Lincoln Park Music Festival

The Lincoln Park Music Festival is sponsored by the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District in Newark, New Jersey. I was surprised to learn this event isn’t something in Chicago, but practically in my back yard in New Jersey. The four day free music festival celebrates African American music, including Jazz, House, Gospel and Hip-Hop. The festival kicks off on Thursday, July 26, 2007 and runs through Sunday, July 29, 2007 at Lincoln Park, 1 Lincoln Park, Newark, NJ.

On July 26, the festival begins with a Press Conference at 10am in Lincoln Park with Mayor Booker and other invited speakers. That evening at 6pm is the Opening Reception and Photo Exhibition at the City Without Walls Gallery, located at 6 Crawford Street. The reception features Jazz Performances by Cecil Brooks III and CB3 Band, Miki Howard, and Gordon Chambers.

• Gospel Music Concert on Friday, 12pm to 8pm – festivities hosted by Dr. Albert Lewis and performances by Richard Smallwood and Vision, JC Thompson & Beyond Blessed, S3 & The Truth, Yvette Glover and others
• House Music Concert on Saturday, 12pm to 8pm – festivities hosted by Shelton Hayes will include House DJ’s Joaquin “Joe” Claussell, Tony Humphries, and performances by Kenny Bobien, Stephanie Cooke, Monique Bingham and Loleatta Holloway.
• Hip-Hop Music Concert on Sunday, 12pm to 8pm – Bobbito Garcia & End of the Weak host the Rock Steady Crew’s 30th Year Anniversary Celebration featuring performances by EPMD, Naughty by Nature, Biz Markie, Grandmaster Melle Mel and others.

Food, arts, crafts and local vendors will also be on hand. Saturday and Sunday’s community activities include a Green Vendor Market with an interactive Environmental Program, children’s skateboarding camp and painting demonstrations by renowned artists. If you plan on being in Newark, trust me…there isn’t much else to do here.

Call (973) 242–4144 or visit www.lpccd.org/music_festival.htm for details.