Montclair, NJ – The Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation’s historic parade and festival is back, bigger and better than ever after a three-year COVID hiatus. This year’s parade will take place on Saturday, June 3, 2023, rain or shine, beginning at Glenfield Middle School on Maple Avenue and will commence at Nishuane Park where the Festival will begin.
This year’s honorees are Cynthia Walker, Founder and Executive Director of Montclair based, S.O.F.I.A. (Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates) Domestic Violence advocacy organization and George Marable, longtime Montclair business owner and 50-year proprietor of the iconic DLV Lounge.
On Saturday, the parade will start at 10:30AM at the corner of Maple and Bloomfield Avenues near Glenfield Middle School and will continue on Bloomfield Avenue to Elm Street, then past South End Gardens on Orange Road, then to Cedar Avenue, and concluding at the reviewing stand at Nishuane Park.
Come out along the parade route and cheer on participants celebrating and honoring Montclair’s African-American history & culture. After the parade, the festival runs from 1PM to 6PM in Nishuane Park. Get out on the dance floor and groove to local artists including Brandy Massey performing R&B Theatre Songs, DJ Rahim Wadud, Gospel/Funk artist Gail Campbell, the Tia Holt Experience Band and Montclair native Samad Savage, who will help celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop.
This year’s featured performer, known as “Jersey’s #1 Son” and the host of his own self-titled show on WBLS-FM is DJ Antoine Qua. In addition, there will be special performances by Hillside Elementary School’s Drums of Thunder and a dance performance by Studio 11.
New this year — a first ever basketball shooting tournament, “So You Think You Can Shoot” — held on the courts at Nishuane Park. Festival attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the live performances on the lawn. There will be food and merchandise vendors, a gaming truck, and drill teams.
Everyone is invited to come out and help celebrate 34 years of empowering students to pursue greatness, supporting local Black-owned businesses, and giving Black culture a place to thrive in our community.
To become a sponsor or for more information regarding the MAAHF, visit online at MAAHF.org.