Downtown Tulsa Hosts 918 Day Festival on Sept. 18
Downtown Tulsa Partnership (DTP) will host the first 918 Day Festival from 5-9 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, at Chapman Green, 600 S. Main St. in Tulsa. The civic pride event named for the Tulsa area code is free and open to the public, and free parking is available in nearby lots and on the street.
918 Day launched in 2018 as a recommendation of the Resilient Tulsa Plan to host a citywide event that celebrates Tulsa’s growth, diversity, and multiculturism in an effort to build cohesion across all communities. In that spirit, in partnership with city, arts and community leaders, including festival co-organizer “Mr. Greenwood” Tony Williams, DTP is launching a community-wide celebration of arts and culture in the heart of the city.
In support of DTP’s mission to champion a prosperous, vibrant and inclusive Downtown Tulsa, the 918 Day Festival will honor the cultural arts of Tulsa’s many vibrant ethnic and racial communities. Nearly 100 art and food vendors and community organizations will participate in the 918 Day Festival.
“From our perspective, what better way to celebrate 918 Day than to host a festival that celebrates the rich culture and diversity of our community with music, food and art presented by our neighbors in the heart of Downtown — a place that is everyone’s neighborhood and backyard and where all must be and feel welcome,” said Brian Kurtz, DTP President and CEO. Festival sponsors include American Waste Control, Bank of Oklahoma, the City of Tulsa, Solid Roots, TYPROS, BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma, Tulsa Creative Engine and Tulsa Remote.
Festival entertainment will feature live, local performances on two stages:
Main Stage (intersection of 6th Street & Boston Avenue)
5 p.m. — Bill Tetrick: Tetrick is the Pipe Major of the City of Tulsa Pipes and Drums, and a member of the Scottish Club of Tulsa. He will kick off the festival on the bagpipes.
5:10 p.m. — David Hernandez: Singer/songwriter Hernandez will perform his jazz, blues, and Bossa Nova music in Spanish.
6 p.m. — Dr. Shred: Oklahoma-born, female guitar player Erin Detherage will perform rock, pop, country, and timeless classics from Prince, Whitney, Cher, Britney, and more.
7 p.m. — Branjae Jackson: Jackson is an award-winning songwriter and performer whose original music has traveled nationally and internationally. She has been called “the birth child of classic soul, funk and R&B.”
8 p.m. — Written Quincey: “Q” is a hip-hop, R&B, soul, and spoken word artist who will joined by his house band.
Amphitheater (west side of Chapman Green park)
5:30 p.m. — Rising Buffalo Dance Group: This contemporary Native American educational dance group specializes in fancy dance and other tribal dances.
6:30 p.m. — Let's Session: A collective of street dancers from all ages and backgrounds, Let’s Session uses dance cyphers and battles to provide awareness of street dance styles and their origins.
7:30 p.m. — Legacy Foundation Creations: This group will showcase forms of hip-hop and Afro Latin dance.
8:35 p.m. — DJ Klave: Steve Lozano is Tulsa’s tropical DJ for salsa and bachata, a genre of Latin music.
“The energy around the 918 Day Festival has been significant, from the involvement of our amazing festival committee to the number of vendor and performer applications received,” said Morgan Phillips, DTP’s Director of Marketing and Events. “I can’t wait to celebrate our city’s diverse heritage together!”
More information about the 918 Day Festival is available at DowntownTulsa.com/918Day and on DTP’s social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.