The Kwanzaa Festival, Saturday Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., will be held in the Cooper Student Center at HACC's Harrisburg Campus located across from the Farm Show Complex. It is open to the community, and admission is free. Children are welcome, and there will be activities especially for them from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Music, dance, food, storytelling, a fashion show, ethnic merchandise marketplace, health screenings, and a candle-lighting ceremony will highlight the Kwanzaa Festival, along with presentation of the seventh annual Harambee Recognition Awards and the KARAMU celebratory feast following the awards ceremony.
"As we celebrate our 14th Kwanzaa festival at HACC, we continue to embrace and share the seven principles of Kwanzaa," said Patricia Thompson, festival coordinator. "The festival serves as a forum for local African-American entrepreneurs and organizations to showcase their talents and ethnic merchandise. It's an ideal event for families, as the activities can be enjoyed by adults and children alike."
Festivities will begin with a candle lighting ceremony at 10 a.m. led by HACC students in the African American Student Organization and Harrisburg's Black Achievers Gospel Choir. The Kwanzaa Awareness ceremony will be followed by the seventh annual Harambee Recognition Awards, with host Valerie Pritchett of ABC 27.
"UJIMA is one of the principles meaning collective work and responsibility - which is a summary of the Harambee Recognition Awards," said Thompson. "The college's Multicultural Affairs office, a sponsor of the festival, along with volunteer staff and community members, review nominations to honor seven community members and/or groups who each exemplify one of the principles of Kwanzaa. The Harambee Recognition Awards program is solidly ingrained as a part of our Kwanzaa Awareness Program and Festival."
The awards are also co-sponsored by Nate and Pat Gadsden of Life Esteem, Inc., a local training and consulting organization. The Gadsdens are the hosts of the Life Esteem talk show broadcast on WHP TV 21.
"HACC's Office of Multicultural Affairs is proud to sponsor this 14th. Kwanzaa Festival," said Robert William, director. "I have a personal appreciation for the seven principles of Kwanzaa. It's a great way to learn about Kwanzaa and have fun."
This year's Harambee Recognition Award recipients are:
Following the ceremony are performances and the festival. Highlighting the afternoon is a performance by Ngosa Brothers from Zambia, Central Africa. They performed at HACC in mid-November during International Education Week.
Also scheduled are Jazz with Jimmy Wood and Friends, Imani-Edutainers African Dance Company of Lancaster, a fashion show by ABW Productions and Writer's Wordshop.
Performances from step groups include the Southside Steppers from Crispus Attucks of York, HACC's African American Student Association Dance Team, Camp Curtin YMCA Steppers and the American Legion Post 733 Youth Soul Steppers.
DJ Brian Thompson will provide music between performances.
Activities for children take place at the Children's Corner on the second floor of Cooper Student Center in room 204 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Floyd Stokes as Super Reader makes a return visit to the Children's Corner.
Free health screenings will include blood pressure performed by HACC respiratory care students, glaucoma by the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind and cancer by the Central Pennsylvania Oncology Group.
Information may be obtained by calling Kwanzaa event coordinator Pat Thompson at HACC, 717-780-2632, or by sending her an email at the address below.