(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- The Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) announces Illumination 250's public interactive art exhibitions, My Signature: My Declaration and The Quilt Trail, are on display and open to the public to view in Hackensack, New Jersey throughout the fall.
Illumination 250 is a project of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC), in partnership with the Northern NJ Community Foundation's (NNJCF) ArtsBergen, Hackensack Main Street Business Alliance (MSBA), Greater Bergen Community Action (GBCA), and the City of Hackensack, supported by funding through the NJEDA's A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program. HACPAC was one of 39 organizations awarded funding from the NJEDA's $15 million investment supporting arts and cultural programming throughout New Jersey.
The day-long, regional cultural arts celebration observed America's Semiquincentennial anniversary on October 3. Live performances, cultural programming, and interactive art installations spotlighted the City of Hackensack's diverse communities and drove foot traffic to local businesses. The celebration expanded beyond the annual HACKENSACKtoberfest from Atlantic Street Park to multiple downtown locations—Anderson Street Park, Banta Place, Demarest Place, and the Courthouse Green.
My Signature: My Declaration and The Quilt Trail Exhibitions
The art exhibitions, My Signature: My Declaration and The Quilt Trail opened on October 3, as part of Illumination 250, a full-day The public is invited to visit these art displays in Hackensack:
My Signature: My Declaration, Light Installation and Large-Scale Projection, 9:00pm to Midnight., at The Historic Green, 42 Court Street, Hackensack, New Jersey. Artist Leni Schwendinger Light Projects created a large-scale light and music installation and a digital projection on The Historic Green in Hackensack. See this installation on display on the Green, as it transforms into an immersive celebration of America's 250th anniversary daily through Monday, October 26 and illuminated nightly from sunset to midnight.
Set on the grounds where George Washington and the Continental Army camped during the Revolutionary War, this multisensory experience celebrates both our nation's history and the present-day declarations shaping its future. Inspired by the courageous signatories that supported the Declaration of Independence, this original artwork invites visitors to reflect on the power of personal commitment, community, and democracy. Wander among dozens of illuminated sculptures etched with the signatures and personal declarations of community members and local artists, while listening to a soundscape woven together from melodies contributed by local musicians.
The Quilt Trail at Anderson Street Park, Ongoing through November 16, 2026. Anderson Street Park transform the green space into a vibrant celebration of Hackensack's history. Inspired by quilting and textile traditions from diverse cultures, artist Kate Eggleston designed the installation using bold colors, playful patterns, and three recurring forms: eyes, arches, and triangles. Together, these forms create a visual language centered on connection and belonging. The Quilt Trail creates an immersive fiber art experience that celebrates heritage, creativity, and the power of art to bring people together.
Illumination 250 Highlights - Illumination 250 brought together a team of nationally and internationally recognized artists whose work transformed public spaces into unforgettable community experiences. Processional Arts Workshop, Improv Everywhere, Nocturnal Medicine, and others worked alongside Hackensack residents, local artists, businesses, and cultural organizations to develop original works inspired by the city's history, diversity, and shared stories. Their participatory, interactive artworks and experiences incorporated community voices to shape a once-in-a-generation festivity. The public experienced these works reflecting the County Seat's spirit, while also commemorating America's 250th anniversary.
The festival featured six unique experiences across Downtown Hackensack. The celebration's program presented live music, a giant puppet procession, an immersive fiber art installation, cultural folk performances, live music, food trucks, vendors, and a citywide audio adventure told through Revolutionary War history. The festivities culminated in a light display, illuminating the County Courthouse and transforming Hackensack's Historic Green Bergen, one of New Jersey's oldest public squares, into an unforgettable landscape.
Additional information and updates about the celebration may be found on the festivity's official website, www.illumination250.com. For inquiries, contact Danielle De Laurentis, Associate Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, at [email protected]. Updates about the celebration appear on the partners' social media accounts, including MSBA on Instagram at @DowntownHackensack and on Facebook at @DowntownHackensack and HACPAC on Instagram at @HACPAC_arts and on Facebook at @Hackensack Performing Arts Center, and on the celebration's website https://www.DowntownHackensack.org/illumination250.
Hackensack Performing Arts Center stands as Hackensack's cultural centerpiece, nurturing artists across disciplines. Its Performing Arts Center provides a platform for emerging and established talents, from Broadway stars to Grammy-winning musicians, and local talent. The organization celebrates creativity and offers a home for the next generation of performers.
Main Street Business Alliance is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit public/private partnership between the business community on Main Street and the City of Hackensack. The MSBA's mission is to improve the local economy and overall business climate.
Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, founded in 1998, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Hackensack that works with local governments, school districts, businesses, nonprofits, and citizen groups to improve community life through collaborative partnerships. The Foundation's ArtsBergen initiative advances creative placemaking and is the largest producer of community-relevant public art in Bergen County.
Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit Community Action Agency headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey. Established in 1967, GBCA is Bergen County's federally designated anti-poverty agency serving Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties. Its mission is to reduce poverty by addressing the causes and conditions of persistent economic instability through comprehensive, community-based programs.
City of Hackensack serves as the historic county seat of Bergen County, offering a unique blend of urban energy and suburban charm just seven miles west of Upper Manhattan. This diverse city of approximately 47,000 residents is currently undergoing a vibrant downtown revitalization.
Friday, October 16, 2026
@ 7:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
Rahway, NJ
There are multiple performances including:
Friday, October 16, 2026
@ 7:30pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
Manasquan, NJ
Friday, October 16, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
Carteret, NJ
There are multiple performances including:
Friday, October 16, 2026
@ 7:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
Princeton, NJ
There are multiple performances including:
Friday, October 16, 2026
@ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
The original Broadway sensation returns to STNJ! Celebrating 20 years—Jersey style!
