Annual Black History Greens Festival celebrates the community legacy of Virginia Avenue Park
February 13, 2025 1:39 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2025) – The city of Santa Monica and the Black Santa Monica Community Group will host the 10th annual Black History Greens Festival on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Virginia Avenue Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The free community celebration is part of the city’s Black History Month events, and the theme for 2025 is "Roots and Reflections: Community Legacy of Virginia Avenue Park."
Virginia Avenue Park stands as a beacon of inclusion for providing access to recreational spaces once denied to Black Americans, and this year’s event will honor the community heroes and activists who were pivotal in acquiring and creating the park:
- Mr. Clyde Smith and Mrs. Vabel Reed
- Santa Monica’s first Black American Recreation and Parks Commissioner, Mr. Lloyd C. Allen
- Our first Black American Mayor, Nat Trives
- Our second Santa Monica Black American councilmember, Mr. Hilliard Lawson
- And the first Black American teacher hired in the Santa Monica school district, Dr. Alfred T. Quinn
Event attendees can check out greens cooking demonstrations with local chefs, family activities including book readings and giveaways, performances, vendors and wellness information. Special guest KJLH radio’s Arron “BOBO” Arnell will return for a second year as the master of ceremonies.
The day’s festivities will also include:
- Ms. Robbie Jones, owner, Black Santa Monica Tours and Jus' Family Cafe and Coffee Bar, Santa Monica historian, and our event Legacy moderator
- Greens cooking competition and tastings by Pastor Mossett of Calvary Baptist Church of Santa Monica and Chef Andrena Seals of Black Santa Monica Community Group
- Los Angeles County Supervisors' acknowledgment of Mr. Nat Trives' role as one of the founders of the annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025
- A performance by Calvary Baptist Church of Santa Monica Gospel Choir
- A violin performance by a talented Santa Monica High School senior
- Book reading of “Ice Cream Man,” by author Glenda Armand
- DJ Dense spinning music throughout the day
- Live cooking demonstrations with local chefs of family favorite greens recipes
- Book giveaways by the Pico Branch Library
- A wide variety of resource booths and vendors
Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and/or lawn chairs. Walking and biking are encouraged.
For more information call (310) 458-8688 or visit santamonica.gov.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov
Categories
Arts, Culture & Fun, City Parks, The Arts