11th annual Black History Greens Festival celebrates culture, history and wellness
February 23, 2026 2:23 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2026) — The city of Santa Monica and the Black Santa Monica Community Group will host the 11th annual Black History Greens Festival on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Virginia Avenue Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The free community event is part of the city’s Black History Month celebration, and the theme for 2026 is "Boots on the Ground,” honoring community and culture.
Event attendees can check out three greens cooking demonstrations with local chefs, family activities including book readings and giveaways, performances, vendors and wellness information. Special guest KJLH radio’s Arron “BOBO” Arnell will return for a second year as the master of ceremonies and DJ Dense will be spinning throughout the event.
The day’s festivities will also include:
- Music, dance, and singing performances, including a return performance from Nichelle Monroe
- Caleb Crump teaching line dances including “Boots on the Ground,” “Can't Get Enough,” “Cupid Shuffle” and “Wobble”
- Traditional soul food dish tastings from the LA County Department of Mental Health and Virginia Avenue Park
- Book giveaways by the Santa Monica Public Library
- Kids Zone with crafts and a trivia game with prizes
- A wide variety of resource booths and vendors
For more information, call (310) 458-8688 or visit santamonica.gov.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov
Categories
Arts, Culture & Fun, Community Events, Programs
Departments
Housing and Human Services, Library
