Eight Luton events this October, from a Carnival 50 photo show to a reggae musical, most free or £5. Unsung Black Heroes nominations close on 8 November.

Luton is marking Black History Month with eight public events this October, most of them free or £5. Nominations are also open for this year’s Unsung Black Heroes awards, and they close on 8 November.

Luton Council announced the programme on 1 October. This year’s theme is “Honouring Our Communities”.

What’s on

Date Event Where Cost
Until Fri 23 Oct Beyond Luton Carnival 50, photography exhibition Luton Central Library, LU1 2NG Free
Sat 10 Oct, 7.30pm COBO: Comedy Shutdown Black History Month Special, ages 16+ Hat Factory Arts Centre £24.20
Thu 15 Oct, from 6pm Roots ‘N’ Culture, reggae talk and music night The Well, 5 High Town Road, LU2 0BW Free
Sat 17 Oct, 12pm to 6pm The Black Bookcase, book and arts fair Luton Sixth Form College, Bradgers Hill Road Free, ticketed
Sat 17 Oct, 2pm to 4pm Afternoon Tea Dance Lewsey Farm Learning Centre, LU4 0QQ £5
Tue 20 Oct, 6pm to 8pm Nadine White: Powered by Experience, lecture and panel University of Bedfordshire, LU1 3JU Free, booked
Fri 23 Oct, 7pm to 9.30pm Jah Makin it Happen, a reggae musical Luton Library Theatre, LU1 2NG See the theatre
Wed 28 Oct, 12pm to 4pm Leagrave Black History Season 50+ Dinner Hockwell Ring Community Centre, LU4 9LB £5

The full list is on Explore Luton’s Black History Month page, which the council links to from its announcement.

A few worth knowing about

Beyond Luton Carnival 50 marks the carnival’s 50th anniversary year. It shows portrait and documentary photography by Karis Beaumont, with work by Nadine Scarlett. Luton residents’ own archive photos sit alongside them, according to the event listing.

The Black Bookcase returns, run by Simply Deez Events CIC with ReadAware. It brings together publishers, authors, illustrators and young entrepreneurs of African and Caribbean heritage. Tickets are free but need booking through Eventbrite.

The Afternoon Tea Dance is a 1950s-style afternoon with dance teachers and a prize for the best-dressed. It is hosted by the St Kitts, Nevis and Friends Association and the Luton Irish Forum. Tickets are booked by phone; the numbers are on the listing.

The COBO comedy night was marked “selling fast” by the Culture Trust on 5 October.

Nominate an Unsung Black Hero

The council is asking residents to nominate people who have made a real difference to their community. It gives examples: a GP, a faith leader, a youth worker, a volunteer, or the neighbour who is always there to help.

More than 100 people have been recognised through the annual awards so far, the council says. This year there are three categories:

  • young adults aged 18 to 25
  • adults
  • a Role of Honour award for two older people with many years of service to Luton’s Black communities

Nominations are made through the council’s online form. The form is set to close at 11.59pm on Sunday 8 November.

The Leagrave 50+ dinner on 28 October is also a thank-you event. Its organisers are taking nominations of people who make a difference in Leagrave until 10 October, with details on the listing.

Black Luton

The council is also backing Mary Seacole Housing Association’s campaign, “Black Luton”. It will share local stories through October under three headings: Luton Past, Luton Present and Luton Future. The stories go out on the council’s and the housing association’s social media.

Councillor Maria Lovell MBE said the month came “five years on from our landmark cross-party Black Lives Matter motion”.

Windrush support

The council is using the month to point people to the Windrush Compensation Scheme. Anyone who thinks they may be eligible, or who is helping someone who may be, can call the free advice line on 0800 678 1925, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The council’s Windrush advice page has more.

What it means for you

  • Most events are free or £5. Book the Black Bookcase and the Nadine White lecture in advance.
  • If someone you know deserves recognition, you have until 8 November to nominate them.
  • For everything else on in town this month, see our Luton what’s on guide and our October half term guide.