Newark, NJ – May 23, 2018 – Mayor Ras J. Baraka will lead the annual African-American Heritage Parade on Sunday, May 27, at Noon, starting at Lincoln Park, and proceeding up Broad Street to Lafayette Street. There it will head down Lafayette to Mulberry and end at Edison Place. The parade grandstand will be located in front of the steps of City Hall on Broad Street. Mayor Baraka will lead the parade, and RWJBarnabas Health Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Michellene Davis, Esq., will serve as the Grand Marshal.
The parade is the state’s largest celebration of African-American heritage and culture. This year’s theme is “Passing the Torch: Reach, Teach and Encourage.”
The parade is the highlight event of the African-American Heritage Festival, which takes place in Weequahic Park in Newark’s South Ward, from Friday, May 25, through Monday, May 28. The festival will provide a Health and Social Service Pavilion featuring health care providers and a variety of non-profit organizations to educate the public on health issues affecting the African-American community. There will also be family entertainment and an array of activities, including carnival rides, giant balloons, vendors, games, a petting zoo, pony rides, skydivers, a health pavilion, marching bands, and live entertainment.
The event is also honoring the following individuals this year: Tai Cooper, Khary Orr Leadership Awardee; Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Public Service Heritage Awardee; Max Bruny, Labor Heritage Awardee; Reverend A. Mitchell, Sr., Interfaith Leadership & Community Service Awardee; Lorna Romans, Culture Heritage Awardee.
The event is sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health, PSE&G, NJ Devils, Verizon/NJ Shares, Pepsi, RWDSU, UFCW, ShopRite of Newark, Golden Krust, Local 108, RWDSU, UFCW, Prudential Financial and print media sponsor Local Talk.
For more information on the parade and festival, contact the African-American Heritage Festival Parade Committee at (551) 222-5492 or visit their website at www.aaparades.org
WHO: Mayor Ras J. Baraka
WHAT: Will lead the annual African-American Heritage Parade.
WHEN: Sunday, May 27, Noon
WHERE: Lincoln Park, Newark
NOTE: The parade route will begin at Lincoln Park and travel down Broad Street to Lafayette Street, and proceed one block down Lafayette Street to Mulberry Street, ending at Edison Place. The parade grandstand will be located in front of the steps of City Hall on Broad Street.
Media trucks can park on Green and Franklin Streets between Broad and Mulberry Streets.
In addition, there will be no parking on Broad Street in front of City Hall between Friday, May 25, and Tuesday, May 29.
