Holiday on the Boulevard is a family-friendly festival and marketplace that brings community, artists, and vendors together for an Ashé holiday celebration.
Holiday on the Boulevard uplifts the traditions of Kwanzaa and Christmas, creating a space for people to experience art, togetherness, community-care, and the joys of giving and receiving. We planned on being outside this year, but New Orleans weather is unpredictable. Come inside and enjoy a Central City tradition!
DECEMBER 17 SCHEDULE
10am-11:30pm: The Kwanzaa Imagination Tour
The Kwanzaa Imagination Tour is a special fusion of Our Imagination Tour and a Kwanzaa demonstration! Designed to teach our youth about African and Black American traditions, the Kwanzaa Imagination Tour will offer a brief history of the Kwanzaa tradition, its meaning, and its importance to Black liberation as well as an exploration of Africa and its connection to New Orleans on the wings of our very own imagination, guided by community elders Mama Jamilah and Baba Luther.
6pm-8pm: Ashé Memory Project Launch
A labor of love years in the making, we’re excited to finally introduce the Ashé Memory Project, a multimedia archive designed to retain and showcase Ashé’s 23+ year history and serve as a resource for the next generation of leaders. The Ashé Memory Project consists of archived materials accessible through Ashé and the Amistad Research Center as well as a digital platform featuring oral histories from co-founder Carol Bebelle and community partners.
The launch will feature a performance by Kei Slaughter, a live discussion with Ashé legends Carol Bebelle, Luther Gray, Rev. Dwight Webster, and Linetta Gilbert, and a live demo of the digital platform by Avodah Fellows Halle Young and Jessica Araten.
DECEMBER 18 SCHEDULE
11am-5pm: 21st Annual Holiday on the Boulevard Festival & Marketplace
Bring your family, friends, and gift lifts and enjoy:
Performances by Sunni Patterson,Dancing Grounds’ Dance For Social Change Youth Ensemble, DJ Sugarcookie, Iris P, Uptown Music Theater Youth Ensemble, Naydja CoJoe
The Holiday on the Boulevard Marketplace featuring local clothing designers, jewelry designers, visual artists, authors, culinary artists, and more
A visit from Baba Kwanzaa and Mama Yéyé, our resident heralds of the holiday spirit
The Holiday on the Boulevard Kids Zone featuring toys and activities for our young ones
Blessings from Community Healers
A birthday dedication and blessing in honor of Ashé co-founder Baba Doug Redd
Holiday on the Boulevard is always free and open to the public. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative PCR test within the past 72 hours required.
VENUE
Ashé Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard New Orleans LA 70113
