(Trenton, New Jersey) – Governor Jon S. Corzine and Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells are proud to announce New Jersey’s Cultural Festival on September 29 at South Riverwalk Park in Trenton from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Festival will showcase art, music, dance, poetry, crafts, special children’s activities, diverse ethnic cuisine and more during an all-day free event for the family.
The rain date is September 30th.
“One of the great aspects of New Jersey’s historical legacy is our unparalleled diversity,” said Governor Corzine. “The New Jersey Cultural Festival is a unique celebration of the Garden State’s rich cultural resources and traditions and furthers our efforts to foster mutual understanding of others.”
“Our cultural diversity is what fuels the fabric of our creativity and defines who we are as New Jerseyans,” said Secretary Wells. “It drives our artistic fabric and continues to be the foundation of each and every one of our communities. Simply, this Festival will advance the message that the Garden State remains a microcosm of all that’s great about America.”
The Festival celebration kicks off at 11:00 a.m., with continuous cultural performances throughout the afternoon – highlighted by the Philly Pops, Ceili Rain and a naturalization ceremony for new American citizens at 1 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. The festivities will continue until 5 p.m.
South Riverwalk Park was built in 2004 on the banks of the Delaware River in Trenton. The 6.5 acre venue will provide a beautiful backdrop for festival goers to enjoy a day-long lineup of cultural activities, ethnic foods and music and dance performances by artists from all over New Jersey. The park has recreational and picnic areas for the enjoyment of families and their children.
Performances will also showcase Native American, South and East Asian, Latino, Brazilian, Greek, Ukrainian, Chinese, Klezmer, jazz and hip-hop artists among many others. The festival also will feature African American storytelling and spoken word poetry.
In addition to close collaboration with the New Jersey Departments of Education, Community Affairs and Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs, Festival partners include Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes; Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer; the Governor’s Ethnic Advisory Council, the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation, the New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs, the NJ Asian American Foundation; Celebrate NJ; the NJ State League of Municipalities; the NJ Business and Industry Association; the NJ Chamber of Commerce, the Mercer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Trenton Downtown Association. The event is underwritten in part by generous donations from the following corporate sponsors: Comcast, the Official Media Sponsor; Wal-Mart; First Energy Foundation/JCP&L; State Farm Insurance; and the Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition.
The cross-cultural performance lineup will feature the following groups:
FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT
DANCE STAGE—SOUTH OF FLAGPOLE AREA, SOUTH END OF PARK, SOUTH OF LALOR STREET
Juvenile Justice Step Corps—Welcome performance—11:15 AM
Syzockryli Ukrainian Dancers—11:30 AM
African Dance and Drum Ensemble—11:50 AM
Square Dance Council of NJ—12:15 PM
Rahway Dance Theater—12:40 PM
Hellenic Dancers—2 PM
Nanticoke/Lenni-Lenape—2:30 PM
Nai-Ni Chen—3 PM
Soorya Dance—3:15 PM
Chinese Opera Dance—3:45 PM
Sikh Martial Arts—4 PM
Brasil Tche—4:20 PM
Face DaPhlave—4:40 PM
VOCAL/INSTRUMENTAL STAGE—NORTH END OF PARK, NORTH OF LALOR STREET, NEAR ARCHES
Old Barracks Fife and Drum—Welcome Performance—11:15 AM
Camden Creative Arts High Jazz Band—11:30 AM
Philly Pops Festival Brass Quintet—NOON
Arturo Romay—Latino Guitarist—12:40 PM
Ceili Rain—1:45 PM
Harriet Tubman/William Still—2:30 PM
Ensemble Barynya—2:55 PM
Odessa Klezmer—3:30 PM
Old Barracks Fife and Drum/Civil War Encampment musket drill—4 PM
Trenton Jazz Ensemble—4:30 PM
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
Henna Painting by Ritu Kandia—2 to 4 p.m.
Face Painting by Cheryl Ruck—11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ceramics Tent by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission—ALL DAY
Ecology and History tours by Mercer County Parks Naturalist Joe Schmeltz—1 to 3 p.m.
Craft Project and information from Jenkinson’s Aquarium—ALL DAY
Poetry readings by Naja Selby—ALL DAY
Doll making and finger painting by Cali Smith—ALL DAY
Telescope Sun View by the NJ State Museum & the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton—ALL DAY
Community Art Project by Jaymie Stein and Zachary Green—11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Pumpkin painting by the NJ Department of Agriculture—ALL DAY
Wooden Animals Art Project by the City of Trenton—ALL DAY
PLEASE NOTE: ONGOING EVENTS
Civil War Encampment and Reenactment: 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, Co. B. Princeton Guardsmen—Barbershop
For additional information visit www.nj.gov/state, call 609-777-0881 or email: feedback@sos.state.nj.us
