Solar Saturday Kicks Off Black History Month 2026 at the Carver Museum in Austin
The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center will launch Black History Month 2026 with Solar Saturday: Black History Month Kick-Off Block Party, a full-site celebration taking place Saturday, February 7, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Held at the Carver Museum in East Austin, the free, family-friendly event marks the national Black History Month Centennial under the theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” In partnership with PNC, the museum will transform its campus into a vibrant hub of art, history, dialogue, and performance—open and welcoming to the entire community.
As one of Austin’s most important cultural institutions, the Carver continues its mission of preserving and uplifting Black history, culture, and artistic expression. Solar Saturday reflects that mission through an immersive experience that blends education, celebration, and community connection in the heart of the city’s Black Cultural District.
A Full-Site Celebration of Black History and Community
Solar Saturday is designed as a true block party experience, activating nearly every space inside and outside the museum. Festivities will open with a proclamation on the plaza in front of the Carver, followed by programming that flows throughout the day. Inside, the Black Makers Market will fill the rotunda with local Black-owned vendors from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., while vinyl records on long play set the tone throughout the halls.
Guests are invited to explore hands-on art activities, dance classes, financial literacy workshops, and interactive arts and crafts designed to engage minds of all ages. The museum’s newest gallery exhibition, Steven Bernard Jones: Who Draws the Maps?, will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., offering visitors a chance to experience contemporary Black artistic perspectives alongside historic narratives.
The afternoon schedule also includes a Black History Month Centennial Commemoration from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., an African Foodways Panel from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., a performance highlighting a century of Black queer history from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., and a closing musical performance by Anastasia from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Light snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the event.
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Black History Month Centennial: Honoring the Past, Engaging the Present
Black History Month began in 1926 as Negro History Week, founded by historian Carter G. Woodson to ensure that Black history was recognized, studied,and preserved. One hundred years later, the 2026 Black History Month Centennial offers a moment to reflect on the progress made, the stories reclaimed, and the work that continues. The Carver’s theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” places that legacy at the center of Solar Saturday, connecting national history with lived local experience in Austin.
Through panels, performances, and exhibitions, the event emphasizes that Black history is not confined to the past—it is living, evolving, and deeply rooted in community spaces like the Carver. By centering creativity, dialogue, and education, Solar Saturday invites attendees to honor the past while actively shaping the future.
The Carver Museum: A Cultural Anchor in East Austin
The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center is housed in a 36,000-square-foot facility that includes four exhibit galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, a 134-seat theater, and archival space. Its exhibits highlight African American history in Texas, Austin’s Black families, Black artists, and African American scientists and inventors. Adjacent to the museum is the Carver Genealogy Center, located in Austin’s original 1926 library building, which now serves as a vital resource for family history research.
Named in honor of George Washington Carver, the museum pays tribute to his contributions to Black culture and history, as well as his documented connections to Austin through correspondence with longtime Parks and Recreation director Beverly Sheffield. Since opening as Texas’ first African American neighborhood museum in 1980, the Carver has remained free and open to the public, serving as both a historical landmark and a living community space.
Looking ahead, the Carver’s vision includes an ambitious expansion that will grow the facility to 90,000 square feet, adding new galleries, classrooms, and a 500-seat theater. That future-forward commitment mirrors the spirit of Solar Saturday—rooted in history, powered by community, and focused on creating space for Black stories to be told in their own voices.
Solar Saturday: Black History Month Kick-Off Block Party takes place at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center, located at 1165 Angelina Street in Austin. The event is free and open to all, with masks encouraged inside the museum. Community members can RSVP in advance through Eventbrite to learn more about the day’s programming and help celebrate the beginning of Black History Month 2026 in Austin.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.