Kwanzaa Events

PRE- KWANZAA EVENTS

KUUMBA: A Kwanzaa Experience for Families. Sunday, December 14th

Joe’s Movement Emporium celebrates through creativity this holiday season with an immersive Kwanzaa experience for the whole family. Unite as a community for our KUUMBA event at our Mount Rainier location. We’re kicking off the Kwanzaa season with special performances, hands-on craft workshops, demo classes, diasporic cuisine, and more. Location: 3300 Bunker Hill Rd., Mount Rainier, MD 20712 See you there! Free, but donations accepted. https://www.joesmovement.org/listofevents/2025/kuumba Program starts at 1 pm.

Almost Kwanzaa: A Creative Kind of Holiday. Friday, December 19th

Join the Creative Suitland Arts Center for our annual Kwanzaa celebration! Enjoy arts & crafts, live performances, cultural workshops, local artisan vendors, family portraits, and more. Location: Creative Suitland Arts Center, 4719 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746. https://creativesuitland.org/calendar/2025/almost-kwanzaa Program starts at 6PM.

UMOJA (UNITY) FRIDAY, DEC. 26th

The Annual Umoja Candle-lighting Ceremony and Umoja Celebration sponsored by LCPAN. Program includes Bomani Armah, Roots P.C.S. children performance, Fashion Show by MooreWrap, Dinner Sales, African Marketplace and more. Location: Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, 1518 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Call 202.529.3635 for more info. FREE PARKING is available at 1615 M St., N.W. Program starts at 6:00pm. Doors open at 5:00pm.

KUJICHAGULIA (SELF-DETERMINATION) SATURDAY, DEC 27th

56th Annual Kwanzaa Children’s Party- Kwanzaa 365! Children ages 3 to 12. Sponsored by the Kwanzaa Children’s Party Committee, African Freedom Fund, DC Kwanzaa Planning Committee, Black Seeds, UNITEES, Black Classic Press, APPEAL Inc. Featuring Farifina Kan, Baba Bomani with Olu and DeLa. Activities will include Libation, Candle-lighting Ceremony, African dance and drumming, Spoken Word, Storytelling, Youth Entrepreneurs, Zawadi (gifts) and Refreshments. Northeastern Presbyterian Church, 2112 Varnum Street NE, Washington, DC 20018. For further information, please call 202-390-3164 or 240-832-7203. From 12 noon to 3:00pm.

Kwanzaa Candle-lighting Celebration & Program by the Ausar Auset Society. Kujichagulia Night theme: Let Us Return to the ‘Culture” for Healing and Nourishment. This event will feature spoken word, Innerattainment, children presentations, traditional Kwanzaa songs, and silent auction. Location: Galbraith AM Zion Church, 1114 6^th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001. Contact 202.630.250 for more information. The program runs from 6pm to 9pm.

The NationHouse Programs will host a Kujichagulia Open Mic and Candelighting ceremony. Join us as we light the Kwanzaa candles for Kujichagulia (self-determination) – the second day of Kwanzaa and celebrate the season and our heritage through a community open mic. Donations to NationHouse are welcome. Location:Sankofa Bookstore & Café, 2714 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001. If you have any questions, please contact us by email (preferred) at info@nationhouse.org or by phone at 202.291.5600. Program starts at 8pm.

UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) SUNDAY, DEC 28th

THE UJIMA JOINT Official Kwanzaa Party & Immersive Experience by THE UJIMA JOINT In-Person & Virtual presented by Het Ra; Amsara Holly, Taia Holly, Ariana Holly, Sanefer Holly, and Jalia Ochina Inman! Enjoy an immersive celebration through Music, Dance, Spoken Word, and more! With all-night vibes by DJ Blacktion Jackson. Location: The New Cultural Café @Studio W (at Episcopal Church of the Atonement), 5073 East Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20019. Contact: 202.492.1702 or ujimajoint@gmail.com for more info. You can also join virtually on Zoom with Meeting ID: 791 260 5131 | Passcode: ujimajoint Doors open @ 7pm(EST)/4pm(PST) Candle lighting @ 7:20pm(EST)/4:20(PST). Party begins @8pm(EST)/5pm(PST) until.

UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) MONDAY, DEC. 29th

The Inaugural Ujamaa Virtual Conference on “How We Must Create “UJAMAA” with our Holidays, Celebrations & Rituals” hosted by African American Holiday Association (AAHA), stewarded by Sekou Mama Ayo Handy-Kendi, founder of AAHA, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, and the Black Love Movement Month. A gathering of holiday founders, organizers, creatives, service providers, historians, product developers, and spiritual, cultural leaders who will discuss the critical importance of and advocate for a collective response to using our holidays, celebrations & rituals for cooperative economic change, self-help and healing, using our own cultural commemorations. This virtual conference is FREE & open to the public, but you must pre-register on ZOOM by Sun, Dec. 28th, 5 p.m. To pre-register. http://www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or Call for info: 202.667.2577. From 12 – 4 pm.

The Annual Ujamaa Kwanzaa Candle-lighting Celebration & Program – Featuringchildrenperformances by Ujamaa Shule students, performances by the Ujamaa Dancers & Drummers, vegan food, and more. 1554 8^th St. NW (8th & Q St. NW), Washington, DC 20001. Call 202.232.2997 for info. Starts at 7pm.

NIA (PURPOSE) TUESDAY, DEC. 30th

The Annual Nia Night Celebration by the Official UNIA-ACL Woodson Banneker Jackson-Bey Division 330. We will feature libation to the Ancestors, a candle lighting ceremony, children craft activities, live performances by African drummers and dancers, Soloist “Foluke”, Raheem Rasta and Sister “BJ”’s musical poetry, and African Centered Fashion show. There will be our annual ceremony honoring “Marcus M. Garvey Outstanding Community Service Awardees” past and present. Finally, a special remembrance tribute to the first Division 330 President Oduno Tarik and founding members. This event is sponsored by Heritage Gallery-UNIA in partnership with Thurgood Marshall Center Trust. Location: The Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009. For more info call: 202-529-3635 or 202-787-0251. From 5-9pm.

HoodSmart presents PURPOSE – NIA! Come celebrate Kwanzaa with us! Meet the 2025 Illuminate Your Black Brilliance youth awardees, experience African dance and drumming, a live DJ, African fashion show, performances, and a youth panel discussion that will explore how Black youth can use their brilliance and resilience to uplift and restore our communities. Presented by Mama Ateya, Mama Aboagyewaa, Baba Jua, and Baba Asukile spinning on the 1s and 2s. Partners: Busboys and Poets, We act Radio, Aya’s Willing Wonders Location: Hyattsville BusBoys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Parking is available. Program runs from 6 to 8pm.

NIA Kwanzaa program hosted by AWHA, CHI, ADS Collective & Ni Dembaya. Location: ELife, 9033 Central Ave, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. The Admission fee is $10. For inquiries, call/text 202.469.0264. Program runs from 6pm to 9pm.

KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) WEDNESDAY DEC 31st

Spend this night with family and friends reflecting on how you can make changes to yourself and the world in the upcoming year.

IMANI (FAITH) THURSDAY JAN. 1st

Annual Free the Land Kwanzaa 3.1 – 5 Mile Fun Run/Walk/Bike at Lake Artemisia Park, Berwyn Rd. and 55th Ave., Greenbelt, MD. Make a healthy new start for the New Year! Bring the whole family! For more info. Contact: Baba Prince Kolani 202.520.4669 or prince.kolani@yahoo.com. Starts at 12 noon.

Community Kwanzaa Imani Celebration and Afrikan Consciousness Award Presentation co-sponsored by the DC PanAfrikan Council of Elders. We will be honoring outstanding members of the next generation of leaders, carrying the torch of freedom in this century. Ancestral Altar by ADACI. Performances by the Malcolm X Drummers & Dancers and presentation of this year’s Afrikan Consciousness Award to Doc Powell, African Pioneer of drumming and dancing, founder/leader of Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers. Let’s close out this year’s Kwanzaa celebration together on a positive upbeat note. Location: Roots PCS, 15 Kennedy St. NW, Washington, DC 20011. For more info. please call 240.832.7203 or 202.529.3635. Starts at 6pm.

All events listed are FREE and Family Friendly