Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) is set to honor the spirit of Kwanzaa with its 17th annual Celebrate Kwanzaa festival in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Dec. 26 - 30, New York City's largest family-focused Kwanzaa celebration.
The five-day event, taking place at 10:00am to 5:00pm, is organized in collaboration with the nonprofit Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation. It promises to bring the principles and traditions of Kwanzaa to life through performances, workshops and cultural activities for all ages, according to a press release.
This year’s festival theme, “Our Children Enlighten the Community,” highlights the importance of youth as the torchbearers of community values and culture.
“As we mark our 17th year as New York City’s largest and longest-running family Kwanzaa celebration, we’ll see our young people embody the principles of Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), and Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) through their creative expressions and leadership while caregivers and elders uplift them," said Atiba T. Edwards, president and chief executive officer at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
The event will feature daily candle-lighting ceremonies led by Chinua Baraka Payne and performances by the Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble, whose dynamic shows spotlight the brilliance of young performers within the African Diaspora.
“Our young performers embody the spirit of the Nguzo Saba—unity, creativity, and leadership—reminding us of the power and potential within our community," said said Kofi Osei Williams, executive director of the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation.
Additional programming includes immersive dance and drumming workshops, graffiti-inspired art projects in BCM’s ColorLab, and performances by groups such as Kudo NYC and the Forces of Nature Incredible Youth Arts Alliance.
Tickets are available for purchase here for $15.
