



Newark, New Jersey: T

housands of residents of Newark and beyond will gather in the city's Downtown this weekend to celebrate 350 years since the founding of New Jersey's largest city, the third oldest in the United States.





On Friday, May 13th, there will be several music performances, including the sold out performances of the Tedeschi Trucks Band at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center at 2 Center Street at 8:30pm. For those without tickets, there will be performances on the main stage at Military Park across the street. Actor and Arts High School graduate J.D. Williams will be the emcee as the Brick City Soul Collective performs at 6:00pm and Grammy award winner and University High School graduate Faith Evans performs at 7:00pm, and WBGO 88.3's DJ Felix Hernandez of Rhythm Revue will be on stage from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. Ramapo College's graduation will be held at the Prudential Center in the morning. A production of 7 Women will be held at Newark Symphony Hall at 7:00pm, and the Soul Line Dance Party will be held there from 5:00pm to 12:00am.





On Saturday, May 14th, more events are planned for Downtown. First, in the morning, the 'We are Newark Citywide Cleanup' will be held from 9:00am until noon. Then, rapper Rah Digga will be the emcee as the Malcolm X Shabazz High School Marching Band performs at 1:00pm, Angela Johnson performs at 1:30pm, the Random Test Reggae Band performs at 2:45pm, the US Air Force's Airmen of Note and Stefon Harris perform at 4:00pm, and Robert Glasper performs at 5:30pm. Naughty by Nature will take the stage at 7:00pm, and Bobby Trends of WQHT/HOT 97 will be on the main stage starting at 8:30pm. Meanwhile, at the Newark Celebration Youth Showcase, Sheila Anderson of WBGO 88.3 will be the emcee as Them Cloud Kids perform at 1:00pm, the Newark Boys Chorus performs at 2:00pm. the Jazz House Kids perform at 3:00pm, Alexis Morrast performs at 4:00pm, and the Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens group performs at 5:00pm. At 6:30pm, the Newark Museum's Legacy Gala honoring Rutgers-Newark and Joseph J. Melone will be held. This weekend is also the last for the museum's 'Wondrous Worlds: Art & Islam through Time & Place' exhibition. Comedian Paul Reiser will come to NJPAC at 8:00pm, and Scott Coulter and Rebeccca LaChance will also be at NJPAC at 6:00pm at 8:30pm.





On Sunday, May 15th, at 11:00am, the Newark Presbytery/Old First Church will hold a Founder's Day Worship Service. Mayor Ras Baraka will be the guest speaker. Later in the day at Military Park, Cherry Martinez will be the emcee as Wincey Terry, Janet Van Kline and Jackie Jones perform at 1:00pm, Rob Paparozzi performs at 2:30pm, Rev. Stef and Jubilation along with Cissy Houston perform at 4:00pm, and La India performs at 5:30pm. DJ Rey-Mo of WWPR/Power 105.1 will be on the stage at 7:00pm. Meanwhile at the Newark Celebration Youth Showcase, Grupo Liberdade de Capoeira performs at 1:00pm, Them Cloud Kids performs at 1:30pm and 3:00pm, the Charger Rock Alliance performs at 2:00pm, and the Brick City Jazz Orchestra performs at 4:00pm.





On both Saturday from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, a community expo, a Kidz Korner, the Designers and Artists Village, and the North Ward Food Truck Place along Park Place will be held. According to the City, the food truck event will feature "a fleet of eateries-on-a-roll, serving barbecue, smoothies, cheesesteak sandwiches, tacos, ice cream and more".





Kidz Korner will feature family fun activities, balloon sculptors, shoe decorating, double dutch, bracelet making from GlassRoots, and games from the New Jersey Devils.





According to Newark Celebration 350, the following exhibitors will participate in the community expo:





-New Jersey Performing Arts Center

-Newark Museum

-Greater Newark Conservancy

-Newark Public Library

-La Casa de Don Pedro

-Ironbound Community Corporation

-Newark Riverfront Revival

-Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

-Gallery Aferro Mobile Portrait Studio

-Newark Beth Israel Medical Center/RWJBarnabas Health

-New Jersey Historical Society

-WBGO

-Rutgers University-Newark

-Newark Happening

-Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

-Panasonic

-Abbott Leadership Institute/YMS College Success

-Newark Arts Council

-Newark Division of Child Protection and Permanency

-Gateway Project Spaces

-Muslim League of Voters

-Omega Psi Phi

-Urban League of Essex County

-Barat Foundation

-Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey

-Guy Sterling

-Former Mayor Sharpe James





All events at Military Park are free and open to the public as Newark celebrates 350 years.





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