Union City/Jersey City, NJ – On Saturday, September 20, 2014 from 10 am to 6 pm Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc. (WPA) unleashes an amazing lineup of entertainers, visual artists and more at the fifth annual Washington Park LIVE! Arts & Music Festival.

With a new location Washington Park LIVE! is set to take over Palisade Avenue between Paterson Plank Road and 2nd Street with a Main Stage, Beer Garden, and Food Trucks! The new location sits on the Union City/Jersey City border and includes the area of Washington Park adjacent to Palisade Avenue. With more than 3,000 people attending annually the day will be a huge celebration of arts, music, dance and community. Please use the hashtag #wplive to help promote Washington Park LIVE! this year on all materials and social media.

“We’re celebrating many firsts this year, a new location that will bring together Jersey City and Union City residents in a way we haven’t done before, we joined forces with Guttenberg Arts and Bulls Ferry Studios on the artists areas, and we added a beer garden with more food trucks near the main stage to help create a live concert type atmosphere for all to enjoy. We are building on each year’s successes to become the premier art event in Hudson County,” says Nick Caballero, WPA president.

“WPA is all about partnerships and community building. With the help of our sponsors and community partners we’ve added several elements for hands-on engagement so attendees and artists can interact to create art together as a community. We also have a few special things planned throughout the day, that I can’t tell you about,” says Caballero. Folks will have to come to Washington Park LIVE! on September 20 to find out more about the surprises we have in store.”

To get the creative juices flowing, start the day off with one or more health and wellness activities like the O’Connell’s Run 5K, a Kids Fun Run, and yoga class by Yoga In The Heights.

Attendees will have the chance to view local artists paint, and create their work right in the park. Artists include Matt Caputo, Tim Daily, Jan Huling, Norman Kirby, Sean Lugo, Judi Menzel, Jamel Robinson and Allison Silva (see full list below). Norene Leddy, an artist and professor at Parsons The New School of Design, will lead giant recycled clothing swap that will end later in the day with A Red Carpet “Trashion” Show. Hacking Heights Fashion and other artists will lead a series of do-it-yourself art sessions. Plus there will be plenty of children’s activities going on throughout the day including a children’s drum circle, face painting and henna art.

Once again WPA has teamed up with RiverviewJazz.org to provide an amazing live music program on the main stage and in the park. Washington Park LIVE! is excited to include for the first time headliners Jeremy Beck and The Heavy Duty Horns. Beck’s soulful and soaring vocal solos paired with the brass horns are fresh, fancy and funky! Other featured performers include Los Hacheros who use charanga and salsa to create a sound distinctly their own, Manouche Bag Jersey Cityʼs preeminent French gypsy jazz band, Slavic Soul Party who weaves gospel, techno, funk, jazz, and Latin influences into one amazing sound and Swingadelic a band that features neo-swing like you’ve never heard. (Full bios can be found at: http://bit.ly/WPLiveEntertainment)

And of course there will be dancing in the street with music provided by DJ Ben Boogz throughout the day and CUDA (Community for Urban Dance and Arts) will lead an urban dance-off competition. Other dance companies performing are Bembe Collective and Tarik Sultan & Baladi Beat Belly Dancers.

Be sure to enjoy a hand-squeezed fruity treat from Lizzmonade or an iced caffeinated beverage from Mod Cup Coffee. For the first time attendees can grab a cold brew at the Beer Garden; selections will include Flying Dog Woody Creek, Lagunitas IPA, Sly Fox Pilsner and Weyerbacher Autumnfest. And chow down on something tasty from one of the many food trucks and local food vendors like Bacon On Wheels, El Chilango Taqueria, Jack’s Sliders and Sushi, Orange & Olive Caterers, Peace.Love.Pops, Valducci Pizza and others.

To wrap up the event the Golden Door International Film Festival will be screening “The Odd Way Home” in the park at sundown (7-8:30 pm). Starring Chris Marquette and Rumor Willis as two strangers that are fatefully united for a harrowing and inspirational journey through the enchanting vistas of New Mexico

WPA has some great volunteer opportunities available throughout the day. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, meet new people, and be involved in this fantastic festival. Plus all volunteers get a free WPA t-shirt. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Volunteer training dates are Sept 11 and Sept 12 from 7 to 8 pm in Washington Park (Palisade Avenue and Paterson Plank Road). To volunteer: http://bit.ly/WPLiveVolunteer.

Sponsors, Donors, and Community Partners include: Carepoint Health Foundation, Century 21 Plaza Realty, The Drum Den, Guitar Bar, Golden Door International Film Festival, Hudson County Community College, Hudson City Development, Inserra Supermarkets, JC Families, Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City Police Union Partnership, Life Logistics, New Jersey City University, O’Connell’s Run, Palisades Family Success Center, RiverviewJazz.org, Statewide Marble & Granite, TD Bank, Union City Music Project, United Way of Hudson County, Yoga in the Heights. Government support comes from Mayor Brian Stack of Union City and Mayor Steven Fulop of Jersey City, along with Assemblyman Raj Mukherji and Assemblyman Carmelo G Garcia, Jersey City Council President Rolando R. Lavarro, Councilman Michael Yun (Ward D), Councilwoman At-Large Joyce Waterman, and Hudson County Chief of Staff William Gaughan.

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, County Executive, and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc. (WPA) is an independent, community based, volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing services and benefits to more than 1,000 community residents. Founded by residents of Jersey City and Union City, who were motivated to create positive change in the The Heights, WPA works with the community to revitalize, maintain, and protect Washington Park, a 100 year old, 22-acre park in The Heights and promote its use through programs and activities that enhance the quality of life of park users and local residents. WPA members believe that engaging residents in activities that improve their neighborhoods, civic pride and care increases, leading to healthier, wealthier, and progressive communities.
Details:
Washington Park LIVE!
Saturday, September 20, 2014
10 am-6 pm, Free Event
(Movie Screening 7-8:30 pm)
*Rain Date: Saturday, September 27, 2014
Palisade Avenue between Paterson Plank Road and 2nd Street, Union City/Jersey City
This part of Palisade Avenue will be closed to traffic from 7 am-7 pm

Transportation:
Jersey City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Recreation will provide free Shuttle Buses throughout the day. Buses will bring event goers from WP Live, to the Golden Door International Film Festival locations and to the All About Downtown Festival. Routes are still pending. For more info check our website.

NJ Transit bus 84/86 or 22 from Hoboken or Jersey City to Palisade Ave and Paterson Plank Road. NJ Transit bus 123 from NYC to Palisade Ave and 3rd St in Union City – Stop is one block from the event. NJ Transit Light rail to 9th St/Congress stop, take elevator up and walk one block north to Washington Park.

Residential street parking is also available near the site.

Photos and interviews available on request.
Contact Mory Thomas: 646-648-3390 (cell), [email protected]

Please promote using #wplive
For additional info visit www.wpanj.org
Twitter & Instagram: @WPAHudsonCounty
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonParkAssociationofHudsonCountyInc
Program

Health and Wellness Activities
10:00 am to 11:00 – Yoga by Yoga in the Heights (in the park)
10:00 am – O’Connell’s 5K Run (2nd St & Palisade Ave)
11:00 am – Kids Fun Run (2nd St & Palisade Ave)

Music on the Main Stage (Palisade Ave & Paterson Plank Rd)
11:00 to 11:30 – DJ Ben Boogz
11:30 to 12:15 – Cuda Dance-off Competition
12:15 to 1:15 – Swingadelic
1:30 to 2:30 – Slavic Soul Party
2:10 to 2:30 – Belly Dancers with Slavic Soul Party
3:00 to 4:00 – Los Hacheros
4:00 to 4:30 – Cuda Dance-off Competition (Finals)
4:30 to 5:30 – Jeremy Beck and The Heavy Duty Horns
5:30 to 6:00 – DJ Ben Boogz

Performance in the Park
11:15 to 12:15 – Manouche Bag
1:00 to 1:45 – Manouche Bag
3:45 to 4:30 – Bembe Collective
6:00 to 7:00 – Jonathan Fritz

Creative Activities, Workshops, Film
11:00 to 5:00 – Face Painting & Henna Artists
11:30 to 11:45 – Traditional Indian and Bollywood dancing
11:00 to 5:00 – Recycled Clothing Swap with Hacking Heights Fashion & Norene Leddy
11:00 to 12:00 – Session 1: Urban Sportswear DIY with Giana Gonzalez of Hacking Couture and Massevo
1:00 to 2 :00 – Session 2: Urban Sportswear DIY with Giana Gonzalez of Hacking Couture and Massevo
2:00 to 2:30 – Session 3: Silkscreening Demo with artist Winnie Fung
2:30 to 5:00 – Session 4: All DIY workstations will be open – silkscreening, sewing, bedazzling, and more
2:45 to 3:45 – Belly Dancing Workshop
3:30 to 3:45 – Children’s Drum Circle with Anthony Blunda
5:30 to 6:00 – Red Carpet “Trashion” Show with Hacking Heights Fashion & Norene Leddy
7:00 to 8:30 – Golden Door International Film Festival & WPA Movie Screening

Participating Artists
Carrier Pigeon – an artist-run magazine of illustrated fiction and fine art.
Guttenberg Arts & Bulls Ferry Studios
Matt Caputo
Santiago Cohen
Jeankarlos Cruz
Tim Daily
Phoebe Deutsch
Jan Huling
Norm Kirby
Sean Lugo
Judi Menzel
Jamel Robinson
Allison Silva