For nearly 15 years, Halsey Fest has celebrated the hustle, heart, and culture that make Newark shine.

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the sun went down Halsey Fest heated up, bursting with activity. The community event turned out locals expressing Newark pride along the famed corridor sampling and learning about community services to help those in need from housing, health and food assistance. Entrepreneurs and shop owners Blyn Bar Soap, BrownMill, Nork T-shirts and hats from the The Nork Project came out showcasing their goods. Festival goers had the opportunity to sample food, listen to music, face painting and more.

Halsey Fest 2025 promised an unforgettable lineup of live performances on the Main Stage with local DJ collective bunkr. emceeing, alongside exciting collaborations, community programming, and activations from Newark's beloved sports teams. Festival-goers strolled the historic and eclectic street to discover unique treasures, handcrafted goods, and delicious and mouthwatering foods from local vendors. The soulful entrepreneurs participating in Halsey Fest included Tameika Lewis, who both personally and professionally found a haven in Newark with her natural skincare company BklynBarSoap, and Justis Pitt-Goodman, the Co-Founder, Creative Director, and CEO of BrownMill Atelier, a Newark-based streetwear shop that he grew into a cultural hub blending craftsmanship, community, and innovation.

"Newark has been great to me, and I'm so excited to be a part of Halsey Fest," Lewis said of moving to Newark. "The welcoming and vibrant atmosphere drew me in as the place to call home. I'm looking forward to really digging my heels into this special city."

The entrepreneur and mother birthed BklynBarSoap when she discovered that nothing helped her son's eczema. Since then, one of her passions is supporting her fellow small business community, a highlight of Halsey Fest.

For Pitt-Goodson, participating in Halsey Fest gave him a chance to attract people to his store to see what BrownMill offers. He said that he chose the city of Newark for his shop because of the city's distinct shopping culture, and "being someplace other than Newark didn't feel right." His brand, which started as a middle school bow tie project, has grown into a movement, as well as a nationally recognized brand. NBA stars like Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony have given BrownMill national street cred, and BrownMill's "Think Bigger" mantra and upcycled clothing designs have gone all over Instagram and major cities.

BrownMill conducts its own major Newark festival, the BrownMill Block Party, which draws over 10,000 attendees annually, helps empower small businesses, and showcases the creative pulse of Newark. At Halsey Fest, Pitt-Goodson, Lewis, and the other participating local entrepreneurs highlighted the city's thriving shopping culture and community pride.

Rounding out Halsey Fest, the ever-popular Karaoke on Halsey returned, where festival-goers became the stars. Everyone sang, grooved, and mingled their way under the twinkling lights of Halsey Street, making unforgettable memories. 

Media B-Roll and still images of Halsey Fest can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/work/Impact%20Consulting%20Team%20Folder/Newark%20Alliance/Festivals%20United%20Newark/Client%20FUN%20Assets%20for%20Report/FUN%20Halsey%20Fest/FUN%20Halsey%20Fest%20Pics%20and%20Videos%20Files/FUN%20Halsey%20Fest%20Media%20Images%20and%20B-Roll

Media Toolkit with additional information can be found here: https://impact.eimpactconsulting.com/festivals-united-newark-media-toolkit.html

About Halsey Festival
Halsey Festival, the tentpole event of the series of Halsey Fest family-friendly celebrations, brings together the downtown Newark community for a day of celebration, connection, and creativity along the vibrant and historic Halsey Street corridor, as well as the broader Arts and Education District. For nearly 15 years, this grassroots event has shown that Halsey Street is "A Neighborhood Built on Hustle and Heart." Newark Alliance is honored to continue the tradition of showcasing the organizations, artists and small businesses that truly make downtown Newark unique.

About Festivals United Newark | www.festivalsunitednewark.org
Funded through a $1.5 million grant awarded to the Newark Alliance from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Festivals United Newark (FUN) is a unique partnership of leading festival and event organizers in the City of Newark, NJ. For the first time, Newark's major festival planners have come together to form a coalition of the city's most beloved cultural events. Together under one umbrella, FUN members include AfroBeat Fest, Halsey Festival, Lincoln Park Music Festival, Newark Arts Festival, Newark Pride, and Newark Winter Village, all in partnership with the Newark City Parks Foundation. FUN ensures a summer, fall, and winter filled with music, art, food and community. FUN is more than just a name – it's a movement.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/halsey-fest-2025-displays-the-vibrant-and-colorful-heartbeat-of-newark-302561145.html

SOURCE Festivals United Newark (FUN)