This Sunday, Lubbock’s Black Business Expo is inviting the community to a free Holiday Market at the East Lubbock Art House. For the organizers, the afternoon is also a milestone: 2026 is the Expo’s five-year anniversary.
Ricky Sherfield Jr., the Expo’s executive director, and Charkeitha Flowers, a member of its board, say the idea took shape during the pandemic.
A light on local entrepreneurs
“The idea started during the pandemic with a desire to shine a light on the local businesses and entrepreneurs who were making a difference in our community,” they wrote in an email to Hub City UnCovered. “We recognized that many were doing incredible things, but needed greater exposure and a platform to share their stories, connect with the community, and let people know who they are and what they have to offer.”
KCBD reported on what it called Lubbock’s first Black Business Expo in February 2022, a free Saturday event at Mae Simmons Community Center. This past January, KCBD covered the fifth Expo, which it said brought 25 local vendors together under the theme “from vision to victory.”
More than a market
The organizers say the point was never just selling space to vendors.
“I think what sets the Black Business Expo apart is that it’s about more than just providing a space for vendors to sell. It’s about creating visibility, building connections, and strengthening the local Black business community,” they wrote. “Unlike a traditional market, the Expo is intentional about bringing businesses, entrepreneurs, and the community together in a way that encourages people to discover, support, and build relationships with Black-owned businesses.”
That includes networking, collaboration and education that last past the event itself. “We want people to walk away with more than just a purchase,” they wrote. “We want them to discover a new business, make a meaningful connection, learn something new, or find inspiration to pursue an idea of their own.”
What they’re proud of
The organizers say more than 72 Black-owned businesses, nonprofits and organizations “have participated in our expos, seminars, and vendor markets since launching.”
They also say the Expo has “provided a platform for 60+ local entrepreneurs to showcase their products, services, and stories” and has “hosted over 14 community events dedicated to economic empowerment, education, and cultural celebration.”
“Vendors say their exposure at our events helped them grow their audience or gain new customers,” they wrote. “Our mission has reached various cities, expanding beyond Lubbock such as Midland and as far as Dallas.”
‘There is no expo if we don’t have vendors or community showing up’
The moments that stand out, they wrote, “are the people who have participated in every year and the ones who have traveled far and near to be a part of our event.”
Asked who they would like to shout out, they pointed to the West Texas community.
“The West Texas Community,” they wrote. “There is no expo if we don’t have vendors or community showing up.”
This Sunday’s Holiday Market
The 2026 Black Business Holiday Market is Sunday, Nov. 15, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the East Lubbock Art House, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite B. That date, time and place match our Christmas events list, which lists the market from 3 to 6 p.m., and the Expo’s own Holiday Market page.
The Expo says to expect holiday shopping, Black Santa, holiday photos, crafts, refreshments, handmade items, décor and clothing. Eventbrite lists admission as free and open to the public.
Before you go
- 2026 Black Business Holiday Market: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, 3 to 6 p.m.
- Where: East Lubbock Art House, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite B, Lubbock, TX 79403
- Cost: Free and open to the public
- What to expect: Holiday shopping, Black Santa, holiday photos, crafts, refreshments, handmade items, décor and clothing, according to the Expo’s Holiday Market page
- Website: tinyurl.com/BBExpo
- Holiday Market page: rdsrdd.wixsite.com/bbexpo/holidaymarket
- Holiday Market on Facebook: Event link
- Eventbrite: 2026 Black Business Holiday Market
- Facebook: @LBKBlackBusinessExpo
- Instagram: lbkblackbusinessexpo
- TikTok: Lbkblackbizexpo
- Phone: 903-316-2735
- Also listed in our Christmas events guide
Sources
- Interview: Organizers of the Lubbock Black Business Expo (Ricky Sherfield Jr., executive director, and Charkeitha Flowers, listed as board of director), email reply from RealDealDesigns@graphic-designer.com to Hub City UnCovered, Nov. 11, 2026 (12:50 p.m. CT); Gmail message 1a1cbf27e0b88d0e, thread 1a1c0f4719a93cff
- Black Business Expo website (tinyurl.com/BBExpo resolves here), accessed Nov. 11, 2026: https://rdsrdd.wixsite.com/bbexpo
- Black Business Expo, Holiday Market page, accessed Nov. 11, 2026: https://rdsrdd.wixsite.com/bbexpo/holidaymarket
- Fact-check reply from organizers, email from RealDealDesigns@graphic-designer.com, Nov. 11, 2026 (6:10 p.m. CT); Gmail message 1a1cd17804ab7ce5
- Eventbrite, 2026 Black Business Holiday Market, accessed Nov. 11, 2026: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-black-business-holiday-market-tickets-2000778655819
- East Lubbock Art House, Contact Us (street address), accessed Nov. 11, 2026: https://eastlubbockarthouse.org/contact/
- Hub City UnCovered, Lubbock Christmas Events 2026 list, live page checked Nov. 11, 2026: https://hubcityuncovered.com/holiday-season-in-lubbock-the-dates-to-save-for-2026/
- KCBD, Camelia Juarez, Feb. 4, 2022: https://www.kcbd.com/2022/02/05/invest-us-first-black-business-expo-supports-existing-emerging-entrepreneurs/
- KCBD, Jayden Santos, Jan. 31, 2026: https://www.kcbd.com/2026/01/31/black-business-expo-aims-connect-celebrate-inspire-local-entrepreneurs/
