Sat, Aug 22
|5 Boundary Ave
3rd Annual Shoebox Lunch Festival
Enjoy a morning 5K Run/Walk, live music by award-winning artist Akeylah Simone, blacksmithing demonstrations, traditional African dance, family activities, and great food as we celebrate African American history, culture, and community on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Time & Location
Aug 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
5 Boundary Ave, 5 Boundary Ave, Onancock, VA 23417, USA
About the event
The Shoebox Lunch Festival is an annual celebration of African American history, culture, and community hosted by the Samuel D. Outlaw Blacksmith Shop Memorial Museum in Onancock, Virginia. The festival honors the legacy of Samuel D. Outlaw, a skilled Black blacksmith, entrepreneur, and community leader whose shop served generations of Eastern Shore residents. Today, the restored Blacksmith Shop stands as a rare surviving example of an African American-owned trade business and a testament to the craftsmanship, resilience, and ingenuity of Black artisans.
At the heart of the festival is the story of the shoebox lunch. During the Jim Crow era, many Black travelers could not safely access restaurants, hotels, and other public accommodations. Families often packed meals in shoeboxes or similar containers before setting out on the road, ensuring they would have food when dining options were unavailable or unsafe. The shoebox lunch became a symbol of resilience, self-reliance, and determination…
Tickets
One Shoebox Lunch
Enjoy a traditional African American shoebox lunch inspired by the meals Black families packed for travel during the Jim Crow era, when safe public dining options were often unavailable. Prepared by Chef Sebastian Bowers of the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club, the meal features Southern favorites and celebrates a powerful story of resilience, community, and cultural heritage.
$20.00
+$0.50 ticket service fee
Total
$0.00