December: home for the holidays - Travel Guide - Calendar

Ebony, Dec, 2002 by Joy Bennett Kinnon

THE holidays are traditionally times to stay close to the hearth and spend time with loved ones. This Christmas and Kwanzaa seek heritage festivals and Black expos to add to the season's bounty, and take the children. Don't forget to give the best gift of all--your time. Here are some hometown holiday activities and events to celebrate with family.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WHERE

ATLANTA

* Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Features the Morehouse College Glee Club and ASO Chorus. Atlanta Symphony Hall. Dec. 11-15.

* Christmas/Kwanzaa Open House. The Herndon Home. Dec. 3-14.

* Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present. Exhibit. Atlanta History Center. Through Dec. 15.

* 12th Annual Candlelight Tours of Dr. King's Birth Home. Decorated for Christmas during the 1930s. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Dec. 7, 14 and 21.

BALTIMORE

* Three Mo' Tenors. An evening of music. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Dec. 18-19.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

* Kwanzaa Children's Program. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Noon-2 p.m. Dec. 28.

CHICAGO

* Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration. South Shore Cultural Center. Dec. 21-22

* The Reading Machine on Sunnyside Lane. Musical drama for youth. ETA Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago. Dec. 26-27 and Saturdays through May 31, 2003.

* Hair in African Art and Culture. Exhibit demonstrates the enormous significance of hair in African society. The DuSable Museum of African American History. Through March 2, 2003.

COLUMBUS, Ohio

* 2nd Annual Gospel Extravaganza. King Arts Complex. Dec. 15.

* Kwanzaa Lighting. King Arts Complex. Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2003.

DETROIT

* Kwanzaa Celebration. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2003.

* Pictures Tell the Story: Ernest C. Withers Reflections in History. Exhibit. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Through Jan. 5, 2003.

INDIANAPOLIS

* National Black Caucus of State Legislators Convention. Westin Hotel. Dec. 9-14.

JACKSON, Miss.

* Community Kwanzaa Celebration 2002. Medgar Evers Community Center. Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2003.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.

* Epcot Holidays Around the World. Features international holiday celebrations around the World showcase. Walt Disney World-Epcot. Through Dec. 29.

LOS ANGELES

* Hollywood Christmas Parade. Mann's Chinese Theatre. Dec. 1.

* Annual Black Doll Exhibit. Exhibition of antique dolls from private and public collections as well as contemporary dolls. William Grant Still Arts Center. Dec. 15-Jan. 26, 2003.

MEMPHIS, Tenn.

* Kwanzaa Celebration. National Civil Rights Museum. Dec. 26-Jan. 1, 2003.

NEW ORLEANS

* Christmas New Orleans Style. A month-long celebration of the season and its senses, including Papa Noel and Christmas in the Oaks. Dec. 1-31.

NEW YORK CITY

* Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Celebrating its 44th season with world premieres by artistic director Judith Jamison, new productions and returning classics, including Alvin Ailey's masterpiece, Revelations. City Center. Dec. 4-Jan. 5, 2003.

* Nativity: A Life Story Presented by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the play stars Stephanie Mills, Bebe Winans, Phylicia Rashad and Lillias White. United Palace Theatre. Dec. 6 and 7.

* KwanzaaFest 2003. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Dec. 20-22.

PHILADELPHIA

* Kwanzaa Festival. Citywide. Dec. 6-Jan. 1, 2003.

ROANOKE, Va.

* Christmas in Old Virginia. Booker T. Washington National Monument. Dec. 5 and 6.

SALT LAKE CITY

* National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Convention. Salt Palace Hotel. Dec. 3-7.

ST. LOUIS

* A Gospel Christmas. Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. Dec. 15.

* Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits. Missouri Botanical Garden. Dec. 28.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

* Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Play. Arena Stage. Through Dec. 29.

ISLAND DESTINATIONS:

THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN

* Christmas Day. Dec. 25.

* Boxing Day. Dec. 26.

BAHAMAS

* Christmas Concert Under the Stars. Abaco. Open-air concert. Garden Theatre, Green Turtle Cay. Dec. 7

* Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade. Nassau/Paradise Island. A spectacular street parade of music, dance and costume. It begins at 1 a.m. Dec. 26.

JAMAICA

* Jonkunnu Menlo Festival. Cultural festival. Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. Dec. 15.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

* 50th Golden Anniversary Grand Opening of Crucian Festival Village. St. Croix. Official Holiday. Dec. 26.

NOTE: Sponsors may change dates or locations after the magazine has been published. Travelers should verify event information with local sponsors.