Unless there’s an event at Prudential Center or NJPAC, downtown Newark isn’t usually busy on Sunday nights, with no workers spilling out of the Gateway office complex, Audible, or local, state and federal government buildings. So, it was surprising to see even a few dozen people populating Mulberry Commons park at about 5 p.m. last Sunday, especially with temperatures in the low 20s.
They were drawn by bright holiday lighting and decorations, a rink with skate rentals and ice bumper cars, hot cocoa, and a giant polar bear statue for seasonal selfies and group shorts. And, of course, a big evergreen tree lit with hundreds of bulbs.
They’re all part of downtown Newark’s annual “Winter Village,” a cold-weather attraction intended to lure visitors from out of town or outer wards to eat, shop, have some fun, and hopefully come back at oth4er times of the year.
“It’s very nice, very fun, and it’s good for the kids,” said Philip Carvalho, who was there with his 7-year-old son, Tom, from Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood a few blocks south, on the other side of the NJ Transit railroad embankment along McCarter Highway.
HIs son agreed but was eager to get home and get warm. “It’s too cold!” Tom said with a shriek, ending the interview.
The village is the most visible component of a “Downtown Newark for the Holidays” campaign curated by Newark First Lady Linda Baraka, whose husband is Mayor Ras J. Baraka. The campaign is a collaboration of the City of Newark’s Arts and Education District, the non-profit Newark Alliance, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, or NJPAC, and the Newark City Parks Foundation.
The foundation’s executive director, Marcy DePina, said pop-up skating rinks are common this time of year, but this is the only one in Newark.
“So, the idea is to get people out, move their bodies, commune with nature, and to have a little holiday cheer and a little holiday fun,” DePina said. “Being here in Newark gives people the opportunity to come out, shop, eat a little food, see some friends, and get out on the ice.”
If you have your own skates, getting out on the ice will cost you $10. If you don’t, it’s $15 to rent skates, including time on the ice. Those who don’t skate at all can rent one of the “Go Carts” for $20. Individuals, families or large parties can rent a heated and furnished “igloo,” or transparent dome, for $50 an hour. Visitors can warm up for free at a fire pit surrounded by outdoor lounge furniture. For more information, see the Winter Village home page.
Nyaia Mounesy and Renee Thompson were cold, too, but still having fun. The pair of 12-year-olds live a few miles away from the village, in the Vailsburg section of Newark’s West Ward, and got a ride to the village from one of their parents.
The two were standing in line for hot chocolate before trying the bumper cars, which take turns with skating for use of the outdoor rink. The girls had already gone skated, something they don’t get to do a lot in Newark.
“It was okay, but we can’t skate,” Nyaia said with a laugh.
It was their first time at the Winter Village, and they were happy to have a place to hang out in Newark during their winter break.
“We’re out of school for two weeks,” said Renee, scanning the lights, the rink, the other people out and about. “It’s nice.”
The “Downtown Newark for the Holidays” celebration began Nov. 30 with a calendar of events highlighting local restaurants and retailers. Remaining activities include “Holiday Fun Days” at the Newark Museum of Art this Thursday through Sunday, featuring hands-on arts, crafts and other joint activities for children and their parents.
The Winter Village was applauded by Bernard Wilks, president of the Newark Chamber of Commerce, which has been inactive for years but will be relaunched in the coming months with a focus small business.
“It’s a great idea,” Wilks, a former Prudential Financial executive, said of the village. “Whatever can be done to ignite the economic adrenaline is a plus.”
Wilks and the revamped chamber are not involved with the Winter Village. But its outdoor, physical activity is just the kind of “clean fun” that he said the city and its business community should be promoting.
Charles Kirk agreed. Kirk, 33, who works for United Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport, was at the village Sunday night with his son, Jakell, 11, and daughter, Amiyah, 10, who were warming up around the fire pit before heading over to the rink.
“We haven’t rode on the bumper cars yet but it looks very fun,” said Amiyah.
Dad was having fun, too.
“I got to take some pictures of the kids under the snowman, drink some hot chocolate and watch the kids play on the bumper cars,” Kirk said.
Amiyah and Jakell live in South Carolina and were in Newark visiting their dad for the holidays.
“It’s very fun,” Amiyah said of the city, adding with a shudder, “It is cold.”
But the cold has its perks. For one thing, there’s outdoor ice skating. Plus, Amiyah was looking forward to a white Christmas in Newark, which had snow on the ground Sunday with more on the way.
“We do not have that in South Carolina,” she said.
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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
