XRootsFest: A Day of Music, Culture and Food from Around the World

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 fourth season (previously called the Cultural Heritage Festival), XRootsFest will take place at Flood’s Hill in South Orange’s Meadowland Park on June 24th from 12 pm to 5 pm. Beatrice Carter, radio and TV personality, will return to MC the event.

New experiences this year include a “Big Edu-tainment Tent” featuring ambassadors, fashions, language exchange, books, snacks, storytelling and more from five different regions of the world, including Native American culture complete with a full-sized tee pee.  Have your souvenir “Passport” certified at every station in the tent to win an instant gift and participating adults will also be entered into a drawing to win a gift certificate from a local restaurant.

The festival brings together a variety of talented performers who showcase the many cultures in our community, Essex County and throughout New Jersey. The dynamic lineup of multicultural performances includes African Dance Company Usaama; Children’s Japanese Taiko Drumming group Biwanko; Ibn Sharif Shakoor Hip Hop recording artist and poet; Indian dance performers Creations Dance Academy; Drums from Heaven; Maplewood-based dancers from LaChaney’s Dance and Music Academy; Ecuadorian performers from The Ayazamana Cultural Center; Haitian band Rara Pa Nou; and musician and storyteller Ahrmondylla Best who draws on Native Americana and African ritual.

For more information on XRootsFest, visit www.twotowns.org/Xrootsfest or call 973-761-6116.