Events held in Boston unless indicated otherwise.

 

JANUARY

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Featuring concerts, breakfast and other special events around the city; http://www.bostonusa.com

 

FEBRUARY

Black History Month
Various events celebrating Black History throughout the city; Boston; http://www.bostonusa.com

Regattabar Jazz Festival
Annual festival featuring numerous Jazz legends; listen to the sounds of jazz greats Jim Hall, Joe Lovano, Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Wagner; Charles Hotel, Cambridge; http://www.cambridge-usa.org

 

MAY

MayFair
Over 300 international food and craft vendors; Children's Festival Block Party with special rides, entertainment and activities; Harvard Square, Cambridge; http://www.bostonusa.com

Arts First
Annual celebration featuring 200 events (theatre, music, dance, visual arts); Harvard University, Cambridge; http://www.bostonusa.com

 

JUNE

Boston Globe Jazz and Blues Festival
Past performers include Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Branford Marsalis; Boston; http://www.bostonusa.com

Juneteenth
Celebration of the African American tradition; Boston; http://www.juneteenth.com

Cambridge River Festival
Memorial Drive (between JFK Street and Western Avenue), Cambridge; http://www.cambridge-usa.org

Boston Harborfest
A seven day Fourth of July celebration, Harborfest showcases the colonial and maritime heritage of historic Boston; featuring concerts, historical tours, reenactments; enjoy over 200 festival events around Boston’s historic downtown and waterfront districts; Boston; http://www.bostonusa.com

 

JULY

Cape Verdean Festival
Annual festival featuring music, food, martial arts and more; North State, City Hall Plaza; http://www.bostonusa.com

Roxbury Film Festival
Featuring films, documentaries and short films written, produced, and directed filmmakers of color; various Boston locations; http://www.roxburyfilmfestival.org

 

AUGUST

Cambridge Carnival
Central Square, Cambridge; http://www.cambridgecarnival.com

Caribbean American Carnival
One the largest summer festivals in New England attracting over 250,000 people; featuring children's carnival, parade, dancing, steel bands, calypso and reggae music; Boston; http://bostoncarnival.org

 

SEPTEMBER

Boston Blues Festival
Enjoy jazz and blues at this annual festival; Hatch Shell, Charles River; http://www.bluestrust.com

Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival
Annual festival featuring jazz-fusion, contemporary jazz, blues, gospel and salsa; College Avenue (between Burke and Massachusetts) Avenue; http://www.beantownjazz.org

 

DECEMBER

Black Nativity
Tremont Temple; http://www.blacknativity.org

Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting Annual tree lighting celebration featuring music, lights and family fun; Boston Common; http://www.bostonusa.com

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