SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race presents XRootsFest, 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 16 from noon to 6 p.m. Radio and television personality Beatrice Carter will return to emcee 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.
“The Community Coalition on Race is committed to building communities in which people of different races and ethnicities live together, interact and form friendships,” CCR Executive Director Nancy Gagnier said in a press release. “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.