Free Event at Mulberry Commons Features Soca Superstar Destra, Caribbean and Latin Artists and DJs, in celebration of Newark’s diverse Caribbean Culture

What happened

CITY OF NEWARK, NEWARK CITY PARKS FOUNDATION, NEWARK ARTS & EDUCATION DISTRICT, AND TEMPO NETWORKS TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL NEWARK CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL TOMORROW, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

Newark, NJ – August 14, 2026— Mayor Ras J.

Key details

The event is free and family-friendly.

The free, family-friendly Festival returns for its third consecutive year with a vibrant celebration of Caribbean music, food, culture and community, headlined by internationally celebrated soca superstar Destra Garcia.

This year's lineup brings together artists and DJs representing the diversity of Caribbean and Latin music, including Shorn B, Hunter, Felix Gonzalez, GucciBoss, Hard Hittin' Harry, DJ Norie of Power 105.1and Bobby Konders of Hot 97, with over 40 vendors showcasing the Caribbean’s rich culinary and artistic heritage, additional entertainment and cultural experiences throughout the day.

"Newark is the perfect place to celebrate diversity.

THREE YEARS OF CELEBRATING THE CARIBBEAN IN NEWARK

The inaugural Festival was held at Harriet Tubman Square in August 2024 and featured Barbadian soca icon Alison Hinds, alongside artists, DJs, dancers, food vendors and cultural participants representing communities from across the Caribbean.

Events like this bring people together, support local businesses, and showcase Newark as a destination for arts, culture, and community.

This year's Festival also marks the official kickoff of TEMPO Networks' 21st anniversary celebration.

Three years ago, we brought that mission to Newark with a vision of building something that could become an important Caribbean cultural institution for the city and the region.

Morton, Jr., Founder and CEO of TEMPO Networks.

The 2026 Newark Caribbean Festival is supported by an outstanding group of public, corporate and community partners, including the Newark Arts and Education District, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Prudential, The MCJ Amelior Foundation, Invest Newark, the City of Newark’s Caribbean Commission, and RoadBlock Radio, with the British Virgin Islands returning as the Festival's Destination Sponsor.

Background and context

Launched in 2024 by the City of Newark, Newark City Parks Foundation and TEMPO Networks, the Newark Caribbean Festival was created as an annual celebration reflecting the extraordinary diversity of Newark's Caribbean community and the broader Caribbean diaspora.

The Festival returned to Harriet Tubman Square in 2025 for its second year, expanding its entertainment lineup with performances by Denise "Saucy Wow" Belfon, Rupee and Capella Grey, alongside emerging and established Caribbean and Latin performers.

Founded in 2005, TEMPO has spent more than two decades showcasing Caribbean music, culture, people and destinations while pursuing its longstanding mission of bringing the Caribbean and its diaspora together.

What officials said

Baraka today announced that the City of Newark, Newark City Parks Foundation, the Newark Arts & Education District and TEMPO Networks will host the Third Annual Newark Caribbean Festival tomorrow, Saturday, August 15, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Mulberry Commons in downtown Newark.

Our City is home to people of many ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds, and we are proud to host the Third Annual Newark Caribbean Festival showcasing the vibrant and rich traditions of our Caribbean community," said Mayor Baraka.

Like so many festivals we host, this celebration gives people an opportunity to honor their heritage and achievements while inviting others to experience and appreciate the culture.

We welcome residents and visitors alike to experience the spirit, pride, and energy that make Newark such a special place.

The Newark Caribbean Festival has quickly become an important celebration of the cultures and communities that make Newark such a vibrant city," said Marcy DePina, Executive Director of the Newark City Parks Foundation, Inc.

We are proud to once again partner with the City of Newark and TEMPO Networks to bring families and communities together at Mulberry Commons for a day of music, food, culture and celebration.

The Newark Caribbean Festival celebrates the culture, creativity, and traditions that enrich our city.

We are proud to welcome residents and visitors to Mulberry Commons for a day of celebration and Caribbean pride,” said Victoria Walker, Director of Newark Arts and Education District.

For 21 years, TEMPO has been committed to bringing our people, our islands and our cultures together.

To see the Festival growing year after year is incredibly meaningful, and I'm looking forward to celebrating with everyone on August 15," said Frederick A.

What happens next

Now in its third year, the Festival moves to Mulberry Commons, situated within Newark’s Arts & Education District, and continues its evolution as an annual gathering celebrating the English, Spanish, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean through music, food, culture and community honoring Newark’s dynamic population.

Source and attribution: Jersey Alerts reviewed the primary official release from City of Newark Official and any additional sources identified above. Names, dates, figures, quotations, claims and characterizations remain attributed to their cited source unless Jersey Alerts states that they were independently confirmed.

Read the official release