Illumination 250 at Hackensack Performing Arts Center
Join the Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HPCA) on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, for Illumination 250, a day-long public art celebration honoring America’s Semiquincentennial anniversary. This event, the largest of its kind in Bergen County, invites participation in various interactive experiences throughout downtown, featuring art installations, live performances, and community activities.
Event Highlights:
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MP3 Experiment: Running from 8:05 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Atlantic St. Park, Main St., and The Historic Green, this flash mob, designed by Improv Everywhere, allows participants to download an app and follow live instructions through headsets or earbuds to celebrate the region’s Revolutionary War history.
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My Signature: My Declaration Light Installation: From 9 p.m. to midnight at The Historic Green, artist Leni Schwendinger will present a captivating light and music installation, along with a projection on the historic Green and the County Courthouse.
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Projections: These will start at 9 p.m. on October 3 and will run from sunset to midnight through October 4. The light installation will remain on display through October 25.
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Hackensacktoberfest: Enjoy a multicultural food fest at Atlantic St. Park until 8 p.m., featuring live music, DJs, food trucks, and artisan vendors. Downtown restaurants will also be open for dinner, with all metered parking fees waived throughout the city on October 3.
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Giant Puppet Procession: From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., watch a colorful procession beginning at Anderson St. Park, created by the community as a collaborative effort with the Center for Modern Dance Education.
This event is supported by the NJ Economic Development Authority’s Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation Phase II program, which awarded funding to HACPAC as part of a $15 million investment in arts and programming across New Jersey.
Registration:
Participants can register for experiences at the event website. In case of severe weather, the festival will be rescheduled to Saturday, Oct. 10. For more details, visit www.illumination250.com.
