Black Wall Street Festival (New Haven)

 

​Black Wall Street Festival (New Haven)

​The Black Wall Street Festival (also known as BWS Fest or Black Wall Street Week) is an annual cultural and economic festival held in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 2022, the festival highlights Black and Brown small business owners, entrepreneurs, and artists while promoting wealth building, economic equity, and community activism.

​The festival takes place annually in mid-August to coincide with National Black Business Month. It is organized by The Breed Entertainment in partnership with the City of New Haven’s Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism.

​History

​The festival was conceptualized in 2022 by Aaron Rogers and Rashad Johnson, Grammy Award–nominated music producers and founders of the local agency The Breed Entertainment. Taking historical inspiration from the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma—famously known as the original "Black Wall Street"—Rogers and Johnson sought to create a modern event that would circulate wealth within regional minority communities and dismantle systemic barriers to capital access.

​The inaugural event was held in August 2022 at Temple Plaza in Downtown New Haven, featuring roughly 25 to 35 local vendors. Following its initial reception, the City of New Haven integrated the event into its formal Cultural Equity Plan under the leadership of the city's Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism.

​In subsequent years, the festival expanded from a single-day gathering into a week-long series of events ("Black Wall Street Week"). By 2024, the primary Saturday event moved to the New Haven Green to accommodate thousands of attendees and hundreds of participating businesses traveling from across the East Coast.

​Programming and Structure

​The Black Wall Street Festival operates as a series of multi-venue events across New Haven leading up to a large-scale outdoor fair.

​Black Wall Street Week

​Events held during the week prior to the main festival include:

  • ​Community & Youth Events: Skate days, youth poetry slams, and local artistic showcases held at community centers like the Dixwell Community Q House.
  • ​The Power In Our Dollar Summit: An economic empowerment forum featuring guest speakers, financial literacy panels, and a business pitch competition for entrepreneurs.
  • ​The Blueprint Fashion Show: A runway showcase highlighting local minority fashion designers and models.
  • ​BWS Restaurant Week: A city-wide promotional initiative encouraging dining at Black-owned local eateries.

​Main Festival on the Green

​The centerpiece of BWS Week takes place on the third Saturday of August on the historic New Haven Green. Features of the main day include:

  • ​Vendor Marketplace: Tents featuring retail, handmade craft, apparel, beauty, and wellness vendors.
  • ​Food Courts: Local food trucks and culinary pop-ups.
  • ​Live Performances: Musical sets, dance acts, and guest speakers performing on the main stage.

​Economic Impact

​The event serves as an economic incubator for small businesses, providing vendor exposure, networking opportunities with regional financial institutions, and direct sales. Studies and reporting from local cultural organizations note that the festival's footprint grew from 35 vendors in its opening year to over 400 participating entities by 2026, making it one of the largest annual minority business gatherings in Southern New England.

​References

  1. ​Official Website of the BWS Festival: bwsfestival.com
  2. ​Visit New Haven Event Directory: Black Wall Street 2025

  1. ​City of New Haven Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism Archives.

​Two New Haven natives give back through music and entrepreneurship

This interview highlights Aaron Rogers and Rashad Johnson, the co-founders of The Breed Entertainment who established the festival in New Haven.

 

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