If You’re Looking for Kwanzaa Plans, Start With These 5 Events
With Christmas Day well underway, tomorrow officially marks the start of the annual Kwanzaa celebration.
Held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, the holiday was created in 1966 as a way to honor African culture, community and family.
In celebration, here are five Kwanzaa events to put on your calendar this year.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum Week of Kwanzaa
Considered the largest Kwanzaa festival in New York, the 2025 Celebrate Kwanzaa event is the 16th iteration. Overall, the event takes place over five days, from Tuesday, Dec. 26 to Saturday, Dec. 30. Located on Brooklyn Avenue, Celebrate Kwanzaa is presented by the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in collaboration with the Asase Yaa School of the Arts. Each day offers a new event for participants of all ages, featuring candlelightings, performances, and dance, drumming and art workshops. Each event is based on the seven principles of Kwanzaa. These seven principles include umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (community), ujamaa (economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).
Sister to Sister International, Inc’s Kwanzaa Celebration
Located at the Hotel NoMa in New Rochelle, NY, the nonprofit’s Kwanzaa Celebration offers attendees a day of fun as they honor African culture and the seven principles. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET, the day will feature a feast, opportunities to support local vendors and an overall celebration that will include music.
National Museum of African Art Kwanzaa 2025
Available from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, the National Museum of African Art is holding a series of workshops to celebrate Kwanzaa. Dedicated to each of the seven principles, each workshop will provide attendees with the opportunity to create a new artistic project to exercise their kuumba.
While on Friday the museum will offer up the chance to join a crochet circle, attendees can create an African mask, a dot paint art project, a magnet or necklace as well as a card or ornament at the other workshops.
Penn Museum Kwanzaa Celebration
Open to the public for free, the Penn Museum will be hosting a community day for families. It is scheduled to be held on Dec. 28 from 11a.m. to 4p.m. Performances will be held by violinist Owen Valentine and drummer Karen Smith Drumming. Workshops will also be offered with each class scheduled to explore a different principle. The celebration will also include a marketplace with local vendors, storytelling events, dance and Zawadi gifts for attendees.
Saint Louis Art Museum Kwanzaa Celebration 2025
Considered a staple celebration at the museum for the past 25 years, the Kwanzaa Celebration is a free event created in partnership with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Saint Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter. Available as a family event, the day includes performances, workshops, chances to create art, gifts, lounge spaces and an art gallery scavenger hunt. Storytelling and kora music will be performed alongside Charles “Babatu” Murphy and an interactive poetry performance will be held with Saint Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Elaine Anderson.
