$1.5 Million Grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority Makes FUN Possible ROOTED IN CULTURE. UNITED IN CELEBRATION. FUN.
NEWARK, N.J., June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- FESTIVALS UNITED NEWARK (FUN) today announced its exciting lineup of 2025 outdoor festivals and activities, indoor art experiences and cultural symposiums, along with a host of other events taking place across Newark during the city's annual Juneteenth cookout at Harriet Tubman Square Park in the heart of downtown Newark. FUN, a coalition of Newark's major festival players, along with the City Parks Foundation and the Newark Alliance received a $1.5 million grant in December 2023 from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to help revitalize the city following the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging art and culture as an economic driver. This is the first time Newark's major festival planners have come together to form a coalition that is rooted in culture, united in celebration, and FUN.
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, First Lady Linda Baraka, the Newark Alliance, and the seven FUN coalition founding members unveiled a year-long series of festivals and special events. This unprecedented collaboration brings together the city's most beloved cultural events under one vibrant umbrella, ensuring seasons filled with joy, music, art, food, community, and FUN. Founding members include: the Lincoln Park Music Festival, Halsey Street Festivals -- aka Halsey Fest, AfroBeat Fest, Newark Arts Festival, Newark Pride Festival, Newark Winter Village, and the Newark City Parks Foundation, which collectively are estimated to reach nearly 100,000 attendees.
"Festivals United Newark is more than a celebration—it's a powerful reminder that from its beginning, our city has continuously brimmed with culture, creativity and radiant resilience," said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. "This historic collaboration spotlights our living history of unity, uplifts our artistic spirit, attracts new visitors and infuses our community with economic vitality. This is Newark at its best: thriving in the midst of art, joy and FUN!"
FUN appeals to Newarkers, neighbors from surrounding towns and communities, visitors from New York City, and tourists from across the country and around the world seeking free or extremely affordable clean, quality, culture-driven experiences. With events for the entire family, FUN aims to connect with content curators, cultured explorers, family planners, dance heads, and nature enthusiasts with an unprecedented lineup of top musicians, performers, artisans, green and blue space activities, and culture architects.
"Festivals United Newark is the result of a powerful vision—to unite our city's most dynamic cultural voices under one banner and showcase Newark as a national destination for creativity, community, and celebration," said Ashley Mays, Chief Marketing Officer of the Newark Alliance and President of Newark Happening, the city's tourism bureau. "Thanks to the generous support of the State of New Jersey and NJEDA, that vision is now a reality. This investment affirms that the arts are not just vital to our identity—they are key to our economic future. FUN is more than a coalition; it's a movement that positions Newark as a vibrant, must-visit city where culture leads the way."
Festival highlights include the following. Click here for full details.
City of Newark's Juneteenth Cookout, Harriet Tubman Square Park
Thursday, June 19
Newark 20th Anniversary LGBTQIA+ Pride Week
Monday, July 7 through Sunday, July 13
AfroBeat Fest, Military Park
Saturday, July 12
20th Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival, Lincoln Park
July 23 – 27 and August 1-3
Halsey Fest
Thursday, September 18, 3:00PM – 8:00PM
Halsey Street (between Central Ave. and New St.)
Newark Arts Festival: October 8 - 12
The Gold Ball, Newark Museum of Art
Wednesday, October 8, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Newark City Parks
Year Round
Newark Winter Village, Mulberry Commons
November 29, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Festival-goers and visitors can utilize Via, Newark's free weekend micro transit service to get around the city. Via offers easy, on-demand rides to key venues around Newark. The app-based shared ride service runs Fridays to Sundays, helping FUN patrons navigate Newark's Arts and Education District without the hassle of finding parking.
Media toolkit can be found here.
About Festivals United Newark | http://www.festivalsunitednewark.org
Funded through a $1.5 million grant awarded to the Newark Alliance from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Festivals United Newark (FUN) is a unique partnership of leading festival and event organizers in the City of Newark, NJ. For the first time, Newark's major festival planners have come together to form a coalition of the city's most beloved cultural events. Together under one umbrella, FUN members include AfroBeat Fest, Halsey Festival, Lincoln Park Music Festival, Newark Arts Festival, Newark Pride, and Newark Winter Village, all in partnership with the Newark City Parks Foundation. FUN ensures a summer, fall, and winter filled with music, art, food and community. FUN is more than just a name – it's a movement.
Media Contact
Cheryl McCants, Impact Consulting Enterprises, (646) 872-2377, [email protected], https://www.mediadaynewark.com
Delores Edwards, Impact Consulting Enterprises, (917) 439-8446, [email protected], https://www.mediadaynewark.com
SOURCE Festivals United Newark (FUN)
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