EDISON – The Kwanzaa Festival and Vendor Market, presented by the NAACP Metuchen-Edison-Piscataway Area Branch, will be held from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, at Herbert Hoover High School, 174 Jackson Ave.
The event will feature performances by the Eastside Dance Project led by choreographer Freddie Moore, children’s songs performed by Haynes Preparatory School Daycare and Learning Center students, photos with Black Panther, food and music by DJ Sequence. Performances will be held from 2 to 4 p.m
Sponsored by the Edison Recreation Department and the Middlesex County Arts and History Departments, the multicultural event is an affirmation of values, gratitude and growth.
Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, is an African-American and pan-African celebration of family, community and culture. During the holiday, families and communities organize activities around the principles of unity, self-determination, teamwork and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
The celebration traditionally includes food, music, dance, poetry, storytelling and ends with a day of reflection and recommitment.
“Kwanzaa is getting old as a holiday, and more and more young people are celebrating it less. Mainly due to lack of understanding of the principles. That’s why holidays and festivals like this are important — to teach future generations the principles of Kwanzaa are relevant in today’s society and even found in popular culture — such as in the Black Panther movie franchise, said Michelle Haynes, principal of Haynes Preparatory School in South Plainfield and an organizer. the event.
