Celebrate Black Music Month at Disneyland With Music, Food, Characters
Disneyland will be celebrating Black Music Month throughout the month of June, with live entertainment, specialty foods, and art that honor Black heritage. The limited-time offerings expand on Celebrate Soulfully, which “aims to elevate guests’ experiences in empowering and impactful ways.”
There are a variety of exciting experiences that you can participate in to celebrate Black music and culture this month, so keep reading for more information on what to expect during the celebration of Black Music Month at Disneyland!
Live Music in Celebration of Black Music Month
To celebrate Black Music Month, there will be live performances across Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney featuring several Black music genres and talented artists. Be sure to visit the Disneyland website for the full performance schedule!
Concerts at Hollywood Backlot Stage
At Disney California Adventure, summer concerts will be hosted at the Hollywood Backlot Stage. Three bands will be featured on a rotating basis:
Midnight Hour (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays), who will perform the 1960s Motown hits of The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and more.
Finesse (Sundays and Mondays), a group who will feature popular songs “across the decades,” from Bruno Mars to Stevie Wonder.
The Rhythm & Blues Brothas (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), singers who will perform R&B and Soul
Live Band Performances in Downtown Disney
In honor of Black Music Month, there will be live performances at the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage.
Artists will perform live music featuring various Black music genres in Downtown Disney. Ten groups will be featured, including the The Singers of Soul and Forward Motion Band, starting at 6:30pm each night. From 1-4pm on Saturdays, a DJ will play hip hop songs to celebrate the genre’s 50th anniversary in 2023. Here is the schedule per weekday below:
Monday: Jazz Fusion
Tuesday: Caribbean
Wednesday: Mid-Century Jazz
Thursday: Top 40
Friday: Vintage R&B
Saturday: Top 40
Sunday: Gospel
Live Music at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, there will be five live performances daily in the afternoons at the northside pool deck featuring Jamaican, Afro-Cuban, and reggae music. Performers will include Island Reggae Duo, da-light and DJ Quami.
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Art Experiences to Celebrate Black Music Month at Disneyland
Artist Signing Events
In the Downtown Disney District and Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets, WonderGround Gallery will be featuring artist signing events where guests can meet artists Ryan Riller or Larissa Marantz, purchase their artwork, and have merchandise signed by them. Ryan Riller is scheduled to meet guests on June 10th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and Larissa Marantz is scheduled for June 17, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Crafts Inspired by Black Artists
Kids can create a craft inspired by iconic Black musicians in honor of their contributions to Black music! Guests will have the opportunity to color a Vinyl-shaped craft or make a contribution to the Celebrate Soulfully wall from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Disney Princess and Character Experiences During Black Music Month
Limited-time character experiences will also be available this summer as part of Celebrate Soulfully, celebrating the debut of the live action The Little Mermaid movie, the Princess and the Frog‘s upcoming restaurant and ride in Disneyland, and the animated Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur series.
Princess Tiana PhotoPass Magic Shots
Guests can access a limited-time Magic Shot with Princess Tiana from Princess and the Frog in New Orleans Square from June 1 through July 31st. Princess and the Frog will soon play a bigger role at the park with Tiana’s Palace, a new restaurant, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure currently in development! New details have been shared on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which you can read about in our guide.
Ariel Greeting Guests at Disneyland
The live-action Little Mermaid Ariel is greeting guests at the promenade near Disneyland’s “it’s a small world” for a limited time to celebrate the movie’s release.
Meet-and-Greet with Moon Girl
Moon Girl from the animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is appearing in Disney California Adventure for a limited time. The series follows the young genius Luna Lafayette and her T-Rex that she accidentally brings to New York City, where they work together to make a difference and protect their neighborhood.
Specialty Menu Items for Black Music Month at Disneyland
Various locations across Downtown Disney, Disney California Adventure, and Disneyland Park will be serving limited time specialty menu items in honor of Black Music Month.
Downtown Disney
During the month of June, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and Naples Ristorante e Bar will each offer a specialty menu item.
Disneyland Park
For a limited time from June 9 to July 4th, the Black-owned food truck Happy Ice will be offering Italian ice desserts outside the Star Wars Trading Post.
Disney Resort Hotels
At Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel) and Storytellers Café, GCH Craftsman Bar, and Hearthstone Lounge (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel) there will be special beverage selections (for guests 21+).
Disney California Adventure
Award Wieners (From June 1 to July 4)
- BBQ hot link sandwich
- strawberry cheesecake funnel cake fries a la mode
Studio Catering Co. (From June 1 to July 4)
- shrimp po’ boy
Year-Round Celebrate Soulfully Events at Disneyland
In addition to the limited time offerings for Black Music Month, several Celebrate Soulfully experiences are offered year-round, including the Frederick Douglass exhibit at Main Street Opera House, the Tale of the Lion King performances, and more!
Frederick Douglass at the Main Street Opera House
In the the lobby of the Main Street Opera House, there is a Frederick Douglass exhibit that explores the relationship between President Lincoln and Douglass in their fight against slavery. This tribute to the abolitionist orator and writer includes a bust and portrait of Douglass along with a special video presentation. Be sure to include this on your next trip to honor and recognize this great leader in American history!
Tale of the Lion King
At Fantasyland Theatre, you can see Tale of the Lion King, a captivating retelling of Simba’s journey inspired by the “cultural roots of this timeless story.” In this performance, the Storytellers of the Pride Lands tell the tale through dialogue, song, dance, and percussion. The show is a little under 30 minutes long, and it features favorite songs such as “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Circle of Life” alongside original arrangements and choreography.
Black Panther Experiences in Avengers Campus
In Avengers Campus, guests can meet Black Panther or engage in a training exercise with Dora Milaje, Black Panther’s royal guard of elite warriors, in “The Warriors of Wakanda: The Disciplines of the Dora Milaje.”
Five & Dime
On Buena Vista Street, you can find the quintet Five & Dime, who performs jazz hits of the 1920s and 1930s.
There is an exciting assortment of offerings to explore for Black Music Month, so make sure to check out both the limited-time and year-round experiences this June!
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