Black History Month has arrived, and what better way to celebrate than to take advantage of the myriad of events that are happening all over the city.  We’ve picked out a few of our favorites for you to check out, so grab your coat and your hat, and head outside to partake in the celebration.

Head to the Bronx- Check out the exhibits at the Bronx Museum. Currently, you can see the exhibit Road to Freedom, showing photos of the Civil Rights Movement. Its complementary exhibit, AFTER 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy, presents artists born on or after 1968 who, according to the museum’s website, “have created new work examining the heritage of the Civil Rights Movement and its affect on the lives of this new generation”. The suggested admission fees are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. For a more budget friendly option, go uptown on a Friday when the museum is free. Travel info and hours of operation can be found on their site.

Hit up NYC Parks- The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation are always up for a free event. This month they have several events lined up in four of the boroughs to celebrate Black Culture and Black History Month. There will be local history forums, films, lessons in African drumming, and food. Almost all of the events are free, or only $5 bucks. Visit the website for more details.

Catch a Flick- The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has several films showing this month to celebrate Black history. The center’s seating is limited so you will need to register to reserve seats. Contact schomburged@nypl.org to request a film listing and a registration form.

The Schomburg isn’t only offering films, though. They’re also presenting a one-woman theatre cabaret called Bananas, based on the life of Josephine Baker. The tickets are $20, and you can purchase them at The Schomburg Shop by calling (212) 491-2206 or visiting Telecharge.com. Want to see the unfinished opera, “Queenie Pie”, composed by the famous Duke Ellington? The Schomburg will also be hosting the opera on February 26th for $25. Get tickets online at www.harlemoperatheater.org.

Take a Walk- Harlem Heritage Tours operates walking tours, taking people on a trip through Harlem, NYC — a stockpile of Black culture and history. They offer varied walking tours such as General History of Harlem, Harlem Renaissance, Harlem Civil Rights, and more. Most of the tours are $25. Click here for more details.

Check out the Performing Arts- Head to Dance New Amsterdam and check out JUXTAPOWER’s Got Zulu. According to NYC Arts, it’s a “stage production of dance and song blended with sketch humor/drama that exhibits the best of South Africa’s theatrical tradition. The production features Zulu, Gumboot and Pantsula Dances, performed by singers, dancers and musicians from South Africa and the United States.” General admission is $17; however,  DNA offers RUSH tickets which are available for purchase the day of the performance between 6pm – 6:30pm, and are only a cool $10.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is honoring greats like Nina Simone, Count Basie and Billie Holiday. Also vocalist J.D. Steele, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and the Juilliard Big Band with choir are sure to entertain any music lover. Most of the shows are free, but some shows will cost anywhere from $10 – $30+. The events will be held at various locations, so call (212) 875-5474 for more information.

Some of these exhibits will run well beyond Black History Month and many of these centers consistently have great shows available. Keep some of these spots in mind and celebrate the arts, Black History and American History all year round.

Related posts:

1. Free Event Tomorrow at NYC’s Museum of Natural History
2. Free Bowling for the Month of November at Brooklyn Bowl
3. Free After-Hour Cafe & Lecture Series at the American Museum of Natural History
4. 5 Cheap Ways to Spend New Year’s Eve in NYC