ELKHART, Ind. -- Officials with the Tolson Center announced they will hold an early Kwanzaa celebration on Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African American culture from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, on the sixth day.

Organizers say during the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, honor ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and celebrate African and African American culture.

Each day participants light a candle to highlight the principle of that day.

Organizers say the lighting of the candles gives meaning to the principles alongside activities such as reciting the sayings or writings of great Black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, or sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods.

A table is also decorated with symbols of Kwanzaa, including the Kinara, the Candle Holder, Mkeka, a Mat, Muhindi, corn to represent the children, Mazao, fruit to represent the harvest, and Zawadi, gifts.

You can learn more about Kwanzaa and Friday's celebration here.

The Tolson Center is located at 1320 Benham Ave. in Elkhart.