Waukegan Park District celebrates Black History Month

The Waukegan Park District will celebrate Black History Month with special programming throughout February. The programs and events will honor African Americans and their contributions to arts, culture, and local history.

Registration is required for some programs.

The following programs and events will be offered during Black History Month:

• Waukegan's African American Historical Sites Self-Guided Tour on the Waukegan History Museum Companion App. Free.

The Waukegan History Museum Companion App will feature a self-guided tour that will take users to important historic sites that help tell Waukegan's African American story.

• Waukegan's African American Past Pop-Up Exhibit on display through Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Haines House Museum, 1917 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan. Free.

The pop-up exhibit will feature stories of Waukegan's African American past, including the Underground Railroad, early pioneers and leaders, the segregated community of Frog Island, and the desegregation of Whittier School.

• Black History Celebration from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, 39 Jack Benny Drive, Waukegan. Free.

From musical and dance performances to dramatic readings, the celebration will feature live performances from African American artists.

• Black History Month Banner Craft from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Belvidere Recreation Center, 412 S. Lewis Ave., Waukegan. $5 for residents, $7 for nonresidents.

Participants will learn about the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans while creating a banner that will be displayed at the Belvidere Recreation Center.

• Soul Food with Sylvia from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Jane Addams Center, 95 Jack Benny Drive, Waukegan. $6 for residents, $8 for nonresidents.

Sylvia England, founder and executive director of the African American Museum at the England Manor, will demonstrate the cooking of a traditional soul food dish. Advance registration is required.

In addition, the Waukegan History Museum will be offering free outreach programs for local classes and community organizations: "Waukegan and the Underground Railroad" and "Influential African Americans in Waukegan."

More information about the Waukegan Park District's special programming during Black History Month is available at waukeganparks.org/blackhistorymonth.