To close out the month of February, the Friends of Magnolia Mound will kick off its 11th annual Black History Month event at 2 pm this Saturday, Feb. 27. Hosted on the plantation site, this free event is open to the public and includes glimpses into the property’s reconstructed buildings like the Manager’s House and the Slave Cabin.

Actor Oneal Isaac, who has contributed to the event since its inception, will perform stories from In Their Own Voices: American Slaves Tell Their Stories. Isaac has personally researched these dramatic interpretations of slave experiences after being inspired by Slave Narratives, a collection that includes more than 2,000 interviews with former slaves in Louisiana and throughout the South. Isaac is also the recipient of an Artist Fellowship in Theatre from the Louisiana Division of the Arts and was an Arts Ambassador for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Although beloved by Magnolia Mound, his experience extends to motion pictures, professional and community theatre, improvisation comedy and public radio.

Givonna Joseph, founder and director of the New Orleans-based OperaCreole, will join the stage to perform spirituals and music written by African-American composers.

In addition to these special performances, guests can also go back in time with horse-drawn wagon rides and a food tent filled with traditional favorites like meat pies, ginger snaps and apple cider, along with open-hearth cooking demonstrations in the site’s historically accurate kitchen.

For more information, call 225-343-4955 or visit friendsofmagnoliamound.org.