The annual Kwanzaa celebration brings the university community together to honor culture, leadership, and unity. Centered on student-led performances, storytelling, and reflection, the program highlights the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa and their enduring relevance in shaping our shared future.

With the theme "Showtime at the Apollo," This year marks a special milestone as MBU celebrates the 30th anniversary of Kwanzaa and gathers to recognize the power of tradition, collective responsibility, and community connection.

MBU Signature Events are a new series of public lectures, performances, and community experiences hosted by Mary Baldwin University and designed to engage both the campus and broader Staunton communities. Events are sponsored by one of MBU’s four academic “Neighborhoods,” interdisciplinary communities that unite students and faculty around shared interests in areas like business and technology, health and science, education and society, and creativity and design. Signature Events bring the Mary Baldwin Signature to life — a distinctive academic and residential model that emphasizes purpose-driven learning, community connection, and real-world readiness. Learn more at marybaldwin.edu/signature.