Celebrate Global Diversity At Children's Festival In Freehold

FREEHOLD, NJ — A local World Diversity Day Children’s Festival will be this Saturday, Oct. 8, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. p.m. at Lake Topanemus Park in Freehold.

The outdoor celebration, which is free and open to the public, features live performances and creative, hands-on activities for 5- to 10-year-olds and their families - all with an appreciation of cultural diversity around the globe.

And organizers hope to make this an annual event, the say.

The festival marks 2022 World Diversity Day, created by the United Nations, which was celebrated globally May 21. The local festival was cancelled from May for COVID issues but is all set for a beautiful weekend this Saturday in Freehold.

Here are some of the planned activities:

• Make bracelets with Casa Freehold.
• Learn basketball moves from We Are the Future.
• Craft flags with students with Allentown High School.
• Examine artifacts from a Nigerian village.
• Meet children’s book authors, including Natalie Tasci ("Yara The Great").

Also planned are performances by the Takajum Dance Company and the Ukrainian Children’s Chorus from Brooklyn.

Then kids and their families can look forward to face-painting, snacks, giveaway items and more, the organizers say.

“Children and their parents will be able to explore diverse cultures, customs and abilities in an accepting, fun-filled atmosphere,” says Rick Aaronson of Manalapan, who tapped volunteers from community, faith-based, cultural and social justice organizations to plan the day.

“We’re hoping our family-friendly celebration of diversity becomes an annual event,” Aaronson says.

Festival sponsors include Bethel AME “Church on the Hill,” Freehold; Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Princeton; and the private Dortheimer Holocaust Remembrance Fund.

Tickets are not required but are available through Eventbrite.

To find out more about the World Diversity Day Children’s Festival, contact Rick Aaronson at 732-740-3806 or rickaaronson@optonline.net.

And go to the U.N. website to learn more about the global celebration.