Kwanzaa Celebration Returns to Midtown Global Market for a Powerful Pan-African Experience
The Twin Cities are invited to come together in unity, reflection, and celebration as Kwanzaa returns to Midtown Global Market this winter. Presented by the Cultural Wellness Center, Pan-African Kwanzaa 2025 is a transformative six-day community gathering taking place December 26 through December 31 in the heart of Minneapolis.
This Minneapolis Kwanzaa celebration goes beyond a traditional holiday observance. It is designed as a living, breathing experience rooted in African cosmologies, ancestral wisdom, and community healing. Whether you attend for one day or the entire week, this is a meaningful cultural event to add to your list of things to do in December in Minneapolis.
A Community-Centered Kwanzaa Experience
Led by Elder Atum Azzahir, Pan-African Kwanzaa 2025 centers on the creation of an Elder Collective. This collective brings together memory-keepers, healers, and vision-holders who will help steward Minneapolis’ Black community toward liberated futures.
Each gathering blends ceremony, dialogue, creative expression, and community visioning. Families, youth, and elders are especially encouraged to attend, making this one of the most welcoming and intergenerational Kwanzaa Twin Cities events of the season.
As Elder Atum Azzahir shares, the intention is to practice liberation in small, intentional ways that ripple across generations and throughout the Pan-African diaspora.
Seven Days, Seven Principles, One Vision
Each day of the celebration focuses on one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, offering hands-on and reflective experiences that build connection and purpose.
December 26 – Umoja (Unity)
Creating the Unity Tapestry and exploring coherence as a living system.
December 27 – Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Reclaiming naming practices and engaging African ways of knowing and purpose.
December 28 – Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility)
Healing through shared ritual, grief work, and joy-making.
December 29 – Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Co-creating a Liberated Economy Map and Abundance Blueprint.
December 30 – Nia (Purpose)
Developing the Purpose Codex through ancestral meditation and intergenerational alignment.
December 31 – Kuumba (Creativity)
Building a Fractal Shrine through performance, art-making, and cultural expression.
January 1 – Imani (Faith)
Launching the Elder Collective with seven-generation intentions and blessings.
Note: Midtown Global Market is closed on January 1.
Community members are encouraged to attend all six days at Midtown Global Market for the full experience, but single-day participation is always welcome.
Event Details at a Glance
What: Kwanzaa Celebration
When: December 26 – December 31
Time: Noon to 3 p.m. daily
Where: Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake Street, Minneapolis
Admission: Free
Note: Market is closed on New Year’s Day
Why You Should Go
If you’re looking for a meaningful Midtown Global Market event this holiday season, this Kwanzaa celebration offers a rare opportunity to connect through culture, creativity, and community visioning. It’s educational, welcoming, family-friendly, and deeply rooted in local leadership.
This event stands out as one of the most enriching cultural experiences in Minneapolis during the winter season and is a powerful reminder of the role community plays in shaping the future.
Add this to your calendar and experience Kwanzaa in the Twin Cities in a way that’s thoughtful, inspiring, and grounded in community.