As Disneyland works to celebrate diversity through music, tasty foods, art and experiences throughout the year, we’re going to take a closer look at the hoppenings for Celebrate Soulfully at Disneyland. This celebration expands offerings to honor Black heritage and culture during Black History Month at Disneyland in February and later for Juneteenth in June. There are also a few year-round offerings and exhibits we will get into if you can’t visit in February or June.
Celebrate Soulfully and Black History Month at Disneyland Park
Let's kick off with the Disneyland happenings (plus, here's a downloadable version of all the offerings).
Entertainment and Art
“Celebrate Gospel” returns to the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park on Feb. 18 and Feb. 25. Shows run almost continuously between 2:30 and 7 p.m. Enjoy uplifting performances by award-winning Gospel music stars, recording artists and community choirs.
Park guests can stick around for the day’s lineup or drop by for just a few songs. “Celebrate Gospel” has been a Disneyland Resort tradition for more than a decade. It used to take place at Disney California Adventure but hopped to Disneyland in 2022.
“Celebrate Gospel” takes place on two Saturdays in February:
Feb. 18, 2023 — Catch recording artist Jekalyn Carr, with special guest, singer-songwriter Melvin Crispell, III, and a cappella group Sacred Groove.
Feb. 25, 2023 — See Grammy Award-winning singer and radio host Erica Campbell, with special guest DOE and vocal ensemble The Singers of Soul.
On both Saturdays, community choirs from across SoCal will join in between performances. You can catch more music in Downtown Disney and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa's lobby (more on that below).
Feb. 25, 2023 — Stop by Disneyana. Artists, Ryan Riller and Larissa Marant, are featured in artist showcases and signings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Celebrate Soulfully Food and Treats in Disneyland
Troubadour Tavern serves African-inspired treats all year long. During “Celebrate Gospel,” you can also try a honey-glazed fried chicken bowl and red velvet bundt cake.
Year-round you can enjoy these foods at Troubadour Tavern: Chermoula chicken and rice, potato sambusa, Berbere-spiced popcorn and my favorite, the Hakuna Matata treats. You get a bag of two different cookies and a macaroon that is decorated with animal prints on one side. All three are so good!
The Pride Rock Punch drink is also really tasty — highly recommend!
Here are the food items for Black History Month at Disneyland Park that are available Feb. 1-28, 2023 (or select dates as noted):
Cafe Orleans
- (New) Shrimp & Grits: Andouille-fava relish, cheesy grits and shrimp sauce
River Belle Terrace
- (New) Southern BBQ Platter: Brisket, fried chicken, burnt ends pork belly, mashed potatoes, baked beans, slaw and a house-baked biscuit
Troubadour Tavern
- (New) Fried Chicken Bowl: Spicy honey-glazed fried chicken served with four-cheese mac and cheese, smoked turkey collard greens and sweet potato cornbread (Available Feb.18 and Feb. 25 only; mobile order available)
- (New) Red Velvet Bundt Cake with chocolate mousse, cream cheese frosting and chocolate chips (Available Feb.18 and Feb. 25 only; mobile order available)
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (mobile order available)
- (New) Peach Cobbler Doughnut: Vanilla-dipped doughnut filled with peach compote, topped with a cinnamon sugar puff
Fantasyland Popcorn Cart and Troubadour Tavern
- Simba Popcorn Bucket (mobile order available)
Celebrate Soulfully at Disney California Adventure
Beginning in mid-February at Hollywood Land, you may encounter Moon Girl from the Disney Branded Television and Disney+ series “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” for a limited time. The show debuts on Feb. 10 on Disney Channel and Feb. 15 on Disney+.
Celebrate Soulfully in Downtown Disney
During February, you can do crafts inspired by Black heritage, enjoy live music and experience special food offerings in honor of Black History Month.
Entertainment and Art
Each night in February, the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage hosts live bands nightly. Acts include LALA Brass, Forward Motion Band, The Rhythm & Blues Brothas and more. On select weekend days, the festivities kick off in the afternoon with inspiring Gospel music performances by Sacred Groove and The Singers of Soul.
On Feb. 26, the WonderGround Gallery pop-up location in the Downtown Disney District features artists, Ryan Riller and Larissa Marantz, in artist showcases and signings.
The Lovepop store features two cards designed in collaboration with talented artist Anthony Conley for Black History Month.
College Boy Cheesesteaks — Black-Owned Food Truck (Available Feb. 9 – Mar. 5)
- Philly Cheesesteaks from Philadelphians
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
- Peach Pie Old Fashioned: Whiskey, peach liquor, bitters and brown sugar garnished with a peach slice
Wings ’N Waffles — Black-owned food truck (Available Feb. 9 – Mar. 5)
- Delicious sandwiches, plates and more
Celebrate Soulfully at Disneyland Hotels
Entertainment, Art and Food
Every night in February, The Mood Indigo Group fills Disney's Grand Californian Hotel's lobby with energetic jazz music.
Hearthstone Lounge offers special food and beverages from Feb. 1–28, 2023:
- (New) Baked Andouille Mac and Cheese: Pasta with white cheese sauce, chopped herbs and Andouille sausage
- (New) Apricot Manhattan: Uncle Nearest 1884 Whiskey, Giffards Abricot du Roussillon and Amaro Nonino garnished with maraschino cherries
- (New) Spiced Fizz: Hanson of Sonoma Habanero Vodka, ginger beer, lime juice and raspberry syrup garnished with raspberries and a Lime wedge
Overnight guests at the Disneyland Hotel can paint an animation cel, with artwork of Princess Tiana.
Celebrate Soulfully with Year-Round Offerings
Tale of the Lion King at Disneyland
This African storytelling by Storytellers of the Pride Lands, a troupe of traveling performers, retells the Story of the Lion King through dialogue, song, dance and percussion. Check the entertainment calendar for show times. The show takes place Thursday through Monday, usually in the afternoon.
Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets at Disneyland
The backstory to this New Orleans Square retail store is that Tiana collaborated with her dressmaker mother, Eudora, to open a shop. The shop sells accessories to create and serve masterful Orleans-style cuisine and more. It also sells clothing and ears inspired by Tiana. It's located near Blue Bayou.
Meet Tiana
My little sister Lily loves to meet Tiana. We feel very bonded to her as frogs, you know. You can find her in New Orleans Square, sometimes on the Mark Twain Riverboat and sometimes at the Royal Hall. She also appears during Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure character dining at Napa Rose.
Meet and Watch Black Super Heroes in Action at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure
Do not miss out on seeing the Dora Milaje in action at Avengers Campus. You can also meet Black Panther or Captain America. Toadally cool. I cover all the Avengers Campus characters in another post.
Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln Video in Main Street Opera House at Disneyland
As of Feb. 1, 2023, a new video, produced in collaboration with National Geographic, plays in the lobby of the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland Park, outside of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” It tells the story of the relationship between Frederick Douglass — an African American advocate for freedom, justice and democracy — and Abraham Lincoln. It recognizes their work together in the fight against slavery. Robin Roberts narrates the presentation, which features expert testimonials and the family of Douglass. It plays before the doors open for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
A cast member pointed out that there is an error in the video, so we will share that with you too. It says that the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the South. But what it did was free slaves in the Confederacy. Three Southern Union states still practiced slavery at that time. Chattel slavery was not abolished in all states until the 13th amendment was established.
Future Experiences Coming to Disneyland
More year-round experiences are coming soon to Disneyland.
Tiana’s Palace (late 2023)
The French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland is being reimagined into Tiana’s Palace! Both French Market and Mint Julep Bar close as of Feb. 17, 2023, to start the refurbishment. Don't worry! Mint Julep Bar will return with Tiana's Palace for those delicious Mickey-shaped beignets and Mints Juleps.
Tiana's Place remains a quick-service dining location. The menu expands on current favorites served at French Market, includes seasonal flavors and adds some New Orleans classics. We can expect a new look, with peach-colored walls, fancy green wrought-iron balconies and elegant fixtures that reflect Tiana’s life and friendships. Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pizzazz as the restaurant in the film.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (late 2024/early 2025)
Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Disney World will undergo a major re-theming with a new storyline, starring Princess Tiana. Guests will be "goin' down the bayou" with Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis, Ray, Mama Odie and other favorites from the film "Princess and the Frog" to continue the adventure post-kiss and join the hoppin' Mardi Gras celebration. To quote Tiana, these frogs think it'll be "the bee's knees!"
A closing date for Splash Mountain for Disneyland has not been announced yet. (Though Splash Mountain closed Jan. 23, 2023, at Disney World.)
The story of the ride is that Tiana is hosting a party and needs to head into the Bayou to find a special ingredient. We'll embark on a journey with her and Louis. Guests will be drawn in by original zydeco music — a special blend of rhythm and blues that originated in Louisiana — inspired by songs in the film. Louis will explain where this music is coming from. The band members sing and play instruments made from natural items found in the bayou. Imagineers describe this attraction as a love letter to New Orleans.
Are you ready to celebrate soulfully and celebrate Black History Month at Disneyland? Did you know you can save on theme park tickets and hotel stays with Undercover Tourist?
Related: Guide to Disneyland Special Events
Related: How to Plan for a Disneyland Trip
Stay cool!
