The History of Oak Street

" The first Saturday in November is set aside for the Oak Street Festival. This is the day the community gathers to celebrate the rich history of Oak Street. "

Purpose of Oak Street Festival :

In the fall of 2004, a small group of individuals led by Commissioner Simmons and the Weed & Seed Initiative ventured out on faith and organized the first Oak Street Festival. It began as a very small celebration of our rich history in Waycross.

Looking back over the years, Oak Street was the business district where we shopped, we slept and we entertained. Today, this area is a primary focus of our revitalization plans. Our vision remains strong for a new Oak Street that will once again be a source of pride for our community.

Since 2004, our small group of volunteers has worked long and hard to ensure that the Oak Street Festival is a source of pride for Waycross. It has become the largest black community festival in South Georgia. People from all over the area now set aside the first Saturday in November to return “home” to celebrate with us.

Here we are today preparing for the 6th Annual Oak Street Festival. We have grown from a small community festival, to the biggest and best reunion of family and friends in South Georgia. Last year over 60 vendors participated and nearly 5000 visitors joined us to make 2008 a successful year; the entertainment was uplifting and the food was truly awesome!

The Oak Street Festival is unlike other community festivals in Southeast Georgia. With this festival, we are bringing 5,000 to 6,000 people back to an area that was once a proud historically black section of Waycross that served all of South Georgia. Oak Street was the home of the Carver Theater where some of the greatest African-American performers of the 50’s and 60’s visited and performed. At one time, this area was a bustling area in the black community featuring doctor’s offices, insurance offices, diners, motels, theater, cab station, clubs, and more. Like many historic African-American communities across the country, the Oak Street community declined. Our purpose is to help the area reclaim its rich history.

What is R.O.S.E.?

The Revitalization of Oak Street thru Empowerment (R.O.S.E.) Project is a Neighborhood Restoration Special Emphasis Initiative. The ROSE Initiative draws residents, property owners, and customers of both the two-block long commercial area and adjoining residential area into a revitalization effort. As part of our initiative, we coordinate clean-up programs in the area.

We’ve worked with the Waycross Police Department, Traffic Engineering, business owners, residents, community service workers, and inmate labor to initiate a city funded effort to remove trash from the public areas of Oak Street. This effort has, so far, resulted in removal of more than 360 bags of trash from the street and adjoining properties. The two block commercial area has been re-designated as a one-way street to reduce the convenience to open air drug sales plus street lighting has been improved. Furthermore, we assist business owners; and we organize the Oak Street Festival.

Paint Up Oak Street Day:

On October 11 , 2008, the Oak Street Festival Committee held its first “Paint Up Oak Street Day". This was a joint venture between the Oak Street Festival Committee, the City of Waycross, the Oak Street business owners, and the community. We painted the abandoned buildings along Oak Street in an effort to beautify the area. The project began at 7:00 AM on the 11th. Columns were erected on Oak Street in memory of this great area of Waycross. Thanks to the organizations and persons who volunteered their time and monies to make this effort come to life. The organizations and persons are as follows:

1. The Oak Street Festival Committee

2. Pastor Frazier & Mt Zion A.M.E. Church

3. The Waycross Firebirds

4. The Waycross Police Department

5. The Waycross Fire Department

6. Attorney Scott Crowley

7. The Waycross Community Improvement & Human Resources Departments

8. Light of the World Ministries

9. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

11. Simmons Masonary Company