At The Great Falls Festival, Diversity Shines Again

It was in the air—found in the food, the people, and the music. It was the spice of life at this year’s Great Falls Festival. It was culture.

Many said it was the biggest Great Falls Festival in recent years, especially since COVID.

The Paterson Great Falls Festival, an annual celebration held over Labor Day weekend, kicked off its first of three days on Saturday, September 31st, with food trucks, a stage paired with a dance floor, and a special dedication in memory of Mr. JohnMing.

“John Ming was our audio-visual supervisor; he was a visionary, a pioneer, an inventor, He created our cable access channel,” said Paterson mayor, Andre Sayegh, affectionally referring to him as the ‘Ming dynasty.’

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Patersonians and others alike experienced one of the biggest festivals the Falls had in recent years, with multiculturalism on display. As of 2024, Paterson, the third largest city in New Jersey, is considered one of the most diverse cities in the state.

“This is all about pride in Paterson,” said mayor Sayegh. “We want people to know our city has a lot to offer.”

Beyond the music stage, Dominican artist Ramon Rosario set up his own artistic space. With an easel, canvas, and paintbrush, he painted the Falls.

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While he painted, the DJ at the main stage played a variety of Reggaeton and hip-hop music. He also played ‘Put Your Hands Up’ in honor of Fatman Scoop, theAmerican rapper who passed away at 56 after collapsing during a show just a day before.

For those who didn’t bring their dancing shoes, they certainly wished they had once the second day rolled around with house music.

On Sunday, house music set the scene. People arrived for the food and stayed for the beats. The day was particularly special with a tribute to the iconic Paterson nightclub from the 80s and early 90s, The Cheetah Club. With Paterson’s own Adeva and Sybil, house music singers, performing, attendees gravitated toward the dance floor.

Sybil said,“Paterson has a rich history, and I think it actually started with The CheetahClub. It was a big place for house heads, house music, and R&B soul, classic house—that kind of vibe.” She recalled the city being diverse even back then, a place she loved growing up in.

The spirit ofThe Cheetah Club was alive as Adeva performed ‘Warning!’, a song she released in 1989. Adeva, a house music singer and teacher of over 20 years, says, “It’s a blessing and a pleasure to be performing in front of my hometown.” This warm sentiment extended throughout the day, with the festival not only welcoming people but also inviting dogs to the dance floor.

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Other performers that day included Rich Medina, DJ Kevin Hedge, DJ Tony Touch, and The Flagrant Drums, who closed out the night. They performed for the first time at the Paterson Falls stage, having flown in all the way from Colombia.

The festival was also a food-centric event where attendees could not only dance but also explore a variety of ethnic foods, with food trucks offering Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Mexican, Guatemalan, and Salvadorian cuisine.

For children, the festival was a playground, featuring sand art, a petting zoo, face painting, seven amusement park rides—including a Ferris wheel and Super Slide—as well as a make-your-own slime and lip gloss station.

The mayor also spoke about the newly renovated Hinchliffe Stadium, which was set to host a hip hop event on Saturday but has now postponed it until October 12^th.

On Monday, the festival culminated with salsa music and fireworks, lighting up the night sky around 9 p.m.

The fireworks were a spectacle to see as the festival came to an end.

Mayor Sayegh said, “It ends the summer. And we send our students off to school; I’m a father of three children, I can’t wait for them to go back to school- but I want to give them the proper send off, which is The Great Falls Festival.”