On Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc. will unleash a lineup of entertainers, visual artists and more at the fifth annual Washington Park LIVE! Arts & Music Festival between Paterson Plank Road and Second Street on the Union City/Jersey City border, complete with a main stage, beer garden, and food trucks. With more than 3,000 people expected, the day will be a celebration of arts, music, dance and community, closing Palisade Avenue to traffic from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We joined forces with Guttenberg Arts and Bulls Ferry Studios on the artist’s areas, and we added a beer garden with more food trucks near the main stage to help create a live concert type atmosphere for all to enjoy,” says Nick Caballero, WPA president. “We are building on each year’s successes to become the premier art event in Hudson County.”
You can get the creative juices flowing with one or more health and wellness activities, like the O’Connell’s Run 5K, a Kids Fun Run, and yoga class by Yoga In The Heights.
Activities galore
Attendees will have the chance to view local artists paint, and create their work right in the park.
Norene Leddy, an artist and professor at Parsons The New School of Design, will lead giant recycled clothing swap that will end later in the day with A Red Carpet “Trashion” Show. Hacking Heights Fashion and other artists will lead a series of do-it-yourself art sessions. Plus there will be plenty of children’s activities going on throughout the day including a children’s drum circle, face painting and henna art.
WPA has teamed up with RiverviewJazz.org to provide a live music program on the main stage and in the park, include first time headliners Jeremy Beck and The Heavy Duty Horns.
Other performers include Los Hacheros, who use charanga and salsa to create a sound distinctly their own; Manouche Bag, Jersey City’s preeminent French gypsy jazz band; Slavic Soul Party, who weave gospel, techno, funk, jazz, and Latin influences into one sound, and Swingadelic, a band that features neo-swing.
There will be dancing in the street with music provided by DJ Ben Boogz throughout the day and CUDA (Community for Urban Dance and Arts) will lead an urban dance-off competition. Other dance companies performing are Bembe Collective and Tarik Sultan & Baladi Beat Belly Dancers.
Hand-squeezed fruit treats from Lizzmonade and iced caffeinated beverages from Mod Cup Coffee will be on hand. Attendees can grab a cold brew at the Beer Garden, and chow down on meals from food trucks and local food vendors.
To wrap up the event the Golden Door International Film Festival will be screening “The Odd Way Home” in the park at sundown (7-8:30 pm).
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, County Executive, and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Transportation
The Jersey City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Recreation will provide free Shuttle Buses throughout the day. Buses will bring event goers from WP Live, to the Golden Door International Film Festival locations and to the All About Downtown Festival. Routes are still pending. For more info check the website www.wpanj.org, Twitter & Instagram: @WPAHudsonCounty, or www.facebook.com/WashingtonParkAssociationofHudsonCountyInc