Local entrepreneur Sherri Rose-Holmes partners with Phil Beach, Carlitobaby for 3rd Annual Street Food and Poetry Festival

The founder of the Sisternaturals product line has a long history of event-planning in Savannah, and on Sunday, September 22nd, she'll be bringing beats, barbecue, and more to the Southside.

[The affable Sherri Rose-Holmes is bringing back her popular Street Food & Poetry Festival for the third time Image Composite Created by Rob Hessler/Source Images Courtesy Sherri Rose-Holmes]

If you’re into the Savannah poetry/spoken word or hip-hop/R&B scene, you’ve likely heard the names Phil Beach, Dr. Jamita Cobb, and Signature, who have each spent the past several years entertaining and inspiring locals from Bay Street to the Southside.

But have you heard of Sherri Rose-Holmes?

Probably not, and that’s to be expected: Rose-Holmes has been one of the people behind the scenes, helping to put together events featuring those local big names. And this coming Sunday, September 22nd, she’ll be bringing back her popular Street Food and Poetry Festival to the Elk’s Lodge at 183 Wilshire Blvd.

“I try to look at it like, ‘If I came to the event, what would I want to see? What would I want to do?’” She explained. “You may see jewelry on this side, you may see food on that side, but while you shop and eat, there will be entertainment.”

[A video montage from a previous iteration of the Street Food and Poetry Festival Courtesy Sherri Rose-Holmes]

Poetry, Rap, and Music

Entertainment there will most certainly be. Of the artists noted above, Phil Beach (real name Phillip Davis) will be MC-ing the event, Cobb will be performing a poem, and Signature will be doing a 15 minute set of music, likely featuring songs from his 2024 release “Shit Happens.”

“I’ve been knowing him for a long time,” said Charles ‘Carlitobaby’ Singleton, who helped Sherri-Rose with the musical side of the event. “He’s real big in the rap scene locally. He keeps the underground hiphop scene here going.”

For his part, Singleton will be behind the turntables throughout the event, which runs from 3-6pm, but he’ll also be doing songs from his own recently dropped record “Drink More Water” to close out the night.

“He’s got a dope ass album out right now,” Rose-Holmes emphasized, getting a laugh out of the artist himself.

“It’s been years in the making,” Singleton added with a smile.

[DJ and Rapper Charles “Carlitobaby” Singleton, whose latest album “Drink More Water” is out now Image Courtesy Sherri Rose-Holmes]

The pair, along with Davis, organized the event to bounce between poetry and spoken word, rap, and musical numbers in other genres so that attendees get to experience a variety of performance styles during their visit. In addition to Cobb, poet’s Arthur Shuey and Jessi Conway will do sets, as well as CJ Giovanni, whom Sherri-Rose calls her “favorite.”

“She does poetry, but she also does music behind it sometimes,” she explained.

“She’s been with us from the beginning,” Singleton added. “It’s more spoken word style, but performative as well. [It’s] mainly from the perspective of the kinds of things that young black women face relationship-wise, and in society.”

While many of the artists at the 3rd Annual Street Food and Poetry Festival are likely recognizable to those in the know, however, others have yet to make a name for themselves. That, says Rose-Holmes, is by design.

“I like doing events that showcase people that can’t be showcased in any other way,” she noted. “Savannah’s hard when it comes to entertainment, for people that have that gift, there [are few] ways for them to showcase those gifts.”

All Three Food Groups

The event is indoor/outdoor, with the entertainment and vendors inside, and the eats set up outside. Given that “food” is in the name of the festival, you can bet Rose-Holmes has lined up some of the best local culinary creatives that the city has to offer.

You’ll be able to get all three food groups: Barbecue (Pickle P’s Bar-B-Que); Pizza (Cool Vibes); and Wings (Wing-N-It). If clogging your arteries with savory meats isn’t your thing, there will be a specialized fruit vendor (Sherice’s Pieces) and a spot to grab a pastry (Get Caked Up Desserts).  And, while alcohol will be available at the bar, mocktail specialist Hatchet Granny will be on hand for those looking for a more chill Sunday afternoon.

[You can find Pickle P’s Bar-B-Que, one of the events food vendors, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pickelpsbbq. Editor’s Note: They did not pay us to put their logo here, I just love BBQ.]

In terms of vendors, Rose-Holmes has curated a collection of local makers, many of which she met during the five years she spent putting together yearly Rock-ur-Natural Hair, Health, and Beauty Expos, or over the decade-plus that she’s been building her own brand, Sisternaturals.

“[It’s] about everybody showcasing their passion, stuff you couldn’t find in the stores,” she related. “Those are the people that I’m looking for for my events.”

This coming Sunday, Rose-Holmes is featuring a bookseller (Omega Scribes), a clothier (This & That Clothing), and Rafaela Johnson’s popular Vibez4Me jewelry, amongst others. Plus, Savannah art star Zay Hutchins will be live painting.

“It’s community vibes,” she said.

[Artist Zay Hutchins is known not only for his studio and mural work, but also for his live painting skills Photo Credit Sherri Rose Holmes]

“It’s all of us."

The Street Food and Poetry Festival has something for almost everyone, whether it be food, entertainment, or just positive vibes. Between Rose-Holmes, Singleton, and Davis, there are literal decades of experience planning these kinds of gatherings, and with the three of them combining their powers for this third iteration of the event, they feel as if they’re bringing something truly special to the local cultural scene.

“The city hasn’t had anything like this,” Singleton opined. “We’ve got a mixture of food trucks, we’ve got amazing vendors, dope artists, a lot of amazing local talent. What could be better?”

“There [are] all different types of people who are gonna be out there,” Rose-Holmes agreed. “It’s for everybody. It’s not just white. It’s not just black. It’s all of us. I want us all to be there.”

[Sherri Rose-Holmes and a previous event’s guest of honor, internationally-renowned spoken word artist Taalam Acey Image Courtesy Sherri Rose-Holmes]

The 3rd Annual Street Food and Poetry Festival will take place Sunday, September 22nd from 3pm-6pm at Savannah Elks Lodge #183, 183 Wilshire Blvd in Savannah. Admission $10.