The Halsey Festival, Newark’s signature celebration of local culture, community, and small business, took place on Sept. 18, transforming the historic Halsey Street corridor into a vibrant economic and cultural destination.
Hosted by Alexandra Bernard-Simmons, CEO/Founder of Think Like a Boss, the free, family-friendly event ran from 3–9 p.m. and featured more than 70 vendors, live music curated by Newark-based DJ collective bunkr., food from local restaurants, and interactive art installations.
A vision for economic and cultural growth
More than just a single-day event, the Halsey Festival embodies the Newark Alliance’s vision to transform the Halsey corridor—the heart of the city’s Arts and Education District—into a dynamic hub. Through such initiatives, the Newark Alliance is working to honor the city’s history while fostering growth and opportunities, particularly for BIPOC entrepreneurs.
“Walking down Halsey Street during the festival is like seeing the city come alive,” Ashley Mays, chief marketing officer at Newark Alliance said. “It’s a chance to experience some of the aspects that make Newark so special—our businesses, our artists, and our community coming together.”
Community well-being takes center stage
This year’s festival emphasized community health and safety alongside arts and commerce. RWJBarnabas Health introduced Harvest, a new Farm to Community Center focused on expanding access to healthy food, and the Urban Agriculture Cooperative distributed fresh produce.
Attendees also benefited from free services, including:
- Screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, and HIV.
- On-site voter registration and city health resources.
Community partners like NJPAC and Newark Arts hosted interactive activities and resource tables, demonstrating a city-wide effort to support residents.
“It’s exciting to watch families, friends, and visitors explore the corridor, support local vendors, and discover new talent,” Evan Weiss, president and CEO of Newark Alliance said. “This festival is more than an event—it’s a reflection of the vibrancy of this neighborhood.”
Arts, entertainment, and local talent
The festival showcased Newark’s performing arts scene with performances by local talents including Monique the Star, Craig Bradley, J.1.DA, and K Marques. Community-driven performances were also given by the All Stars Project of New Jersey, Inspira Dance, and Rutgers student groups.
The evening culminated with karaoke on Halsey Street, giving festivalgoers a chance to take the stage. Nearby, GlassRoots offered free glassblowing demonstrations and studio tours.
The Halsey Festival was made possible by major sponsors including NJPBS, Prudential Financial (a long-standing investor in Newark’s neighborhoods), United Airlines, PSEG, and NJEDA.
Looking ahead, Halsey Festival programming continues with the Halsey Art Block Party on Oct. 9, the Western Fall Festival on Oct. 25, and Newark Uncorked: Spirits Edition on Nov. 15. The event is part of Festivals United Newark (FUN), a coalition of the city’s most beloved cultural events.
