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Long‑running Willingboro Kwanzaa event moved off township calendar; organizers and residents voice disappointment
Summary
Residents and long‑time organizers said the township failed to reserve the banquet hall for the 30‑year Kwanzaa event, forcing the event to move to Burlington; the manager apologized, said procedural failures were the cause, and the township said it will work to return Kwanzaa to Willingboro in 2026.
Multiple long‑time organizers told the council the township did not appear to have the Kwanzaa event on the reservation calendar this year, which resulted in the banquet hall being booked for a wedding and the community festival relocating to Burlington with short notice.
"This is a 30‑year tradition in Willingboro," said Karen Abdul Malik, who described coordinated community sponsorship of the event and said she learned the banquet hall was unavailable only after discovery of the conflict. She asked how the township distributes reservation information and asked for better communication.
Mariam Saluki and Ricardo Thurston, both long‑time attendees and organizers, expressed disappointment that the event had been moved and urged better transition procedures within the recreation department so multi‑generation cultural events are protected during staff changes.
Township Manager Harris apologized and said there was no record in the reservation system for the event and no contractual agreement; he said someone else paid for the banquet hall and that the issue was not intentional but resulted from failures in the reservation and transition process. Manager Harris said procedural changes are underway and that the administration looks forward to having the Kwanzaa event back in Willingboro next year.
Mayor Whitfield acknowledged the importance of the festival and said the township will address the procedural gaps raised by speakers.
