Youth Black Culture Fest 2026

Youth Black Culture Fest at Fort Monroe is back on Saturday, February 7, 2026!!!
During this celebration of Black culture and heritage participants ages 5 and up will have the opportunity to rotate through a variety of different cultural arts stations where they will experience and learn about the origins of Black cultural arts and the heritage that influenced them.

There is literally something for everyone!! Experience hands on cultural and social interactive activities including African Drumming, Dance, Archeology, Drama, Film Making, Music and Photography. There will be special sessions with local TV personality and comedian Allision Moore, and founder of the Virginia Black Film Festival Bryan Thompson. We will also have a virtual lecture and conversation with Dr. Justin Dunnavant, Professor of Anthropology at UCLA about the history and our cultural connection with skateboarding.

New this year is also a local college and career fair where students can interact, ask questions and get more information from local colleges, trade unions and other career path organizations.

The event is open from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Each station lasts between 40 and 45 minutes, and a full schedule of activities and offerings will be available. Participate in as many as you like throughout the day!

The event is free and open to the public but space is limited so sign up early to reserve a space for your young artist!!

Info: African Drumming with Kam Kelly, Yoga and Mindfulness with Bonnie Barnes, Theater with Leila Stephanie, Photography with Barbara Gibson, Archeology with Paul Presenza; These stations start at the top of each hour and last approximately 45 minutes each. The last session begins at 4:00pm and all stations close at 5:00pm.

Info: College and Career Fair, Museum Scavenger Hunt, Youth Led Art Project, Graffiti Wall: Drop in on any of these stations at any time. They do not have individual start or end times and do not require event registration. All activities close at 5:00pm.

Info: Join Hampton University Terpsichorean Creative Director Crystal Neal and get moving. From the most basic beginner to the seasoned performer there is a dance for you. 11:00 = Beginner, 12:00 = Beginner, 1:00 = Intermediate, 2:00 = Advanced. Please note this station closes at 3:00pm.

Info: These sessions will begin at 11:00am and 12:30pm. For older students, local TV celebrity Allision Moore and her team will host two master class sessions about the art of telling jokes and what it takes to be a comedian today!

Info: Founder and Director of the Virginia Black Film Festival, Bryan Thompson has designed a "blast class" specifically for younger students who would like to learn to tell a story. These short 30 to 40 minute sessions will hold attention, give experience, and set students on a path to being a storyteller. Session begin at 11:00, 12:00 and 1:00. For a more mature and in depth experience with Bryan, plan to attend one of his "Storytelling in Film" sessions later in the day.

Info: These sessions will begin at 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Each session will last approximately an hour and 15 minutes. Join Bryan Thompson, Founder and Director of the Virginia Black Film Festival for a discussion about how to craft a story using movies and film. Bryan will show segments from one of his own films and discuss technique and tools for how to bring a story to life on screen. (NOTE: Due to the content of the film this session has been rated PG-13)

Info: Join a talkback session with Dr. Justin Dunnavant, Professor of Anthropology at UCLA live on Zoom for a discussion about our dynamic relationship with skateboarding and skateboard culture. How has and how does skateboarding shaped who we are an impact our culture? (Note: This session is not limited to one hour.)

Info: These individual 30 to 40 minute sessions begin at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Local Comedian and TV celebrity Allision Moore, along with her team, will work with younger students at a beginner level on the creative process of joke telling and entertaining through the gift of laughter. For older students, or those looking for a more mature offering, please plan to attend one of her earlier sessions "Joking Around".

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