The Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) was awarded a $500,000 grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to launch Illumination 250.
The City of Hackensack will serve as the central hub for the Illumination 250 festival, which commemorates America’s 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial). The event expands the Main Street Business Alliance’s annual HACKENSACKtoberfest into a citywide celebration of cultural diversity and local history, with special programming across downtown Hackensack.
“This $500,000 grant enables us to present a regional celebration, Illumination 250, and bring people together through the arts. Illumination 250 is by the people and for the people — a chance to celebrate our community’s diversity, break down barriers, and drive real economic growth on Main Street and beyond. We expect Oct. 3 to significantly increase foot traffic, showcase our historic district, and demonstrate the transformative power of arts-led revitalization,” said Lynne Algrant, president of HACPAC.
The initiative will introduce a series of new arts, cultural, and community events across downtown Hackensack, creating a full-day regional festival experience.
HACPAC was one of 39 organizations awarded funding from the NJEDA’s $15 million investment supporting arts and cultural programming throughout New Jersey.
The May 3 event:
💫Commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States
🌎 Celebrates the city’s modern cultural diversity
💳Drives economic revitalization
🥸Giant mechanical puppet parade
🔌 Immersive light installations
🔊Audio flash-mob experience
💃🏼Performances by cultural folk artists
Programming Details
Designed as a multi-location celebration that coincides with the annual HACKENSACKtoberfest, Illumination 250 aims to drive economic revitalization, boost foot traffic for local businesses, and showcase the community’s cultural diversity through a variety of public art and interactive installations.
“Illumination 250 is an exciting way to bring the different communities in the region together to have fun and enjoy one another’s company. We are excited to do something special to help the small businesses and restaurants in downtown Hackensack — many of which are owned by Latinos — and help attendees learn more about the diversity of cultures in our community,” said Leonardo Vazquez, executive director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.
Hackensack: Culturally Diverse, Artistic Legacy
The City of Hackensack is a vibrant hub of cultural richness and artistic achievement, where 36.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino and 20.4% is Black or African American, alongside Asian (13.1%) and multiracial (12.8%) communities, according to the release. As a melting pot of cultures, Illumination 250 will celebrate this diversity through performances and activities honoring the City’s multicultural heritage and the contributions of all its communities.
Culturally, Hackensack is known for its rich artistic and musical history. Eddie Palmieri, the legendary Latin jazz pianist, and Ralph Mercado, the influential Latin music promoter and entrepreneur, both lived in Hackensack at different points in their careers. Legendary jazz artists such as John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk recorded in Hackensack at the iconic Van Gelder Studio.
Illumination 250 Celebration: A Collaboration
Illumination 250 is a collaborative celebration developed by Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC), Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF), Main Street Business Alliance (MSBA), Greater Bergen Community Action (GBCA), and the City of Hackensack.
The celebration will expand beyond the annual HACKENSACKtoberfest from Atlantic Street Park to multiple downtown locations — Anderson Street Park, Banta Place, Demarest Place, and the Courthouse Green — featuring live performances, cultural programming, and interactive art installations to celebrate the City of Hackensack’s diverse communities and drive foot traffic to local businesses.
Throughout the year, a variety of activities will take place for the public to get involved in, co-create, and contribute to the celebration.
A Community Info Gathering Session at Bergen Makerspace will allow the public to share their “American” and “Hackensack” stories, which the artists will use to inform their artworks.
Hands-on community puppet-making workshops led by Processional Arts Workshop will happen at the Bergen Makerspace in August 2026. Opportunities will also be available for local artists to contribute their talent to the planned arts experiences.
Illumination 250 Highlights
The celebration will feature a diverse array of cultural performances, interactive experiences, and community-driven programming throughout downtown Hackensack, including:
- Giant Community Puppet Procession with Processional Arts and Local Artists. The internationally renowned Processional Arts Workshop (PAW) will lead community puppet-building workshops that culminate in a Revolution 250-themed parade, with local artists mentored by PAW professionals.
- Large-scale Projection and Immersive Light Installation. Leni Schwendinger Light Projects will create a large-scale digital projection on the historic Green, as the festival’s finale.
- MP3 Experiment: Audio Flash-Mob. Improv Everywhere, a comedic group founded by theater director and comedian Charlie Todd, will stage a participatory flash-mob celebrating Hackensack’s history.
- World Forum: Cultural Folk Artist Performances at Local Businesses. Folk artists will showcase their talents at the festival’s “World Forum”, with each collaborating with a local business owner who shares their cultural heritage to co-develop their performance or exhibition.
- Family Fun Day. Anderson Street Park will host live music, local cuisine, and family-friendly activities celebrating neighborhood diversity.
- Samples and Sips: Main Street Culinary Celebration. Participating restaurants, cafés, and quick serve eateries along Main Street will offer complimentary samples of their signature dishes and non-alcoholic beverages to drive foot traffic and showcase Hackensack’s vibrant dining scene.
- American River Reflection. This site-specific performance in the puppet procession and at Demarest Place combines original music, singing, movement, and installation art to create an immersive experience connecting residents to the historical, cultural and environmental importance of the Hackensack River.
- Public art installation in Anderson Street Park celebrating the history of Anderson Street Historic District
- HACPAC Art Gallery Illumination 250 Exhibition.
For further information about the Illumination 250 celebration, contact Danielle De Laurentis, Associate Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, at artsbergen@nnjcf.org. Updates about the celebration will be posted on the partners’ social media accounts, including MSBA on Instagram at @DowntownHackensack and on Facebook at @DowntownHackensack and HACPAC on Instagram at @HACPAC_arts and on Facebook at @Hackensack Performing Arts Center, and on the celebration’s website https://www.DowntownHackensack.org/illumination250 .
Illumination 250 is a project of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center, in partnership with the Northern NJ Community Foundation’s ArtsBergen, Hackensack Main Street Business Alliance, Greater Bergen Community Action, and the City of Hackensack, supported by funding through the NJEDA’s A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program.
About the Grant
The funding was provided through Phase II of the NJEDA’s Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) Program.
Target: Arts and cultural organizations located within 1.5 miles of passenger rail stations.
Objective: Support municipalities heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging the arts as an economic catalyst.
Partners: The project is a collaboration between HACPAC, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (ArtsBergen), the Main Street Business Alliance, Greater Bergen Community Action, and the City of Hackensack
“Illumination 250” refers to regional arts festivals celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, featuring large-scale, illuminated events. Major events include the grant-funded festival in Hackensack, NJ, on Oct 3, and a drone show in Haverford, Pennsylvania, on Aug 29, both celebrating community and history.
The NJEDA A.R.T. Phase II grants will support the local economies of municipalities in New Jersey by funding arts and cultural organizations that boost foot traffic, promote small-business growth, and enhance community revitalization efforts. This investment strengthens the economic resiliency of local municipalities, particularly those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, by leveraging the arts as a catalyst for change.
About the Collaborating Organizations
Hackensack Performing Arts Center stands as Hackensack’s cultural centerpiece, nurturing artists across disciplines. Its Performing Arts Center provides a platform for emerging and established talents, from Broadway stars to Grammy-winning musicians, and local talent. The organization celebrates creativity and offers a home for the next generation of performers. For more information, visit https://hacpac.org/.
Main Street Business Alliance is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit public/private partnership between the business community on Main Street and the City of Hackensack. The MSBA’s mission is to improve the local economy and overall business climate. For more information, visit http://downtownhackensack.org/.
Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, founded in 1998, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Hackensack that works with local governments, school districts, businesses, nonprofits, and citizen groups to improve community life through collaborative partnerships. The Foundation’s ArtsBergen initiative advances creative placemaking and is the largest producer of community-relevant public art in Bergen County. For more information, visit www.nnjcf.org.
Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit Community Action Agency headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey. Established in 1967, GBCA is Bergen County’s federally designated anti-poverty agency serving Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties. Its mission is to reduce poverty by addressing the causes and conditions of persistent economic instability through comprehensive, community-based programs. For more information, visit https://www.greaterbergen.org/.
City of Hackensack serves as the historic county seat of Bergen County, offering a unique blend of urban energy and suburban charm just seven miles west of Upper Manhattan. This diverse city of approximately 47,000 residents is currently undergoing a vibrant downtown revitalization. For more information, visit http://www.hackensack.org/.