From The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race:
The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is proud to present XRootsFest (cross-roots-fest), an annual multicultural heritage festival that is one the most diverse and interactive events in the area. Returning for its third season (previously called the Cultural Heritage Festival), XRootsFest will take place at Flood’s Hill in South Orange’s Meadowland Park on July 16th from 12 pm to 6 pm. Beatrice Carter, radio and TV personality will return to MC the event.
A family-friendly event that is free to the public, XRootsFest celebrates the culture, arts and community spirit of the region by bringing together a variety of talented performers who showcase the many cultures in our community and throughout New Jersey. Plus, the festival includes a marketplace of vendors with a variety of international foods, arts and crafts.
The dynamic lineup of multicultural performances includes African Dance Company Usaama; Children’s Japanese Taiko Drumming group Biwanko; Indian dance performers Creations Dance Academy; the Chinese American Music Ensemble; Bomba and Plena percussion and dance ensemble Segunda Quimbamba; singers and songwriters Kay and Ray; drumming group Drums From Heaven; folk group Tetralogy; Irish and Celtic Folk band Driscoll and Smith; and South American cultural experiences from the Ayazamana Cultural Center.
CCR executive director Nancy Gagnier said, “The Community Coalition on Race is committed to building communities in which people of different races and ethnicities live together, interact and form friendships. XrootsFest is a family-friendly event that enables the community to celebrate the vast diversity of the region and inspires everyone to learn more about the richness of their neighbors’ heritages.”
For more information on XRootsFest, visit www.twotowns.org/Xrootsfest or call 973-761-6116.
South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race
The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is a nationally recognized non-profit organization committed to building a unique, suburban community that is free of racial segregation in housing patterns and community involvement. The Coalition was founded in 1996 by a diverse group of citizens concerned about stagnating property values and a perceived decline in the quality of local public schools. Twenty years later, the Coalition has developed programs that promote the advantages of living in a racially inclusive community where all aspects of community life are integrated. To learn more about the Coalition and how you can get involved, go to www.twotowns.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
