Anacostia Arts Center’s Signature Afro House Returns During Renovation, Celebrating Creativity, Wellness, and Local Entrepreneurship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC — February 2026 — Even as its building undergoes renovation, the Anacostia Arts Center (AAC) continues to show up for the community in meaningful ways. On Friday, February 28, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, AAC will host Afro House: Spirit Fest, one of its signature annual events, bringing together local creatives, entrepreneurs, and residents across Anacostia for an afternoon rooted in culture, wellness, and collective care.
Held in partnership with Grounded, The Go-Go Museum, and Busboys and Poets Anacostia, Afro House: Spirit Fest transforms multiple community spaces into a vibrant, connected festival experience. The event reflects AAC’s ongoing commitment to the neighborhood, proving that renovation does not mean retreat, but rather reimagining how to remain present, accessible, and impactful.
Taking place during Black History Month, this year’s Afro House invites attendees to reflect on the past while dreaming boldly about the future, without losing sight of the present. Through music, storytelling, wellness experiences, and a Black-owned creative marketplace, Spirit Fest asks: How do we nurture our mental health, spiritual wellness, and creative literacy in an often-unforgiving world?
” For more than a decade, the community has trusted the Anacostia Arts Center as a home for creativity and connection, and we take that responsibility seriously. While we strengthen the building for the next generation, our commitment to artists, entrepreneurs, small business, and our community doesn’t pause. Afro House is a powerful reminder that even during renovation, we continue to show up by creating space for culture, opportunity, and collective care.” – Messay Derebe
A Platform for Local Entrepreneurs and Creatives
Afro House: Spirit Fest is also one of the ways WACIF (Washington Area Community Investment Fund) continues to make good on its mission to support entrepreneurs across the DMV. Through vendor opportunities, paid performances, and visibility for small businesses and creatives, the festival serves as a living example of how arts and economic development intersect.
Festival Highlights Include:
Black-Owned Marketplace & Crate Convention Takeover
Location: The Go-Go Museum
DJ RBI and his crew curate the soundtrack for the day while hosting a Crate Convention pop-up, assembling music selectors and collectors for a one-of-a-kind cultural takeover.
Live DJ Sets Throughout the Festival
DJ RBI and his legion of DJs provide the sonic backbone of Afro House, blending Afro House, Go-Go, and global sounds.
Beautiful Brown Rainbow Candle-Making Class
Location: Busboys and Poets Anacostia
A hands-on, first-come-first-serve candle-making experience focused on mindfulness, creativity, and self-care. Participants will create a scented soy candle in a reusable lotus glass vessel while learning candle care and safety.
Featured Artist: Malik DOPE
Location: Busboys and Poets Anacostia
A dynamic performance from renowned percussionist Malik DOPE, blending rhythm, movement, and storytelling.
Immersive Soundbath with Greenery
Location: Grounded
A restorative sound experience designed to help participants reset, reflect, and reconnect.
Roots & Remembrance: A Storytelling Gathering
Location: Grounded
In partnership with We The Diaspora, this intimate gathering explores ancestral memory, plant wisdom, and intergenerational knowledge through guided reflection and shared stories.
Afro House: Spirit Fest is free and open to the public. Additional schedule updates and programming announcements will be shared soon.
As the Anacostia Arts Center moves through its renovation period, Afro House stands as a reminder that the work doesn’t pause, it evolves, continuing to uplift local voices, strengthen community ties, and create pathways for local entrepreneurs to thrive.
For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afro-house-spirit-fest-2026-tickets-1981615364900?aff=oddtdtcreator
About Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)
Established in 1987, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund’s mission is to increase equity and economic opportunity in underserved communities in the Washington, DC area by investing knowledge, social, and financial capital in low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. Our mission is driven by three strategic pillars: inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth building, and equitable economic development, and is fulfilled by providing access to capital products and services, and capacity building technical assistance to low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. WACIF has been continuously certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) since 1996, making the organization one of the nation’s first CDFIs.
About Anacostia Arts Center
The Anacostia Arts Center powered by WACIF is a home for the arts, culture, and small businesses, where the physical space is used to employ and nourish the local arts and creative economy. Within the Anacostia Arts Center, community members will find our Black Box Theater, gallery, retail, HIVE coworking space, meeting and event space.
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