Niagara Falls transforms in February into a vibrant destination for Black History Month, offering music, history, guided tours, and immersive exhibitions near Clifton Hill and along the Niagara River. From soul-jazz concerts to stories of courage and freedom along the Underground Railroad, visitors can experience the region’s deep historical and cultural significance.
- Niagara Falls: Events and Exhibits Near Clifton Hill
- Soul-Jazz Night with Velvet Frequencies
- Speaker Sessions on Niagara Black History
- Niagara Bound Tours: Guided Historical Experiences
- Learn About the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls, New York
- Freedom Trail & Niagara River Landmarks
- St. Catharines: Complementary Black History Month Programming
- City Hall Launch & “Black Histories, Black Futures” Exhibition
- Awakened Voices Narratives at Salem Chapel
- ONSTAGE: 4th Annual Variety Show & Vendor Market
- St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre
- Downtown D’Lish: “Soulicious” Dining
- St. Catharines Public Library Programs
- FAQ: Planning Your Niagara Black History Month Visit
- Planning Your February Visit
Niagara Falls: Events and Exhibits Near Clifton Hill
Soul-Jazz Night with Velvet Frequencies
Date: Friday, February 20 | Time: 6:00–10:00 p.m. | Location: Table Rock House Restaurant, Niagara Parks
Velvet Frequencies delivers an intimate soul-jazz experience, blending neo-soul, jazz, hip-hop, and spoken rhythm with a prix fixe dinner. Hosted in partnership with the Niagara Jazz Festival, this evening celebrates Black musical heritage in a setting just minutes from Clifton Hill. Tickets are $150 per person, including concert, dinner, parking, gratuities, and tax. Reserve at niagaraparks.com/jazz.
Speaker Sessions on Niagara Black History
Lezlie Harper: A History to Be Proud Of
Date: Saturday, February 21 | Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Location: Visitor Centre Theatre, Old Fort Erie
Harper, owner of Niagara Bound Tours, highlights Fort Erie sites significant to Black Canadian history. Tickets $15: niagaraparks.com/events.
Rochelle Bush: Freedom Trail
Date: Saturday, February 28 | Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Location: McFarland House, Niagara Falls
Bush discusses the Underground Railroad and the early Black presence along the Niagara River. Tickets $15: niagaraparks.com/events.
Niagara Bound Tours: Guided Historical Experiences
Dates: February 1–28 | Location: Niagara Falls & St. Catharines
Explore the journeys of freedom seekers after reaching Canada on guided tours led by a fifth-generation descendant of a fugitive slave. Tours cover key historical sites along the Niagara River, Fort Erie, and St. Catharines, providing meaningful insight into the courage and resilience of those who escaped enslavement.
Special February Giveaway: Book a tour for two or more by February 28 to be entered to win $200 toward a future tour or $100 toward an educational presentation. Contact [email protected] or 905-685-5375.
Learn About the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls, New York
Ongoing Exhibits:
- Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center – “One More River to Cross”
Explore the heroic actions of local Black residents and the role Niagara Falls’ geography played in the Underground Railroad. Visitors encounter stories of Harriet Tubman and Niagara-area heroes who guided freedom seekers to safety. - Niagara Arts & Cultural Center – “Freedom Crossing”
This permanent exhibition uses historic photographs, artifacts, and real-life stories to illuminate the Greater Niagara region’s Underground Railroad history.
Both sites offer self-guided learning opportunities, perfect for pairing with Niagara Falls sightseeing or Clifton Hill attractions.
Freedom Trail & Niagara River Landmarks
The Freedom Trail follows the Niagara River from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake, connecting historical landing sites, Bertie Hall, and the Mackenzie Printery. Interpretive signage and online resources allow visitors to follow the path independently or as part of guided tours.
St. Catharines: Complementary Black History Month Programming
City Hall Launch & “Black Histories, Black Futures” Exhibition
Date: Monday, February 3 | Time: 3:30 p.m. | Location: City Hall, St. Catharines
Highlights include:
- Flag-raising ceremony
- Performances by Juliet Dunn (Niagara Jazz Festival)
- Poetry reading by Andrew Reid
- Appointment of Poet Laureate Shannon Kitchings
The “Black Histories, Black Futures” art exhibition opens on the third floor of City Hall and runs until February 27. Curated by Tanika Hillocks, the exhibition features Emmanuel Akolo, Victory Anthony-Nted, Israel Crooks, Glory Inegbedion, Talia Jermyn, Sonia Kimaro, Wayne Moore, and MOON the artist. Reception: 4:30 p.m., remarks at 5:00 p.m. Refreshments by Flavour Fuel.
Awakened Voices Narratives at Salem Chapel
Date: Saturday, February 14 | Time: 3:00–5:00 p.m. | Location: Salem Chapel BME Church, 92 Geneva Street, St. Catharines
This one-day performance features spoken word, music, and storytelling celebrating Harriet Tubman and local Black history. Admission is free; donations welcome.
ONSTAGE: 4th Annual Variety Show & Vendor Market
Date: Saturday, February 21 | Time: 1:00–5:00 p.m. | Location: FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
The ONSTAGE Variety Show, presented by Future Black Female, showcases music, dance, comedy, and spoken word from Niagara’s emerging and established Black artists. A curated vendor market by BlackOwned905 adds a shopping and cultural experience. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, including free options.
St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre
Exhibit “Last Stop: In Their Own Words” explores freedom seekers’ settlement in St. Catharines during the 1850s. A weekly Black History Month blog series runs every Saturday in February.
Downtown D’Lish: “Soulicious” Dining
Dates: February 11–22 | Location: Downtown St. Catharines
Fourteen restaurants highlight Black culinary contributions, incorporating Kevin from Soulicious’ signature sauce to create a unique, collaborative dining experience.
St. Catharines Public Library Programs
- Harriet Tubman in Niagara – Feb. 3, 6:30–7:30 p.m., Merritt Branch
- Public Archaeology of Cataract House Hotel – Feb. 11, 6:00–7:30 p.m., Merritt Branch
Both programs provide deep historical insight into Niagara’s role in the Underground Railroad.
FAQ: Planning Your Niagara Black History Month Visit
Q: Which events are closest to Clifton Hill?
A: Velvet Frequencies, McFarland House lectures, Niagara Bound Tours, and the Freedom Trail are minutes away from Clifton Hill attractions.
Q: Are events family-friendly?
A: Yes, though some lecture content may be better suited for older children.
Q: Is parking available?
A: Niagara Parks, Table Rock House, and FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre offer on-site parking.
Q: Can I explore the Underground Railroad independently?
A: Yes. Exhibits like “One More River to Cross” and “Freedom Crossing” allow self-guided experiences.
Q: How can I combine sightseeing with cultural events?
A: Many Niagara Falls events are conveniently near Clifton Hill, dining, and scenic views, allowing seamless integration of history, culture, and natural attractions.
Planning Your February Visit
From Niagara Falls to St. Catharines, February offers a rich mix of music, guided tours, art, and storytelling that bring Black Canadian history to life. Visitors can enjoy soul-jazz near Clifton Hill, explore the Freedom Trail, visit immersive exhibits, and attend lectures and community performances. The Niagara Region provides a complete cultural experience that pairs historical reflection with engaging, visitor-friendly programming.
For tickets and full schedules:
The young Mr. Dett……..in his own words
Back in 1934, Dett wrote a brief autobiography for The Elude. This monthly magazine published in Philadelphia, was primarily devoted to stories about musicians and composers. In his piece, Dett recounts two fascinating anecdotes about his early life in Niagara Falls. One of these tells how his formal musical training began.
My two older brothers (Arthur and Samuel) studied music with an English lady named Mrs. Marshall. I learned most of my brothers pieces by ear. I used to follow my brothers to their lessons. Whenever the teacher left the room for music, which she kept in an adjoining room, I would slip up to her piano and play on it. At the faintest rustle of her skirt, I would dart back to my chair and when she again entered the room, all would be as before.
One day she only pretended to leave. Thinking she was gone, I was enjoying myself as usual when suddenly I saw her there. Catching me up in her arms, she lifted me off the stool and kissed me, so delighted was she by what she had heard. She sent a note to my mother asking permission to give me lessons free. This was the beginning of my music study.
And while attending classes at NFCVI-the other story relates to an incident that took place while he was a student at NFCVI on Epworth Circle: “As part of the cultural influence of NFCVI, there were occasional concerts, sometimes by local talent, sometimes by visiting artists. These concerts, invariably well attended by the students and the community, were held in the assembly hall of the school. A cause for great uneasiness in connection with giving these programs, especially at night, was the uncertainty of the lighting system. At that time it was nothing unusual for electric lights to quietly fade into darkness, reappearing or not, seemingly at their own sweet time and will.
On one of these programs of student talent, Willie Clapperton, one of my chums, was playing a piano solo. Right in the middle of the piece the house was plunged into darkness. One could hear the tones of the piano falter, leading to the silence all felt to be inevitable.
It happened that I was sitting directly behind principal James Dickerson, who asked me in a whisper if I could play in the dark. (I could. I had loved to do so since childhood). So I slid on the stage, and sliding on to the stool beside Willie who was glad to escape to the wings, continued the music, improvising as far as possible on his themes, so that it seemed that he was continuing to play.
Quite unexpectedly, with full brilliance, the lights returned. The audience shrieked. What on earth happened to Willie? Then as the truth of the situation dawned, there was an outburst of uproarious applause!
Thanks for sharing Patrick!
Hello Clynn, my name is Daniel Jean Baptiste and I want to thank you for such a beautiful article. I’m currently working on a festival for the black history month on February 2018 and I would like you to write about it.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the kind words. Feel free to email me at [email protected] with details. 🙂