Newark Caribbean Festival Brings Islands Together for a Celebration of Culture and Community

The Caribbean showed up in Newark this weekend, through the music, the food, the flags and most importantly, the people.

Mulberry Commons transformed into a celebration of Caribbean pride on Saturday, August 15, as families gathered for the Third Annual Newark Caribbean Festival. The free, family friendly event brought together communities from across the diaspora for an afternoon rooted in culture, representation and connection.

Soca superstar Destra Garcia headlined this year’s celebration, with a lineup that also included Shorn B, Hunter, Felix Gonzalez, GucciBoss, Hard Hittin’ Harry, DJ Norie of Power 105.1 and Bobby Konders of Hot 97.

More than 40 vendors joined the celebration, bringing Caribbean food, art and culture into the heart of downtown Newark.

But beyond the performances and festivities was a larger purpose, making space for Caribbean communities to see themselves represented.

Speaking during the festival, organizing team member Tawana Meck explained why creating that space in Newark matters.

“Representation is a big thing.”

Meck noted that Newark celebrates many of the communities that call the city home and said the festival creates an opportunity for people representing different Caribbean nations and cultures to have their own moment to come together.

And while the Caribbean encompasses many countries, islands, languages and traditions, he said the festival is ultimately about what connects everyone.

“We’re all united. We’re all together. We’re all here. We support each other, we support the Caribbean.”

His message felt especially fitting at Mulberry Commons, where different flags, sounds, foods and generations could all be found in the same space.

The Newark Caribbean Festival launched in 2024 through a partnership between the City of Newark, Newark City Parks Foundation and TEMPO Networks.

After spending its first two years at Harriet Tubman Square, the festival moved to Mulberry Commons for 2026. This year’s celebration also coincided with the kickoff of TEMPO Networks’ 21st anniversary, marking more than two decades of the network highlighting Caribbean music, people, culture and destinations.

For Meck, however, three years is only the beginning.

“I hope for it to get bigger and better.”

He hopes future festivals bring even more vendors, food, countries and cultures into the celebration, including greater representation on the stage.

After three years of growth, the Newark Caribbean Festival is becoming more than another summer event. It’s becoming a space where the Caribbean diaspora can gather, celebrate what makes each culture unique and recognize everything that connects them.

Different islands. Different traditions. One community. 

This original reporting was produced by Zollyann Howell for UNWRITTEN Media. Visit unwrittenmedia.us and follow @theunwritten.media for more interviews, event coverage, and stories that matter.