Legacy Fest in Tulsa Honors Black Wall Street and Fuels North Tulsa Economy

Several buildings across downtown Tulsa are glowing green this weekend, honoring the Greenwood District and marking the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Legacy Fest, now in its fifth year, has become more than a memorial. It’s a celebration of culture, resilience — and an economic driver for North Tulsa.

Festival volunteer Tyrance Billingsley II said this year’s event brought in more than 40 vendors, creating real financial opportunities for small, local businesses.

“When you have that much foot traffic, you have an opportunity for that money to flow into the pockets of the business owners that are trying to carry on the legacy of Black Wall Street,” Billingsley said.

Among those vendors is Billie Parker, who says the festival helps sustain her business while teaching future generations about their history.

“It’s a legacy for Tulsa, Oklahoma,” Parker said. “To share this with the children, to let them know it’s an ongoing process.”

Legacy Fest began as part of the 2021 centennial and has since grown into a yearly tradition — offering both remembrance and revenue.

Organizers expect more than 10,000 attendees this weekend, capped by a Saturday night concert headlined by Grammy-nominated artist Tobe Nwigwe.

Legacy Fest is free and open to the public and continues through Sunday. A full schedule of events can be found at www.blackwallstreetlegacyfest.com.