Harvest Fest — the time of year when all the crops have been harvested and we celebrate by singing, dancing, playing games and giving back to those in need.

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, October 31, 2018

ValleyArts and CC Minton are asking the community to come together and celebrate with our Harvest Fest Ambassadors - Alexis and Ava McClure. This annual event will be hosted in the ValleyArts Courtyard for a Meet and Greet with the McClure Twins, enjoy harvest fest games, participate in a popular child-friendly live musical participatory performance led by Soul Xpressiion School of the Arts, take part in a history making Tile painting project, enjoy Mini Daddy Greek Potato Pie give-a-ways from Supreme Bakery, lots of photo opportunities and more.

This is a free event, open to the public and all we ask for is canned good donations that will be collected by representatives from our local food pantries. We invite you to stop by drop-off a donation, welcome bring your kids and have some fun with us in this season of giving.

McClure Twins

The McClure Twins’ parents began documenting the twins lives through pictures and videos and started "twin talks" with Ava and Alexis as their funny personalities were enjoyable. In one video, "Twins Realize They Look the Same", Alexis got upset because she was one minute younger than her identical twin Ava. As Alexis cooled down, she realized she was a little bit taller than Ava, which prompted Ava to meltdown. This feel-good moment went mega-viral, with millions of views around the world. In late October, 2016, the twins were on the Today Show and Good Morning America and have subsequently worked with Disney, Facebook and many other notable organizations. The rest is history. They set out to make positive high-quality content that represents their values of humor, compassion, empathy, & family values, while also being entertaining. With a focus on delivering positive content in an often negative world, the girls early viral success prompted them to produced more viral videos and use their influence for good.

CC Minton

Event Co-Sponsor CC Minton is an author, media contributor, and a lifestyle empowerment maven. A President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Community Leadership Award recipient, CC works with adults, children and communities empowering them to embrace healthy living. Her various projects include working with the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama, Whole Foods Market, NY/NJ Superbowl organization, Apollo Theater, Olympic Day Committee and Harlem World Magazine. A community leader that has served on the Junior League Board of Directors and Wellness Council for the West Orange Board of Education and has tackled big business as a strategic partner for the New York/New Jersey NFL Super Bowl XLVIII where she and her team provided bits and bites, on game day, at the Official Super Bowl VIP Tailgate Party at New Jersey Metlife Stadium. Her love for community is at the center of what she does as a humanitarian. CC was Chairperson for the Junior League's Health and Nutrition Initiative, co-hosted the first Team USA Olympic Day sanctioned event in the City of Newark at B.R.I.C.K. Avon Academy honoring Hall of Fame boxing coach Wali Moses. She also served as a guest panelist at the Jack and Jill of America Childhood Obesity Forum in Washington, DC. More recently CC Minton is currently leading the advisory council for the former Olympian now Pro Boxer Shakur Stevenson and Olympic Coach Walli Moses NonProfit - Stevenson Moses Boxing for Life.

ValleyArts

Event Co-Sponsor — ValleyArts. With a key focus of community collaboration, ValleyArts produces free and fun events, offer donation-based and low cost workshops on topics relevant to the local residents. We work with local community partners; provide meeting space, creative space, and a gathering spot. We facilitate connections between community members who can help each other and we collaborate with community members to host creative events. When it comes to creative arts education our programs are not just about art, but about all things creative - including visual and performing arts, music, cooking, gardening, movement, and more. Providing creative opportunities for children and teens is important for developing confident and creative thinkers who do better in school and who grow into strong community members. On the economic opportunity front we provide exhibits and spaces for visual artists to display and sell art, host regular events to showcase local talent, and operate a boutique for local artists, makers, and businesses to sell their goods. Most of our boutique contributors are women- or minority-owned companies in the local community. Creating economic and business growth opportunities for our community members is good for the whole neighborhood and surrounding towns as well.

Soul Xpressiion

Contributing Partner Soul Xpressiion School of the Arts is winner of the 2017 "Best in Education" Award from NJ Black Businesses Organization aims to create a faith based environment for children and adults, with and without disabilities, to learn and develop their skills within the arts. Located On the border of Orange and West Orange and just a couple blocks from the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Soul Xpressiion is a non-profit organization designed to educate students in the fine and performing arts, stage management, stage production management and to utilize their gifts to inspire others. Our school is a faith-friendly environment, ensuring our students receive a nurturing, fun and safe atmosphere for learning. We believe that every person has been blessed with a specific gift and purpose in life and it's essential to educate and develop ourselves within those gifts. We offer a diverse range for all ages and abilities and strive to target individual learning styles while enhancing creativity for children and adults.

Supreme Bakery

Contributing Partner Supreme Bakery is located on Main Street in West Orange, NJ, less than one mile from Thomas Edison's house and his invention factory. It is quite likely that the world's greatest inventor was eating a Supreme Bakery glazed donut when he invented the light bulb. For the past 35 years, Supreme Bakery has been owned and operated by the Stolz family. It has been our goal to serve our customers the freshest and the finest products possible. We have an experienced and dedicated staff that is anxious to provide outstanding service. It is also our goal to be a contributing member of the community. Supreme Bakery takes part in many charitable activities that benefits local organizations. We also provide food for three local soup kitchens. We are a kosher bakery under the supervision of Rabbi Isaiah Hertzberg. All of our baking is done on our premises and is under the close supervision of owner and certified Master Baker Richard Stolz.

About the Author

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event developer an community partner that develops, manages, promotes and documents local community events in the Greater New Jersey and New York Area.

Gregory Burrus sits on a number of local boards and committees and serves as the Board Member Maplewood Community Music, Manages, Vice President of the North Jersey Blues Alliance, Curates and Promotes the South Orange Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts, the South Orange 24 Hours of Music Festival, the SOPAC Playing Around South Orange Music Initiative, the Maplewood 4th of Music Live Music Events, Newark’s Jazz973 at Clements Place Jazz Series, NYC John Jay College Myrna Bain Scholarship Fundraiser, the Orange NJ ValleyArts Music Programs, Creator of the South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam, along with booking bands at many other local venues.

Showcasing, photographing, videotaping events and happenings as they occur around town while living life every day to the fullest. Learn more at: Gregory Burrus - Gregory Burrus Live Music Ambassador.

Keywords: ValleyArts, live music, Gregory Burrus, McClure Twins