

6. Feb. 16–18, Black Asheville Town Halls at YMI Cultural Center

YMI’s calendar lists a three‑day series of town‑hall conversations: City Council Part 1 (Feb. 16), City Council Part 2 (Feb. 17) and Congress NC-11 (Feb. 18), billed as opportunities to “join us for a conversation with people running for office who want your vote.” These forums offer direct civic engagement ahead of local and congressional races, and YMI provides calendar links for RSVP and details on its event pages. Attending these town halls connects community history and contemporary policy questions in a public forum.

7. Feb. 19, Soul Food Supper at Stephens‑Lee Community Center

The East End Valley Street Neighborhood and the Stephens‑Lee Alumni Association host a Soul Food Supper on Feb. 19, 6–8 p.m., at Stephens‑Lee Community Center (30 George Washington Carver Ave.); theurbannews lists the dinner as free. The supper highlights recipes passed down through generations and is intended to “bring friends, family, neighbors and strangers together at the table,” a community-building format the Citizen‑Times also flagged as central to local Black History Month programming. This is one of the most explicitly communal events on the calendar and is suitable for larger family groups.

9. Feb. 20 & 21, A Raisin in the Sun at the Wortham Center (ticketed)

Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective presents Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts (18 Biltmore Ave.) on Feb. 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. each night; tickets are listed at $15 and up. This staged production offers a theatrical complement to community events, presenting mid‑century family struggles around race and aspiration, and is the one clearly ticketed offering in this set of community programs. Purchase tickets through the Wortham Center box office or the Wortham Center website.

10. Feb. 21, Burton Street History Discussion at Burton Street Community Center

The Burton Street Community Center (134 Burton St.) hosts a Burton Street History Discussion on Feb. 21, 6–8 p.m., billed as “an exciting discussion about the legacy of the Burton Street neighborhood and its founder, Edward W. Pearson,” with light refreshments provided. The event foregrounds local historical memory and neighborhood legacy work, connecting residents to the story of Edward W. Pearson and the community he helped build. This conversation complements the month’s arts and civic events by centering neighborhood-level history.

11. Feb. 21, Watoto Wa Utamaduni “Children of Culture” Lab at YMI

YMI’s calendar lists a Watoto Wa Utamaduni “Children of Culture” Lab on Feb. 21 as a family- or youth-oriented program; the listing appears on YMI’s event feed. Programs like this expand Black History Month beyond adult audiences into hands‑on cultural education for children, making the month a multi‑generational observance. Check YMI’s event page for times, registration and any materials needed for participation.

12. Feb. 27, Annual Black History Program (Christine W. Avery Learning Center & Asheville Peak Academy)

On Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., the Christine W. Avery Learning Center and Asheville Peak Academy host an Annual Black History Program at the Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center (133 Livingston St.) with the theme posed as “When you look at me… WHO do you see?” The program is free and frames identity, legacy and what the community is building together, an education‑centered capstone to the month’s school and youth programming. This event is a focal point for students and families to reflect on heritage and future pathways.

13. YMI premiere of Urban Renewal Impact and other YMI programming (date TBD)

YMI’s calendar notes the premiere of Urban Renewal Impact, a new film from Todd Gragg and Priscilla Robinson that “uncovers the lasting impact of urban renewal on Asheville’s Black community,” building on their earlier documentary Black in Asheville. The calendar entry praises the film but the snippet provided does not list a specific premiere date, so confirm timing directly with YMI before planning attendance. YMI’s broader programming, town halls, film series and retrospective exhibitions, remains a hub for monthlong Black History Month activity.

14. Local history color: Edward W. Pearson and Matthew Bacoate

Asheville Chamber materials highlight local civic history, Edward W. Pearson as founder of the Burton Street neighborhood and a portrait of Matthew Bacoate, an Asheville native who began work at the Chamber in 1956 and “played an important role in influencing businesses toward race integration.” That historical note provides local continuity to the month’s programming: civic forums, neighborhood history talks and arts exhibits are connected to decades‑long civic engagement and integration efforts in Asheville. Including this line in event coverage helps tie current programming to the city’s civic past.

15. Logistics, costs and how to follow up

Most community events listed by City and The Urban News are free; the notable ticketed exception is the Wortham Center’s A Raisin in the Sun ($15+). The City’s Parks & Recreation guide recommends advance registration for APR events and offers artist submission contacts (jjohnston@ashevillenc.gov; (828) 552‑1707). For ticketed performances, contact the Wortham Center box office or visit the Wortham Center website for availability; for YMI town halls and film entries, consult YMI’s event calendar for RSVP and calendar links. If you plan to attend multiple events, register early, several listings note limited space and light refreshments or meals that require head counts.