Fifth Annual Black History Month Reception
Fifty years of celebrating Black History Month (1976-2026)
Join us at the Fifth Annual Black History Month Reception on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Ave., Tampa. This year’s reception marks a milestone, as it is the first time the event will be held at the museum. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the evening begins with a reception featuring soul food bites, refreshments, and live cultural performances.
The program includes performances by the Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet, spoken word, and musical entertainment. Guest speaker Jai Hinson will address the audience during the program. The evening will also feature the presentation of the Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Sankofa Award to the Florida Sentinel Bulletin, which has served the community since 1945. In addition, the Thurgood Marshall History Award, a $1,000 donation, will be presented to a Hillsborough County public high school recognized for the most outstanding Thurgood Marshall History Club project.
The reception is sponsored by the Tampa Housing Authority and presented by the Tampa Bay History Center. Each year, the event recognizes Black History Month and honors the legacy of Rev. Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr., a Tampa native from Ybor City and board chairman of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The annual observance traces its roots to 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week, and to 1976, when President Gerald Ford formally recognized February as Black History Month.
Complimentary parking will be available with three options, including Ray Charles Boulevard and the Tempo and Trio parking garages.
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Museum hours
The history center is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
**Galleries are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and open until 3 p.m. on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
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Weddings
The History Center provides a dramatic and historic backdrop for your wedding, wedding reception or rehearsal dinner. Give your wedding a unique Tampa flair your guests will remember for a lifetime.
Corporate events
Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind Tampa experience for your next corporate event or convention party? Are you a meeting planner looking for a unique setting to host a board retreat or employee function? Located within walking distance of downtown hotels, the History Center is perfect for your next corporate event.
