Initiated as a local neighborhood festival for New Orleanians and travelers alike, Homefest was created in 2013 by Community Book Center as a way of promoting local entrepreneurs on Bayou Road - the most historic place of commerce in New Orleans, elevating cultural institutions, artist, authors and other native talens, and to shine a light local challenges and vital economic and community resources. 

As an effort in support of place-based economic development and our cultural economy, 2022 HomeFest grows out of multi-year partnerships between the Bayou Road Business Association, Black Bayou and Broad Community Connections to tell the story of Bayou Road as New Orleans’ very own Black Wall Street and the oldest place of commerce and culture and the neighborhood of Free People of Color.