Free community event on December 14 features music, dance, poetry, and more
MONTCLAIR, NJ (December 2, 2024) — The Montclair Public Library invites the community to celebrate Kwanzaa on Saturday, December 14, with a marketplace and series of free programs. This celebration builds on the Library’s 35-year tradition of featuring Kwanzaa as the keystone of its winter programming.
“Kwanzaa is a meaningful celebration of culture, family, and community, and we’re proud to continue this 35-year tradition at the Montclair Public Library,” said Radwa Ali, Director of Montclair Public Library. “This event is a chance for our community to come together, learn, and honor African American heritage in a festive and welcoming space.”
All programs will take place at the Main Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue. No registration is required. The schedule is:
- 11 a.m. Marketplace opens
- 12 p.m. Music and Dance from West Africa, featuring Salieu Suso on the 21-stringed kora and his five-piece ensemble
- 12:30 p.m. Spoken word poetry by Elijah Brown
- 1 p.m. Libations and the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
- 1:30 p.m. Community remarks
- 2 p.m. Author Ibi Zoboi – talk and book signing
- 2:30 p.m. Children of the Sun poetry
- 3 p.m. Maati Cultural Arts Community Drummers and Dancers
- 5 p.m. Marketplace closes
About Kwanzaa and the Montclair Public Library
Founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is the seven-day African American festival that celebrates culture, family, and community from December 26 to January 1. Since 1989, Montclair Public Library has hosted a Kwanzaa event. The event grew yearly and has become an important part of the Library’s winter programming, cultivated by staff members Brother Saalik Cuevas and Matilda Williams. 2024 will be the 35th year of the Library celebrating Kwanzaa with the Montclair community.
About the Montclair Public Library
Founded in 1893, the Montclair Public Library serves the residents of Montclair, New Jersey. It has two facilities: the Main Library at 50 South Fullerton Avenue (open seven days a week) and the Bellevue Avenue Branch at 185 Bellevue Avenue (open six days a week). In 2023, the Library saw 170,000 visits; circulated 390,000 items including books, eBooks, movies, Wi-Fi hotspots, museum passes, tools, and recreational objects; and welcomed 22,000 participants in a wide variety of programs that reflect Montclair’s energy and diversity. Visit montclairlibrary.org for hours of operation and current services.