AAPI New Jersey’s “Light Up Diwali” event returns to the Montclair Art Museum on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m.

The celebration has drawn more than 2,000 attendees in past years, bringing the community together for an afternoon of South Asian music, dance, food, art and traditions.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, commemorates the triumph of light over darkness and is a time to gather and celebrate new beginnings. The afternoon will feature live music and dance performances, Diwali-themed crafts, a photo booth, local vendors and food trucks offering sweet and savory bites. Ticket holders can also explore the museum’s galleries at no additional cost.

New this year, “Passage to India” is a locally sourced exhibition that brings together art and heirlooms generously contributed by community members. Featuring pieces that reflect the diversity of India’s regions, artistic traditions and personal histories, the exhibition weaves individual journeys into a larger story of people’s connections to India and one another.

To kick off the celebration, Montclair Mayor Dr. Renee Baskerville and other special guests will lead a traditional diya lighting ceremony. The program will then feature professional and community performances showcasing a variety of Indian dance and music traditions.

Professional performers include Radhika Samson, presenting Odissi, a classical dance tradition from the eastern Indian state of Odisha; Meher Vig, bringing the rhythms of the dhol and tabla; Keshav & Priya Dance Duo, performing a modern fusion of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak; and Indus Groove, a five-piece Indian fusion band blending vocals, guitars, keys, bass and drums.

Performances by Kulture Kool Dance School and local youth and community groups, including Hillside Elementary School’s Drums of Thunder, will round out the program with Bollywood, modern, folk and semi-classical dance.

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2-6 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, Oct. 18)
Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair
Admission: $7 per person or $25 per family (up to five people). Children younger than 5 are free. Fee waivers are available for those in need.
Tickets: Purchase tickets
More information: AAPI New Jersey