" 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 :

The Oak Street Festival is unlike other community festivals in Southeast Georgia. With this festival, we are brining 5,000 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. At one time, this area was a bustling area in the black community featuring a doctor’s officer, insurance office, diners, motels, theater, cab station, clubs and more. Like many historic African-American Communities across the country, the Oak Street Community declined. Our propose 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 is 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 iniate 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 and street lighting has been improved. We assist business owners and we organize the Oak Street Festival.