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Rev. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones speaks and performs on stage during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

A kinara displays the seven principles Kwanzaa during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

Singers perform during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

Items are displayed during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

Dancers perform during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

(Left) A merchant displays items during the festival. (Right) Keesha Dixon performs.

A guest enjoys the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

People browse during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

Kessha Dixon (center) poses for a photo with fellow performers during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

Learn about Kwanzaa

How 7 Indy cultural leaders celebrate Kwanzaa

Artists, writers and community organizers talk about principles that mean the most to them.

December 19, 2024December 15, 2025

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See photos from the city’s first Kwanzaa Community Festival

by Jennifer Wilson Bibbs, Mirror Indy
January 3, 2025

<h1>See photos from the city’s first Kwanzaa Community Festival</h1>
<p class="byline">by Jennifer Wilson Bibbs, Mirror Indy <br />January 3, 2025</p>
<br />
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB01-1024x680.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43190" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rev. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones speaks and performs on stage during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB02-1024x718.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43191" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A kinara displays the seven principles Kwanzaa during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB03-1-1024x676.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43204" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Singers perform during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB04-1-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43205" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Items are displayed during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB05-1-1024x660.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43206" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dancers perform during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB09-1-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43210" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB06-1-697x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43207" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">(Left) A merchant displays items during the festival. (Right) Keesha Dixon performs.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB07-1024x645.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43196" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dancers perform during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB08-1-1024x707.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43209" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Items are displayed during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB10-1-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43211" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A guest enjoys the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB11-1-1024x692.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43212" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People browse during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kwanzaa-community-festival_JWB12-1-1024x668.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43213" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kessha Dixon (center) poses for a photo with fellow performers during the inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival, hosted in partnership with Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
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