Celebrate Black History Month at the Arlington Public Library

Published on January 29, 2026

Person with a guitar, another person singing and one more person in the drums.

By Arlington Public Library

Celebrate Black History Month at the Arlington Public Library! Join us for a variety of fun and informative programs honoring Black history, culture, and achievements, with engaging activities for all ages.

Family Craft Night: Black History Month

Monday, February 2, 2026, 4:30 - 6 p.m., Southeast Branch 

Gather the family for a fun night of DIY crafts. February's Monthly Muse is the abstract artist, Reggie Laurent. This is a come and go program. For children ages 5 and up. No registration required. 

Teens Give Back: Black History Month

Monday, February 9, 2026, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., George W. Hawkes Downtown Library

Help complete fun projects for the library and to help our patrons. All supplies will be provided. For this Teens Give Back session, we will be making bookmarks featuring Black superheroes in media in honor of Black History Month. This program is for teen ages 13 to 17. No registration required.

Art After Dark

Friday, February 13, 2026, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Southeast Branch 

Join us for a fun revamp of Art After Dark. During Black History Month we will learn about artist Alma Thomas. Get to know her background and her painting styles. Then we'll create a painting inspired by her art. This program is for adults 18 and up. No registration required.

Family Storytime: Black History Month

Monday, February 16, 2026, 10:30 - 11:15 a.m., Ron Wright Lake Arlington Branch 

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 10:30 - 11 a.m., Woodland West Branch 

Join our fabulous library staff as we explore stories, rhymes, songs, and more. This is a special edition of storytime that will allow children and families to celebrate Black History Month. This program is for children ages 2 to 4. No registration required.  

Lego Free Play: Black History Month

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Ron Wright Lake Arlington Branch

Build something tall, wide or anything you can dream of using Lego blocks! Join us for an afternoon of fun, imagination, and creativity. This is a special event where children will be building creations made by Black inventors.

This program is for children ages 7 to 12. No registration required.  

Little Explorers: Black History Month 

Friday, February 20, 2026,10 - 11:30 a.m., George W. Hawkes Downtown Library

Stop by for a morning of play-based learning just for our littles! This program will vary week-to-week as we celebrate the world using art, math, science, engineering, and fine motor skills. Join us as we playfully discover the world around us! This program is for children ages 1 to 4. No registration required.  

A Splash of Color: A Tween Watercolor Workshop

Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., Southwest Branch

Brush up on your watercolor skills and explore the different concepts and techniques of watercolor with us! For this special program, we will be creating art inspired by the artist Alma Thomas's artwork in celebration of Black History Month!

This program is for tweens ages 9 to 12. No registration required.  

Tea Time! Heritage of the African Soil: Kenyan Purple Tea & Malawi Black Tea

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6:30- 7:30 p.m., East Library & Recreation Center

Take your tastebuds on a trip around the world during Tea Time! Every culture has a connection to tea or coffee. At Tea Time, we will dive into the history of different teas, coffees, and other delicious drinks while enjoying a good cuppa’ ourselves. Drinks will be free, but supplies are limited. This program is for adults 18 and up. No registration required.

Black History Month Artist Reception

Saturday, February 28, 2026, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., George W. Hawkes Downtown Library

Enjoy a cultivated evening of culture by immersing yourself in a stunning artist gallery by local Black artists. Live music, light bites, and beautiful artistry will fill the library during this night of class and elegance. Cocktail attire requested. For adults 18+. Registration required.