(NEWARK, NJ) -- On November 27th, Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced that the Downtown Newark's Arts and Education District will launch "Downtown Newark for the Holidays," to make the city the ultimate destination for shopping, dining, and celebration during the December holiday season. Between November 30, 2024 and Sunday, January 5, 2025, residents and visitors alike can enjoy a robust calendar of events, experiences, and promotions.
“The holidays are a special time in Newark, and our Downtown beckons residents and visitors with shopping and entertainment events to enhance this season of joy and giving,” Mayor Baraka said. “Let’s all make plans to meet Downtown, where there is something for everyone and plenty of opportunities to share our spirit of unity and goodwill.”
“We’re excited to see Downtown Newark reclaim its role as a cultural and entertainment destination,” said Victoria Walker, Arts and Education District lead for the City of Newark.
Supporting the initiative is Newark Alliance, and its Chief Real Estate and Marketing Officer Ashley Mays. “We are thrilled to launch Downtown Newark for the Holidays as part of our work to support the emergence of the Arts and Education District as a premier cultural hub,” she said. “Our unique and diverse independent businesses and best-in-class arts institutions make Newark such an appealing place to spend time with friends and family.”
“Downtown Newark becomes such a fun and exciting place during the holidays,” says John Schreiber, President and CEO of NJPAC. “There are artisan markets, great restaurants, wonderful places for holiday shopping – my favorite is the gift shop at the Newark Museum of Art! And of course, there are fantastic holiday celebrations like the Arts Center’s own Kwanzaa Family Festival, and its original holiday production, The Hip Hop Nutcracker. If you need to get into the spirit of the season, a visit to downtown Newark is a great way to start.”
The public can stay updated on the event schedule and special promotions by visiting the Arts and Education District website. This festive experience will feature a variety of exciting programs, including:
Saturday, November 30
* Newark Winter Village Opening Day and Tree Lighting (Noon-8:00pm, Mulberry Commons, newarkwintervillage.com
* Halsey Small Business Saturday (various times on Halsey Street, see www.halseyNWK.com and @halseyNWK on Instagram for details)
* Deck the Hall (Marco Hall, 29 Halsey Street, Noon – 5:00pm)
* Jazz at Just Fish (Just Fish, 27 Halsey Street, 2:00pm – 5:00pm)
* BrownMill Creatives Pop Up (BrownMill Company, 49 Halsey Street, 2:00pm – 9:00pm)
* Uncle Nearest Whiskey Tasting (Cool Vines, 625 Broad Street, 10:00am – 10:00pm)
* Women on Warren Small Business Saturday Sale Event (Warren Street b/w Washington and Halsey, 11:00am – 5:00pm)
* J’Adore Newark Launch Event (Off the Hanger, 17 Academy Street, Suite 510, 11:00am – 6:00pm)
* Tonnie’s Mini’s 20% Off Sale (Tonnie’s Minis, 228 Halsey Street, 11:00am – 5:00pm)
* Winter Village Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 7
* Newark Downtown District Tree Lighting (2:00pm – 6:00pm, Military Park)
* New Jersey Symphony, The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert (3:00pm – 5:00pm, 7:30:00pm – 9:30pm, NJPAC)
Thursday, December 12, to Friday, December 13
* Holiday MarketSPACE (5:00pm – 9:00pm, EqualSpace, 550 Broad Street)
Saturday, December 21
* Kwanzaa Family Festival (Noon – 7:00pm, NJPAC)
* Urban Girl Media’s Black Business Shopping Tour (11:00am – 4:00pm)
Thursday, December 26, to Sunday, December 29
* Holiday Fun Days (10:00am – 5:00pm, The Newark Museum of Art)
The Arts and Education District is a culturally and economically diverse neighborhood of the downtown area of Newark, that will highlight arts and educational institutions, galleries, downtown parks, restaurants, and major transportation hubs within the area.
The mission of the Arts & Education District is to promote and celebrate arts and educational institutions and the downtown parks that contribute to Newark’s cultural vibrancy. The district will serve as a unified and structural approach to the organization of arts and cultural programming for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The Newark Alliance, through the combined strength and collaboration of its members, drives inclusive economic growth for all of Newark, N.J. Their members comprise Newark’s premier businesses, anchor institutions, and community partners, including Fortune 100 and 500 companies and several of the country’s top universities, developers, hospitals, and arts institutions. United by a shared vision, the Alliance and its members work collaboratively to cement Newark’s status as one of America’s most diverse, prosperous, exciting, and equitable cities.
