Riverside Arts Market and Melanin Collaborative Group Partner for 2nd Annual Black History Month Celebration
The celebration will include more than 50 Black artists, food vendors, and farmers supplementing the 150 vendors at RAM on Saturday, Feb. 7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jacksonville, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2026) - Riverside Arts Market (RAM) welcomes the Melanin Collaborative Group under the Fuller Warren Bridge for the organizations’ 2nd annual Black History Month Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. While RAM holds its market each Saturday, the Melanin Collaborative Group holds its popular Melanin Market events on planned dates scattered throughout the year. The special Black History Month Celebration at RAM honors Black history through local vendors, live performances, art, food, and family-friendly activities.
The Melanin Collaborative Group curated a roster of more than 50 Black artists, food vendors and farmers who will be featured throughout the regular footprint of RAM, as well as in the newly activated Artist Walk Plaza area, immediately across Riverside Avenue. The addition of these vendors will increase the amount of vendors at RAM on Feb. 7 by more than 30 percent.
In addition to the Melanin Market vendors, DJ Tuggie will spin vintage R&B and old school tracks appropriate for all ages in the Artist Walk Plaza, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And the River Stage will feature performances that will honor and uplift Black voices and culture throughout history.
- 10:30 a.m. - Douglas Anderson School of Arts: Songwriters
- Noon - Jolie Mitchell
- 1:30 p.m. - I Know It Trivia: Black History Month Edition
The Art Corner at RAM, organized by Kismet Art Studios, will also kick off a month of “Black Artists Spotlight: Education and Inspiration,” a series that will spotlight various Black artists and their work. The hands-on art activity will be an open studio in which artists of all ages and skill levels can pull inspiration from the featured Black artists to create their own artwork.
About Riverside Arts Market
Produced by Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP), the Riverside Arts Market, colloquially known as RAM, is a true loyal-to-local market featuring more than 150 artists, farmers, makers, and entrepreneurs from the immediate region. Founded in 2009, RAM also includes the River Stage, offering the community free entertainment through local musical, dance, and other cultural interest activities. RAM operates every Saturday, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.riversideartsmarket.org.
About Melanin Collaborative Group
Melanin Collaborative Group (MCG) is a community-driven cultural and economic development organization dedicated to uplifting Black-owned businesses, creatives, and communities through strategic programming, marketplace activations, and heritage-centered experiences. As the driving force behind initiatives such as the Melanin Market, Buy Black Bus Blitz Tours, Black History Parades, and community festivals, MCG creates platforms where culture, commerce, and community intersect.
MCG is deeply committed to strengthening local African American business owners as the economic engine of thriving communities. Through vendor marketplaces, youth programming, entrepreneurship development, arts initiatives, and historic preservation efforts, MCG builds sustainable pathways for business growth, visibility, and generational wealth while celebrating Black excellence and legacy.
For more information or partnership opportunities, visit Melanincollaborativegroup.org or contact Info@jaxmelaninmarket.com.
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