Health Festival In Newark Will Have Food, Haircuts, Screenings, Family Activities

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of CareSparc Community Connections. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

CareSparc Community Connections will mark the 12th annual Sustainable Health & Wellness Village (SHWV) Festival with a statewide series bringing free health and wellness resources, preventive screenings, fresh produce, family activities and community services directly to New Jersey residents.

Under the theme “Healthy Communities. Thriving Futures.,” the intergenerational festivals bring together families, seniors, children, caregivers, healthcare providers, community organizations and local leaders in welcoming community spaces designed to help reduce barriers to care and advance health equity.

The SHWV will be held as follows:

• NEWARK — Saturday, September 26, 2026
  Essex County Branch Brook Park — Prudential Concert Grove, Newark, NJ. The statewide series will culminate in Newark with an intergenerational day of health, wellness, food, entertainment, family activities, screenings and community resources from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHAT

The Sustainable Health & Wellness Village Festival is a community-centered health and wellness experience designed to connect residents with resources that support healthier families and stronger communities.

Festival activities and services will include:

• Free health screenings
• Free vision screenings and prescription eyeglasses
• Fresh produce and Food as Medicine education
• Panel discussions and community conversations on health equity
• Mental health and wellness resources
• Health education and preventive care information
• Family and children’s activities
• Live entertainment by Grupo K’NDELA, and Valarie Adams
  & The Dimension Band
• Catch House Meets Health with DJ Antoine Qua & DJ Moneta-Kai Price
• Connections to healthcare providers and community-based organizations

The festivals will highlight issues affecting New Jersey communities, including mental health, maternal and family health, food insecurity and nutrition, healthcare provider shortages, preventive care and health equity.

Johnson & Johnson is this year’s presenting sponsor, with Daiichi Sankyo, UnitedHealthcare and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey joining as statewide sponsors. CareSparc Community Connections is also partnering with the City of Newark, and Essex County’s Board of Commissioners to broaden the festival’s reach and connect residents with critical health and community resources.

This year’s coalition of sponsors and community partners includes Rutgers Health – New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers School of Nursing, Montclair State University, St. Peter’s University Hospital, State Theatre New Jersey and the New Brunswick Cultural Center, along with healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations and community-based partners working collectively to improve health outcomes across New Jersey.

The Sustainable Health & Wellness Village model recognizes that improving community health extends beyond hospitals and doctors’ offices. Families also need convenient access to nutritious food, preventive services, reliable health information and culturally responsive resources in the communities where they live, work and raise their children.

Since its inception, the SHWV initiative has served more than 43,000 residents across New Jersey, connecting individuals and families with health, wellness and social resources. The Sustainable Health and Wellness Village model was informed by the CDC’s Social Determinants of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Culture of Health Action Framework.

About CareSparc Community Connections

CareSparc Community Connections is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing health equity, strengthening community partnerships and connecting residents and families with health, wellness and social resources. Through its Sustainable Health & Wellness Village initiative, CareSparc brings healthcare providers, community organizations, advocates and residents together to address barriers to care, promote prevention and help build healthier, more resilient communities across New Jersey.

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