About the Experience
The House Blend: Joy At Home is a four-day experience curated by Forsa La Familia (Marcy DePina & Tawana Meck) as part of Newark Arts Festival 2025. Set within a reimagined venue inside the historic Military Park Building, located at 60 Park Place in downtown Newark, this immersive activation serves as a premium hub for artists, key partners, and VIP pass holders.
Blending sound, ritual, art, healing, and curated design, the experience features immersive rooms, live activations, DJ sets, and private gatherings - all exploring how joy lives at home, and how space can hold community, creativity, and care.
The space will showcase original works and curated rooms by a powerful roster of artists, including Bailey Li, Ikechukwu Amos, Eshinlokun Wasiu, Okereke, Armando Diaz, Noelle Lorraine Williams, Kaishon Way, Kween Moore, the “Joy Lives Here” series by Lalea Raymond and guest curators Zora Obi, Anē Clothier, Jade’s Art Corner, and Alpha Studios.
Sponsored by Newark Arts, Festivals United Newark, City of Newark - Arts & Cultural Affairs, Newark Arts & Education District, the Berger Organization, Edmond’s Honor Bourbon, All Points West Distillery, Invited Coffee, Baako, Diageo, and The Yard.
Click here to tap into all the JOY at Newark Arts Festival and the full schedule of events.
The House Blend: Joy at Home Extended offers gallery hours and activations through Sunday, October 19th. Drop in to explore the space, drink a cup of coffee or tea, or attend a live recorded DJ sets, yoga, mediation, and sound bath sessions, or a screening of “The House That Newark Built,” a documentary by ABC 7’s Angelo Martin. A full list of the day’s events are listed below.
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Hours: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Step into The House Blend: Joy At Home, with an intimate first look at the Newark Arts' VIP hospitality experience. This soft opening welcomes participating artists, curators, sponsors, press, and Newark Arts Festival special guests for an afternoon and evening of art and connection. Enjoy light refreshments, coffee by Invited Coffee, and assorted tea tastings and sampling of Baako sparkling beverages. Explore installations and meet the creative minds behind the rooms while vibing to a curated playlist and evening DJ set by guest DJ Sienna Chanel and Forsa La Familia.
Music: DJ Set by Forsa La Familia (6–10PM) and guest DJ Sienna Chanel
RSVP HERE -
Daytime Hours: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Evening Hours: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PMDaytime offers time to reflect, record, and discover —featuring Whisper Room audio prompts, readings with Lauren LeBeaux, and FUN with Festivals United. As the sun sets, we gather for Eat Pray Grind—an intimate mixer featuring a bourbon tasting hosted by Isaiah Kelsey and Edmond's Honor, bites from The Yard, and curated DJ vibes. This evening sets the tone for joy, exchange, and the good energy of Newark Arts Festival all night long.
Daytime (12PM–4PM): Readings, Art Activities, Whisper Room Recordings
Evening (6PM–10PM): Eat Pray Grind Mixer, Bourbon Tasting, Bites from The Yard, Guest DJ
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Daytime Hours: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Evening Hours: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PMThe afternoon features a healing-centered program with an immersive conversation on the “Science of Joy” with Dr. Cassandra Hutchins alongside the artwork of Bailey Li, and audio reflections from the Whisper Room’s “Dear Black Man” series. At night, we transform the space into Needle & Thread—a pop-up speakeasy featuring cocktails, art, and a full DJ experience by Forsa La Familia × Délé
Daytime (2PM–4PM): "Science of Joy" immersive convo, Whisper Room Activations
Evening (6PM–10PM): Needle & Thread Speakeasy, Cocktails, DJ Sets by Forsa La Familia × Délé
RSVP HERE -
Daytime Hours: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Evening Hours: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PMOur final day brings a grounding and joyful close. The morning begins with a tea tasting and brunch from Afro Taco with drinks by Baako, joy-centered prompts in the Whisper Room, and the sounds of DJ Fauzi. In the evening, we honor the Newark Arts team with a final celebration and toast to the community that brought The House Blend: Joy At Home to life featuring music with Forsa La Familia and guest DJ Chill X.
Daytime (12PM–4PM): Tea Tasting, Afro Taco Brunch, Whisper Room Reflections
Evening (6PM–10PM): Newark Arts Festival Closing Celebration
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Daytime Hours: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Evening Hours: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PMOur extended House Blend activation kicks off with a daytime open house designed for connection, calm, and quiet collaboration.
Guests are invited to sip curated coffee and tea selections, settle into our shared creative lounge, and enjoy curated playlists. This is a soft entry into the full experience - a restorative atmosphere to gather, work, or simply be.
Daytime (12PM–6PM):
Coffee & Tea Rituals
House Blends Playlists
Shared Working Space
Evening (8PM–10PM):
Live Recording Sessions
Join us for an intimate sonic session with Forsa La Familia and special guest Délé, as they record a series of live DJ mixes and audio meditations from inside the Listening Bar. -
Daytime Hours: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Evening Hours: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PMA day for reflection, screening, and deep listening. Drop by throughout the day to enjoy curated coffee and tea, House Blend playlists, and a featured film screening of The House That Newark Built—an ode to the city’s cultural legacy.
Stay for an afternoon panel discussion unpacking the intersections of Black joy, creative space-making, and storytelling.
Daytime (12PM–6PM):
Coffee & Tea Rituals
House Blends Playlist
6PM - 8PM
Film Viewing: The House That Newark Built
Panel Discussion
Evening (8PM–10PM):
Live Recording Session
Join us for a live sonic session with a rotating guest DJ from the House music community -
Hours: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
We close out The House Blend: Joy At Home with a night of celebration. We welcome the Newark Arts community for a joyful finale - a vibrant Closing Party filled with music, mingling, and curated experiences throughout the space with our final activation: Rent Party — a homage to house parties of the past that doubled as cultural salons and mutual aid fundraisers. Powered by Forsa La Familia + DJ Chill X, this session is for the people, the city, and the joy that built this house.
Rent PartyDJ Sets by Forsa La Familia + Guest DJ Chill X
Dancing, libations,
Community joy at full volume
Final toasts
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Midday Session: 11:30 PM – 2:00 PM
We close our doors with reverence, rhythm, and restoration.
Our final day will be with Tuned In: Embodied Yoga Through Healing and Sound, a grounding experience led by Sakina, the Wellness Alchemist. Through movement, meditation, and sound bath healing, we invite guests to reset and reconnect—body, spirit, and soul.
Led by Sakina, the Wellness Alchemist
Yoga, Meditation, Sound Bath
Bring your own mat