(NEWARK, NJ) -- Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) has announced ACTIVATE THE COAST, a series of outdoor happenings centered around the City of Newark’s historic Lincoln Park that will bring Newarkers and day trippers “Back Together Again” around music, dance, food, culture, small business vendors and wellness in a safe and socially distant environment.  The series of events are powered by the City of Newark, its Back Together Again initiative and the Newark City Parks Foundation.

“Newark has amazing outdoor green spaces.  Not only are we bringing people “Back Together Again”, we’re using arts, music and wellness as a catalyst to bring new attention to spaces that were formally blighted or underutilized.” States Christopher A. Watson, Planning Officer, City of Newark and Safe Summer Initiative.  Watson continues “The City of Newark Safe Summer Initiative’s goal is to continue to strengthen our partnerships with the community anchor institutions by reinforcing those bridges that were already formed.”

Tomorrow, September 11 starting at 9:00am, the newly formed Lincoln Park Sustainable Living Community Walkers Club powered by HOKA will gather outside for a series of 3-monthly urban terrain walks from Lincoln Park through the community to Newark’s other downtown parks for residents of all ages.  The LPCCD Sustainable Living Community Walkers Club continues October 2 and October 30 and is hosted by team captain and Newark fitness influencer Tehsuan Glover.  It’s free and participants are encouraged to register online.

At 11:00am, the renown Lincoln Park Music Festival is popping up a one-day dialed back event entitled “The Soul of Lincoln Park”, which pays homage to Newark’s deep history with dance music culture.  The day kicks off with House Music Fitness by creator Darrell Cromwell and Newark’s own multi-hyphenate spoken word artist / author / fitness enthusiast Mia X.  The energy rises even higher with House music sets by DJ Shawn Lover and Music Producer, Songwriter, & DJ Wil Milton.  Hitting the stage will be New Jersey’s Kenny Bobien one of the most widely recognized male singers in the House music genre and often referred to as the “King of Gospel House Music”. 

Taking the main stage for the first time ever - NYC’s SOUL IN THE HORN!  The SOUL IN THE HORN movement began as collaborative vision between music curator DProsper and resident DJ Natasha Diggs as a weekly Friday night “must attend” quickly grew into a global phenomenon that dips into Soul, Funk, House, Latin, Afro-Brazilian, Reggae, Rock, Disco and beyond.  Legendary icon and DJ Kenny Carpenter (Studio 54, Bond’s International Casino, WBLS-NY and KISS FM London, UK) will stir things up followed by a three-hour exclusive set by Chicago’s Alan King, co-founder of the infamous Chosen Few DJs and namesake festival.  Founded by Wayne Williams in 1977, the Chosen Few Disco Corp., a group of popular DJs from Chicago’s South Side – Williams, Jesse Saunders, Tony Hatchett, King and Andre Hatchett – were part of the first wave of DJs and producers in Chicago who created the sound that became known as “House Music”.

“When you talk about House, you must include Chicago in the conversation.  Not only is Chicago our “House Music Twin City”, it also shares a rich cultural heritage in Soul, Blues, and Jazz with Newark, NJ.” states Anthony Smith, Executive Director of LPCCD.  “When Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District was invited as an anchor partner to the Mayor’s Safe Summer Initiative, we knew that if we popped up, we had to be our authentic selves by making this historic connection with Chicago’s Chosen Few – a major and historic House Music brand.  When you want authenticity, you can’t get more iconic than the Chosen Few DJs in Lincoln Park.”

The weekend continues on Sunday, September 12 at 1:00pm as Peace In Lincoln Park makes its debut!  Known as “Peace In The Park”, South Mountain Reservation’s long running meditation and wellness series, created by MED Ed and Zeal Cre8tive Studio LLC, is popping up in Newark’s Lincoln Park. The special edition entitled “Peace In Lincoln Park” is hosted by meditation guru and Newark Hip Hop artist BRICK CITI BUDDHA and features meditation, yoga, live music, vegan food, performances and local businesses.  Peace In Lincoln Park is free and open to all ages. Organizers ask that you register online.

Closing out LPCCD’s park activation series is the Lincoln Park Sustainable Living Community Bike Ride on September 19 starting at 8:15am.  In partnership with Newark Community Cycling Center, the Bike Ride will transverse through Newark’s parks while capturing the ride for an upcoming documentary film on the history of cycling in Newark, NJ.  The Lincoln Park Sustainable Living Community Bike Ride Riders must register online.

“Newark City Parks Foundation, Inc. is so excited to create and promote programs to encourage Newarkers to get outside and safely use our public green spaces. Newark is home to some incredible and historic Parks which are the perfect places to take in fresh air, walk, bike, skate, dance, and meet up with family and friends for events.” states Marcy S. DePina, Interim Executive Director.  “Getting outdoors for a stroll or to socialize is an important component for healthy living and Lincoln Park is a beacon for music, art, and fitness as we get back together again.”

Additional support was provided by TD Bank, Provident Bank, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Verizon, Edison Properties, NJ Arts & Culture Relief Fund, Partners In Health, Fedway, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Uncle Nearest, Selva Rey Rum and Rock N Roll Tequila.

Lincoln Park Music Festival 14.3 ACTIVATE THE COAST is the pop up edition of the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival (LPMF).  The Lincoln Park Music Festival (LPMF) is the largest music experience rooted in traditions of the African American and Afro Caribbean diaspora in the tri-state region.  LPMF has expanded into an audience of 50,000-60,000 international attendees that comes together, over two weekends, to experience multiple genres of music including Gospel, Jazz, House, Hip-Hop, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Kompa and of the Latinx/Hispanic diaspora, as well as film, tech and music business education.  The festival expanded virtually last year with Lincoln Park Music Festival Virtual Global Soul and included artists from Jamaica, Trinidad, London, Africa and Brazil. 

The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Inc. (LPCCD) is a non-profit organization actively engaged in the practice of economic development through Creative Placemaking. Its mission to plan, design and develop a comprehensive arts and cultural district in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of downtown Newark.  LPCCD’s main arts & culture programs are the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival, Lincoln Park Music Speaks citywide humanities initiative, the Lincoln Park Jazzy Soul music series and the Lincoln Park Sustainable Living Community Podcast.