Cyclists Gear Up for Third Annual Black Towns of Oklahoma Bike Tour

The Community Light Foundation is set to host the third annual Black Towns of Oklahoma Bike Tour on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in Muskogee.

This event offers cyclists a unique opportunity to explore and honor the rich histories of Oklahoma's historic Black towns.

Participants will embark on routes that traverse five of the state's remaining Black towns: Tullahassee, Red Bird, Taft, Summit, and Rentiesville.

These communities stand as enduring symbols of resilience and cultural heritage.

Osborne Celestain, the founder and CEO of the Community Light Foundation, initiated this tour to shed light on these towns' significant contributions to Oklahoma's history.

Reflecting on his first visit, Celestain remarked, "It was just so much history that I didn't know anything about and just embracing it."

He was struck by the realization that, "These towns are barely here. We've got this great history. How can we sell this? How can we sell this to help these communities?"

The inaugural bike tour coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 2021.

Encouraged by the positive feedback from participants, Celestain continued the initiative.

He recalled, "In 2023, when the cyclists came back from their first visit, they all had big smiles and told me how much fun they had and how much stuff they learned. I was like, 'Wow, it really did work!'"

Starting at Depot Green in Muskogee, the tour offers various routes to accommodate different skill levels:

5K Slow Roll for families and children, and road rides of 25, 40, 50, and 60 miles.

Each route is designed to immerse riders in the unique stories and landmarks of these historic towns.

Midred Burkhalter, Mayor of Rentiesville, expressed her appreciation for the event's impact: "People that he brings in, the people on the bike tour, get that recognition of Rentiesville. We're here and that's a great thing. I appreciate him so much for including Rentiesville."

Beyond the ride, the event serves as a fundraiser to support these communities.

Celestain emphasized, "To be able to get this going and generate $1,500, $2,000 or $5,000 for these communities will be huge. I really see the growth opportunity here... I want the communities here to realize that they have amazing history. They've got a great story to tell and they should be telling that to everybody they can."

The tour will commence at 9:00 a.m. at Depot Green, located at 205 Elgin St, Muskogee, OK 74401.

The community is encouraged to support the cyclists and celebrate the rich heritage of Oklahoma's Black towns.

For those interested in participating, registration is open to all ages.

To learn more about the Community Light Foundation and its initiatives, visit their official website.

Join us in honoring and preserving the legacy of Oklahoma's historic Black towns through this meaningful and engaging event.