When sisters Lanie and Char Edwards launched Black on the Block in Los Angeles in 2021, they didn’t envision a national tour.
They were just two young Black women with fashion brands, frustrated at the lack of visibility for small Black-owned businesses. So they threw together a Juneteenth pop-up. Seventy vendors signed up, fifteen hundred people showed up and four years later, that pop-up has grown into a movement.
Now, for the first time, Black on the Block is coming to Houston.
“Houston has always been one of the top cities people ask us about,” said Lanie. “Every time we posted another city, the comments were like, ‘What about Houston?’ So we knew we had to make it happen.”
The one-day festival, which will be held at Post Houston on September 7th, promises more than just shopping. Attendees will see over 100 Black-owned businesses, from skincare to technology, alongside food vendors, DJs and live performances.
Black on the Block began during a time of deep cultural reflection in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and a surge in nationwide calls to support Black businesses.
“We didn’t feel represented in other markets,” said Char. “So we created our own. What started as a free Juneteenth celebration turned into a monthly event in L.A., then expanded to D.C. and now multiple cities. It’s community, entrepreneurship and Black culture all in one.”
The impact has been tangible. Beyond the shopping bags and smiling crowds, some vendors have grown from market tables to brick-and-mortar stores. Others have used the exposure to land sponsorships or grow their customer base nationwide.
“Every event, we see people with bags on both arms, intentionally choosing to shop Black,” Lanie said. “That’s the mission in action. Circulating the Black dollar.”
Black on the Block builds each event around the city it’s in. That means homegrown talent will take center stage. Local DJs, Houston hosts and artists are on the lineup. Vendors are also being pulled directly from the city’s entrepreneurial scene.
“Each city’s culture is different and that’s the beauty of it,” said Lanie. “We want people to feel like it’s theirs, not like we’re just dropping in.”
That community focus stands in contrast to larger corporate festivals that lean heavily on headliners.
“We’ve seen the feedback before, people want to see local, independent artists, not just the big names,” Lanie noted. “We’re intentional about that.”
Scaling the festival to multiple cities required more resources than the family could manage alone. That’s where Live Nation Urban stepped in, partnering with Black on the Block to provide support and infrastructure.
“It’s what allowed us to finally tour,” Char said. “This partnership has been a blessing.”
Still, the sisters insist the grassroots heart of the event remains intact. “We’re here to create safe, joyful spaces where Black businesses thrive and families come together,” Lanie said. “That doesn’t change.”
Tickets are $15, but children 12 and under get in free.
For more information, visit: www.blackxtheblock.com/
