Karen “Queen Noor” Abdul-Malik attends the Juneteenth celebration at the Ocean City Public Library on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Ocean City)
An event celebrating the rich history of African-Americans in Ocean City will be held Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
The outdoor Juneteenth celebration, which will take place on Haven Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets, is free to attend and will feature music, stand-up comedy, special guest speakers, a gospel power hour, vendors, food trucks, family activities and more.
On Sunday at 3 p.m., the Ocean City Center for the Arts will present Karen “Queen Noor” Abdul-Malik in an early celebration of Juneteenth in the Chris Maloney Auditorium at the Ocean City Public Library (1735 Simpson Ave.).
It is free and open to the public.
Queen Noor is a nationally renowned storyteller, teaching artist and folklorist.
The Willingboro, Burlington County resident is one of five Southern New Jersey recipients of the inaugural Heritage Fellowship awarded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The program begins with a story honouring ancestors, with Queen Noor recounting her tale at Elmina Castle in Ghana.
The journey continues to celebrate resilience and resistance through “knowing” the right to freedom expressed in silence and shouts as coded messages through songs, chants and outdoor shouts.
The performance paints the powerful story of Henry Box Brown, leading us through the story of the drafting of the Emancipation Proclamation and its two-and-a-half year delay before it arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865.
Storytelling is intertwined with the playing of African drums, including the log drum (the first drum made in Africa), the slit gong and the cajon.
This program is made possible through the collaboration of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information or to reserve seats, visit the Ocean City Arts Center website or call 609-399-7628. Also visit Queen Nur’s site at queennur.com.
The annual Health, Fitness and Wellness Expo runs from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday (Photo courtesy of Ocean City)The annual Health, Fitness and Wellness Expo will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Ocean City Music Pier.
The event will feature healthy food, yoga and fitness classes, speakers, vendors, blood pressure screenings, a kids’ corner and more.
All are welcome to attend this free event, hosted by the Ocean City Healthy Living Advisory Council.
The program includes:
• 8:00am-8:50am: Chakra Yoga and Sound Healing
• 9:30-10:00 a.m.: Jiu-Jitsu demo
• 10:15-10:45am: HIIT class
• 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Athleisure Fashion Show
June 21 – Philadelphia Wind Symphony: The 40-plus member Philadelphia Wind Symphony will close its 2023-2024 season with a rendition of traditional wind ensemble classics.
Their performance marks the start of summer’s official musical celebration and features marches, soloists and fun selections for the whole family. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice .
June 22 – Antique Auto Show: More than 300 vintage vehicles will be on display on the Tabernacle grounds (6th Avenue and Asbury Street) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a Boardwalk Parade. For more information, visit jerseycape.aaca.com.
June 24 – Let’s Sing Taylor — A live band experience celebrating Taylor Swift: Two concerts at Ocean City Music Pier (5 and 7:30 p.m.). Tickets available at etix.com. Produced by BRE Presents.
June 25 – Kenny G: The concert begins at 7pm at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are available at etix.com. Produced by BRE Presents.
June 30 – Bernadette Peters with the Ocean City Pops: Peters will join the Pops at Ocean City Music Pier to kick off the 2024 season. The award-winning actress and singer’s career spans film, television and stage. She won a Tony Award for her roles in the musicals Annie Get Your Gun and Song and Dance, and received five other nominations and honorary awards. Four of the cast albums she has starred in have won Grammy Awards. Tickets for this show are sold out.
