(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth Arts presents the inaugural "Culture Around the Corner," a FREE three-day multicultural festival taking place Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4 in Long Branch. The festival will bring Long Branch alive with music, dance, food, visual art, artisan experiences and family-friendly programming that celebrate New Jersey's cultural traditions and creative communities.
The festival lineup will showcase a vibrant mix of artists and performers celebrating music, dance and cultural traditions from across New Jersey and beyond. Highlights include the Long Branch High School Dance Group; Chris Rockwell, Jersey Shore rapper, poet, spoken word artist and published author; Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise, whose uplifting sound blends hip-hop, soul and classical influences with rhythmic poetry, beats, expressive harp and vocals; Baila Society Sunset Salsa Dance Party; Mary Cross; James Dalton; Alexander Simone; Atlantic Watch Pipe & Drums; Sharqi Dance; Capoeira Sol Nascente; Bottle Dancers USA; and many others.
“Get ready for a weekend bursting with rhythm, color and celebration as ‘Culture Around the Corner’ brings Monmouth County’s vibrant diversity to life! From salsa and folk music to Afro-Brazilian capoeira, to Hawaiian Hula dancers to belly dance, brass band beats, choreography inspired by Jewish, Hasidic and Yiddish traditions, and the colorful traditions of Explore India, the event will offer an unforgettable showcase of creativity, heritage and community spirit for residents and visitors alike.”
“Culture Around the Corner truly is an event where there is something for everyone,” said Teresa Staub, Executive Director of Monmouth Arts. “This festival brings together an extraordinary mix of artists, traditions and creative experiences, while giving many New Jersey performers a meaningful platform to share their incredible talent. We are proud to celebrate the diversity, creativity and community spirit that make Monmouth County and our State so vibrant.”
Presented by Monmouth Arts, the event is supported by funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, October 2: Kickoff celebration at Slocum Park and the Long Branch Free Public Library (328 Broadway) in Long Branch, featuring live performances, music, dance, visual projections and a community art exhibition.
Saturday, October. 3: The main festival day will take place at the “Art Yard” at the Union Avenue Municipal Lot (13 Third Ave) in Long Branch, featuring live performances across two stages, global food, an artisan market, hands-on art-making and a Kids Zone.
Sunday, October 4: Folklife Village at Whitechapel Projects (15 Second Ave) in Long Branch, featuring food vendors, artisans, culturally inspired goods, art demonstrations, live performances and family-friendly activities.
Admission to “Culture Around the Corner” is free. Community members are encouraged to attend, bring family and friends, and discover the music, food, art and traditions that make New Jersey one of the most culturally diverse states in the country.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
Long Branch Library (328 Broadway Street) in Long Branch, New Jersey
5:00pm — OCEAN AVE STOMPERS bring the spirit of New Orleans brass bands to the Jersey Shore, blending funk, soul and infectious rhythms into a lively celebration. Based in Asbury Park and led by trombonist Ian Gray, this versatile musical collective delivers bold horn arrangements and driving percussion that get audiences moving. From roaming street performances to festival stages, the Stompers bring a joyful, communal energy rooted in New Jersey’s vibrant music scene.
5:40pm — DESEREE SPINKS & RYAN GREGG, also known as Ry & Des, bring together two talents from the Jersey Shore music scene. Spinks, lead singer of Des & the Swagmatics, pairs her expressive vocals with Gregg’s dynamic piano playing and singing for an engaging mix of original songs and covers. Together, they deliver a soulful, spirited performance filled with personality and musical chemistry.
6:25pm — BAILA SOCIETY SUNSET SALSA DANCE PARTY is a lively dance experience featuring Baila Society, bringing people together through the rhythms and movement of salsa. The performance celebrates Latin dance in a festive atmosphere, enhanced by illuminations from Luminous Abstract.
7:15pm — WILL EVANS is a Rhode Island-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends folk, roots and soulful grooves. Known for his creative live looping, he layers acoustic guitar, didgeridoo, handpan, beatboxing and expressive vocals into a rich, rhythmic sound. His uplifting performances celebrate connection, kindness and community, inviting audiences to move, sing along and share in the experience.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
Long Branch Bandshell (3rd Avenue and Broadway)
11:30:00am — JAMES DALTON, a New Jersey singer, multi-instrumentalist and storyteller, blends folk, Americana and blues. Combining expressive vocals with guitar, mandolin and lively harmonica, Dalton delivers intimate, engaging performances filled with humor and personal stories.
12:15pm — THE HELLENIC DANCERS OF NEW JERSEY bring Greek culture to life through spirited folk dances, traditional music and authentic regional costumes. Founded in 1972, the ensemble celebrates dance traditions from mainland Greece, the Greek islands and Asia Minor.
1:00pm — DIGBA OGUNBIYI QUARTET blends contemporary jazz with the rich rhythms of Nigerian Yoruba music. Led by Nigerian-born pianist and composer Digba Ogunbiyi, the ensemble bridges West African musical traditions and modern jazz.
2:00pm — ATLANTIC WATCH PIPE & DRUMS OF THE ATLANTIC WATCH, a Red Bank-based ensemble founded in 1993, brings the stirring sound of bagpipes and rhythmic drumming to parades, civic ceremonies and community celebrations across New Jersey.
2:30pm — KUF KNOTZ & CHRISTINE ELISE blend hip-hop, soul and classical influences into an uplifting musical experience, pairing rhythmic poetry and beats with expressive harp playing and vocals.
3:30pm — SHARQI DANCE, an Eatontown-based belly dance studio and performance community led by dancer and choreographer Yamê, specializes in Egyptian-style belly dance and shares the artistry of Middle Eastern dance through solo and ensemble performances.
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
LIBERTY PARK – MAIN STAGE (Liberty Street and Union Avenue)
DJ BUNKR
11:30am — LONG BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL DANCE GROUP showcases the creativity, dedication and school spirit of young performers from Long Branch, New Jersey, through expressive movement and ensemble choreography.
12:45pm — PREDATOR DUB ASSASSINS, an Asbury Park reggae band led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist P-Dub (Timothy Boyce), blends reggae and dub with hip-hop, R&B, pop and rock.
1:30pm — AI-NENE, GYPSY ROMA, a Romani music, song and dance ensemble established in New York City in 1998, brings Romani cultural traditions to the stage through acoustic music, expressive singing and lively dance.
2:00pm — NUSPACE, a Jersey Shore band fronted by singer and guitarist Space, blends rock, funk, soul and pop into an energetic, groove-driven sound.
3:00pm — MARY CROSS, a New Jersey native and jazz and soul vocalist, is known for her rich contralto voice and heartfelt performances that blend jazz, classic R&B and soul.
4:00pm — ALEXANDER SIMONE & WHO DAT brings powerful vocals, soulful grooves and infectious energy from Asbury Park’s vibrant music scene, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alexander Simone.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
Whitechapel Courtyard (15 Second Avenue) in Long Branch
11:20am— HAWAIIAN HULA DANCERS- Experience the beauty of Hawaiian hula, where graceful movement and expressive gestures tell stories through dance. This celebration of Hawaiian culture brings together rhythm, tradition and the art of storytelling.
11:50am— XYLOPHONE OF WRENCH- Meet Mark Davis, the visual and performance artist known as Xylophone of Wrench. A presence in Asbury Park’s creative community, he brings his artistic imagination to local stages and events, including the Asbury Underground music and art crawl.
12:25pm — NEELIMA RAJU Discover the expressive beauty of Kuchipudi with New Jersey dancer, choreographer and teaching artist Neelima Raju. A 2026 New Jersey Heritage Fellowship recipient, she shares this Indian classical dance tradition through intricate footwork, graceful movement and vivid storytelling.
1:10pm — JOHN PRONTO Asbury Park singer-songwriter John Pronto brings together folk, blues and Americana in songs about love, heartache and life’s turning points. His warm, expressive vocals and heartfelt storytelling offer an intimate connection to the American roots music tradition.
1:55pm — THE RICHIE OLIVERA FLUTES Peruvian-born, New Jersey–based musician Richie Olivera brings the sounds of the Andes to life on traditional flutes, including the quena, zampoña and quenacho. Drawing on his cultural roots alongside jazz, rock and Celtic influences, he invites listeners on a musical journey across traditions.
2:40pm — KYLE MOYER New Jersey vocalist and guitarist Kyle Moyer is the frontman of rock band Spyne! Rooted in the alternative rock and grunge sounds of the 1990s and 2000s, his musical background includes appearances with the band at Jersey venues such as The Stone Pony and Crossroads.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
Whitechapel (15 Second Avenue) in Long Branch
11:20am — VIVA VALLENATO TRIO, a New York-based ensemble, performs the lively folk music of Colombia, combining expressive accordion melodies, rhythmic percussion and spirited vocals.
12:00pm — RAAS AND GARBA FOLK MUSIC & DANCE demonstration by Explore Envoy India presents traditional folk music and dance traditions from Gujarat, India, often performed during the Hindu festival of Navratri and at community celebrations.
12:25pm — CHIARA MARIA, a jazz vocalist and soulful singer-songwriter from the Jersey Shore based in Asbury Park, blends jazz, blues and intimate lyrics with influences including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Hozier.
1:10pm — BOTTLE DANCERS USA, a New York City dance troupe, performs energetic choreography with bottles balanced on their heads, drawing on Jewish, Hasidic and Yiddish traditions.
1:55pm — CAPOEIRA SOL NASCENTE, a New Jersey-based Afro-Brazilian cultural and martial arts group, combines capoeira—with acrobatic movement, martial arts, music and dance—with Brazilian cultural traditions including samba and maculelê.
2:40pm — CHRIS ROCKWELL, from the Jersey Shore, is a rapper, poet, spoken word artist, published author, event promoter and visual artist who frequently performs with bands, including his current backing unit, the Ballroom Riot.
Monmouth Arts was founded in 1971 after the Junior League of Monmouth County conducted a community survey and identified the need for a central agency to coordinate and assist all county artists and arts organizations. As the county’s leading nonprofit arts organization, Monmouth Arts delivers programs, services, events, and creative opportunities that inspire people of all ages and backgrounds.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Blues-rock powerhouse Kenny Wayne Shepherd celebrates 30 years of his groundbreaking debut Ledbetter Heights with a milestone tour coming to State Theatre New Jersey. In this electrifying live experience, Shepherd and his band perform the landmark album in full, along with a second set of career-spanning favorites that showcase his signature blend of fiery guitar work, blues tradition, and rock energy.
“There are concerts. And then there are musical events that come across as transcendent experiences, celebrations of songs and sounds and stories that have endured for good reason, live shows that enter the space of the sacred.” – Miers on Music (2025)
Critically acclaimed actor Ronnie Marmo, with the blessings of Kitty Bruce (daughter of the late Lenny Bruce), along with the Lenny Bruce Foundation, proudly present “I’m Not a Comedian…I’m Lenny Bruce,” directed by Joe Mantegna.
Grammy Award -winning producer and guitarist extraordinaire, John Pizzarelli salutes the legendary Tony Bennett celebrating over 60 years of unparalleled artistry. From Bennett’s ’50s pop hits like “Because of You” and “Rags to Riches” through his timeless classics of the ’60s such as “I Wanna Be Around” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” to his remarkable collaborations with Bill Evans, Pizzarelli’s trio will bring these iconic songs to life once again. The evening will also highlight Bennett’s incredible revival in the ‘90s while Pizzarelli weaves in personal anecdotes and stories that reveal the man behind the music.
UCPAC’s Sensory Friendly Theatre movie screening of “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” is a digital presentation specially adapted for children and adults with autism and other sensory sensitivities. Supported in part by funding from the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the NJEDA’s A.R.T. Phase II Grant Program. Learn more about Sensory Friendly Theatre events.
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