Thousands are expected to gather at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for the highly anticipated return of the annual Kwanzaa Family Festival on Saturday, December 21, from 12 PM to 7 PM. The festival, a cherished tradition lasting over 25 years, is set to take place at NJPAC, located at 1 Center Street in downtown Newark, New Jersey. This year, the festival will be bigger and better than ever, offering a wide array of family-friendly activities that embody the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
The festival will feature interactive dance classes for all abilities, arts and crafts workshops, storytelling, and exquisite face painting, all designed to engage attendees in the celebration of culture and community. The Prudential Hall Lobby will come alive every hour with performances by local dancers, artists, and musicians, including Ancient African Formula Fashions, New Jersey Kids Fashion Week, Premiere Dance Theatre, Smiling David’s Dance School, Umoja Dance Company, and Zawadi African Dance & Drum, Inc. These vibrant performances promise to add a joyful atmosphere to the festival.
In addition to the fun activities, the festival will coincide with the Kwanzaa Marketplace, a unique holiday market on multiple floors of NJPAC. Featuring over 20 vendors, the marketplace offers a diverse selection of one-of-a-kind gifts, from handcrafted accessories and African fabrics to natural beauty products and artwork. Local businesses such as Aya Paper Co. and Sweeti’s Creations, both Black-owned and based in Newark, will be among the sellers offering their beautiful and meaningful creations. The event will also include free dance and drumming classes, storytelling sessions, arts workshops, and a panel discussion on loss and healing. For those looking for more festive experiences, ticketed performances by GRAMMY-winning gospel artist CeCe Winans and the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre will cap off the weekend’s activities.
