DRIVING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE ARTS IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, NJ
About Festivals United
Festivals United was convened by the Newark Alliance and Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District in response to NJEDA’s Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (ART) Program, which supports economic recovery in urban areas that have faced economic harms from the reduction of commuters due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The founding new coalition of festivals are: Afro Beat Fest, Halsey Festival, Lincoln Park Music Festival, Newark Arts Festival, Newark LGTBQ Pride, Newark Winter Village, all in partnership with Newark City Parks Foundation, a critical stakeholder in the production of many of Downtown Newark’s events.
Festivals United embodies the spirit and resilience of Newark and is a representation of the power and tangible impact that is possible through intentional collaboration and coordination. The collaborative nature of Festivals United is particularly noteworthy. By combining the strengths of various festivals under a unified umbrella that activates year-round, this initiative can amplify their collective impact and enhance the city's overall vibrancy.
The Power of Newark Festivals
$4 Million - Economic Impact
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12 million - Marketing and PR Impressions
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100,000 – Annual Attendance
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675 – Creatives, Curators, and Artists Booked/Showcased
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880 – Gig Economy Jobs Created
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$4 Million - Economic Impact • 12 million - Marketing and PR Impressions • 100,000 – Annual Attendance • 675 – Creatives, Curators, and Artists Booked/Showcased • 880 – Gig Economy Jobs Created •
Festivals United will achieve the following:
Collectively promote Newark, NJ as a year-round destination for festivals and a regional and national destination for arts, culture, entertainment, and discovering small businesses.
Formalize cooperation of not only marketing and promotion, but also expand programming, enhance community placemaking initiatives, and improve pedestrian traffic to commercial corridors beyond the geographic boundaries of the festivals.
Create a learning community to share learnings, best practices and impact so that the coalition can tell the collective story of the role festivals play in Newark’s economic development, revitalization, and cultural life.
The Festivals
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Halsey Festival: Activating A Historic Arts & Education District Corridor
The annual Halsey Festival in downtown Newark's historic Halsey Street district attracts hundreds with activations, a vibrant market, and lively mainstage, providing a unique opportunity for a diverse mix of attendees to experience the neighborhood firsthand with food options, programming, and special performances. For nearly 15 years the grassroots event has proven that Halsey Street is "A Neighborhood Built on Hustle and Heart." Newark Alliance is honored to continue the tradition of showcasing the organizations, artists and small businesses that truly make downtown Newark unique.
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Afrobeat Fest: Celebrating Art, Food, Fashion, Music and Culture of the Diaspora
Founded in 2017, Afrobeat Fest is Newark's largest annual family festival, celebrating African diaspora culture with over 10,000 attendees, 300 vendors, and a vibrant array of art, food, fashion, music, and cultural activities.
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Newark LGBTQ Pride: LGBTQIA+ Visibility and Empowerment
For the past 18 years, Newark Pride Festival has been a cornerstone in promoting LGBTQ+ awareness, visibility, and participation through its week-long events, including a Pride Flag Raising Ceremony, a Parade down Broad Street, and Newark Pride in the Park, attracting nearly 5,000 participants to the Downtown Business District and fostering year-round community collaboration with organizations like NJCRI's Project WOW Youth Center and the City of Newark's LGBTQ Commission.
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Lincoln Park Music Festival: Season of Arts, Music and Culture
The annual Lincoln Park Music Festival (LPMF) stands as the largest music experience rooted in the African American and Afro Caribbean diaspora traditions in the tri-state region, attracting an international audience of 50,000-60,000 attendees over a full season, featuring diverse genres like Gospel, Jazz, House, Hip-Hop, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Kompa, and Latinx/Hispanic diaspora, while also incorporating elements of public art, film, tech, and music business education.
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Newark Arts Festival: Powering The Arts In The City of Newark
The Newark Arts Festival, a free four-day celebration occurring annually in October across all five wards of Newark, showcases the creations of 200-500 local artists through visual and performing arts activations, drawing artists, collectors, and creatives to the city with dynamic offerings led by local and national curators, including pop-up installations, performances, poetry, film events, and panels.
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Newark Winter Village: A Winter Wonderland Experience
The annual Newark Winter Village, initiated in February 2021 in response to the pandemic, turns downtown Newark into a winter wonderland with outdoor recreation, a marketplace, curbside eats, ice skating, and special events, attracting nearly 9,000 guests over 57 operating days and reflecting Newark's dedication to community programming and downtown assets.
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Newark City Parks Foundation: Activating The City of Newark’s Downtown Public Parks
Established in April 2021, the Newark City Parks Foundation (NCPF) is a public-private partnership committed to managing, maintaining, and programming Newark's downtown parks, including Harriet Tubman Square, Lincoln Park, Military Park, Mulberry Commons, and Riverfront Park, collaborating with the City of Newark and local stakeholders to offer over 200 annual programs in arts, culture, health, wellness, on-water activities, and environmental education, attracting 30,000+ visitors annually.
Upcoming Events
Festivals United Contact Info
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Ashley Mays (Event Inquiries)
Chief Real Estate and Marketing Officer
Newark Alliance
Amays@newark-alliance.org
973.596.6400 ext 3111 (Office)
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Anthony Smith (Event Inquiries)
Executive Director
Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District
Anthony@lpccd.org
973-242-4144 (Office)
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Kate Traina (Media and Press Inquiries)
Account Executive
Violet PR
908-967-2117
Kate@violetpr.com
www.violetpr.com