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Disney Parks Celebrate Black History Month

Joshua
Written by Joshua Posted
Disney Parks Celebrate Black History Month

Disney will honor Black heritage and culture throughout February with their Celebrate Soulfully event. As part of Black History Month, the celebration will feature plenty of art, music, and food. We’ve already touched on the great food coming to Disney World and Disneyland. Now let’s dive into all the other greatness this celebration will provide.

Michael James Scott will lead the Festival of Fantasy Parade

Broadway star Michael James Scott, known for his portrayal of Genie in Aladdin, will be the honorary grand marshall of the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade on February 6 in Magic Kingdom. This is the 3 PM parade.

Tiana tiara pin

Princess Tiana tiara pin is part of Disney's Celebrate Soulfully. Copyright Disney.
Copyright Disney.

Imagineer Brittany L. Smith has designed a Princess Tiana pin inspired by the water tower from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Smith is also one of the designers for Tiana’s audio-animatronic character on the ride, which promises to be spectacular!

The pin will be available in Disney parks and on shopDisney.

Black artists featured throughout Disney World

Celebrate Soulfully mural in Disney Springs. Copyright Disney.

Three artists will take part in EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts:

  • Ryan Riller (Feb. 12-19)
  • Yesenia Moises (Feb.13-19)
  • Larissa Marantz (Feb. 14-19)

Animal Kingdom will showcase Victor Ekpuk, a renowned Nigerian-American artist. His installation “will explore historical narratives and contemporary African diaspora.”

Disney Springs Art Walk: A Canvas of Expression will feature murals from local and international artists.

  • Create Your Spotlight – Nneka Jones
  • Crossing Gods – Ernest Shaw
  • The Voices in My Head – Nardstar

Finally, stop by Conservation Station’s Animation Experience to learn about Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator. Norman helped animate Kaa and Shere Khan from The Jungle Book. You’ll learn how to animate his characters and others, like Finding Nemo’s Bruce, Peter Pan’s Tick-Tock, and The Lion King’s Scar.

Musicians featured in Disney Parks

Four musicians will entertain Festival guests. You’ll find them performing for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre.

  • L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King – Jan. 26, 28 and 29, Feb. 1, 3, 5 and 6)
  • Kissy Simmons (The Lion King – Jan. 27, 30, and 31, Feb. 2, 4, 7, and 8)
  • Bradley Gibson (The Lion King – Feb. 10, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 19)
  • Michael James Scott (Aladdin – Feb. 9, 11, 12, 15, 18 and 19)

Over in Disney Springs, you can listen to Don Black, Franchise Players, and Wassalou Drum Circle.

Finally, Disneyland will have plenty of performances, starting with Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band. You can find them on the Rivers of America. And check out Five and Dive perform ’20s and ’30s era jazz on Buena Vista Street.

Cooking with Soul

Bananas Foster Shake from Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies. Copyright Disney.
Copyright Disney.

You’ll be able to indulge in classic comfort food in Disney World and Disneyland restaurants. We wrote about the deliciousness earlier this week. Beignets are coming to Magic Kingdom!

Character interactions

Princess Tiana meet and greet in Magic Kingdom. Copyright Disney.
Copyright Disney.

Diverse characters will be on hand to mingle with guests throughout Disney World. Tiana will be featured at Magic Kingdom, the live-action Ariel will be in Hollywood Studios, and Asha from Wish will be on hand in EPCOT.

Those three characters can also be found in the Disneyland Resort, as well as many others:

  • Black Panther
  • The Dora Milaje
  • Captain America
  • Captain Monica Rambeau

Celebrate Soulfully runs through the end of February.