By Ruth Luse, Editor Emeritus
Join your Hopewell-area neighbors Saturday, June 18, for the Community Day Music Festival from 4 to 11 p.m. at St. Michael’s Preserve, located off Princeton Avenue (Carter Road), just south of the borough.
Ride bikes and bring beach blankets, chairs and umbrellas and plan to spend the evening celebrating the borough’s 125th anniversary of incorporation.
All parking will be at Hopewell Elementary School, Princeton Avenue, and in other available spaces around the borough.
The main entrance to the event will be on the Carter Road side of the field. Near the entrance will be an information booth, where attendees can get free tote bags that list event business sponsors as well as the music schedule.
According to spokeswoman Deb Stuhler, “Thousands are expected.” She says those planning to attend the event should come early to set up their spots.
The family-friendly event will feature activities and happenings for children from 4 to 7 p.m., as well as Hopewell-centric community groups.
Crafts and activities in the children’s area will include a giant inflatable obstacle course, a 100-foot “SNAG” golf course and an eco-scavenger hunt (led by Jeff Hoagland of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, which will culminate in a guided nature hike at 5:30 p.m.
One of the featured crafts presented by the Hopewell Valley Arts Council will give children the chance to paint “Power Sticks,” which will be used to create a sculpture on site.
Food will be available for sale from local favorites Antimo’s fresh pizza, The Brothers Moon, SweetGrass and Five Daughters Hot Dogs.
Treats from One Sweet Place, Rita’s Ice and Maddalena’s cheesecake on a stick also will be available.
From 7 to 11 p.m., the adult-only German-style beer garden will be held in the giant tent. Craft beer and wine, as well as non-alcoholic beverages, will be served.
Those who want to enter the beer garden area will have to show proof of age, wear a wristband and pay the $20 per-person entrance fee. No alcohol will be allowed outside of the fenced-in beer garden area; however, re-entry with the wristband will be permitted.
The music lineup is:
4 to 4:10, Hopewell Valley Children’s Chorale;
4:15 to 4:45, Vox Central Jazz;
5 to 5:45, Gwynne Alden Band;
6 to 6:45, Castle Lane Band;
7 to 7:45, Thomas Wesley Stern;
8 to 8:45, The Extended Family: Michael Falzarano/Bob Steeler Band;
9 to 9:45, Danielia Cotton;
10 to 11, Strange Rovers with Chris Palmero and Bob Steeler.
Ms. Stuhler, co-chairwoman of the 125th Anniversary Committee, said this week: “Special thanks go to the D&R Greenway Land Trust for use of the field at St. Michael’s, as well as to our major business sponsors: Capital Health, Northfield Bank, 1st Constitution Bank, Hopewell Motors, Ace & Everett, Hopewell Valley Golf Club, Jennifer E. Curtis (Callaway Henderson-Sotheby’s International Realty), Morehouse Engineering and Sandy Brown (Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate). We could not have hosted this community celebration of our town without them.
“We also want to thank the many volunteers, Hopewell Mayor Paul Anzano, Borough Administrator/Clerk Michele Hovan and the town’s Department of Public Works. All of these people helped make this event come together.
“Come out and celebrate Hopewell Borough’s 125th anniversary at St. Michael’s. Good friends, families, food, fun and amazing music will make this day one not to be forgotten.”
Questions? Call Ms. Deb Stuhler at 609-865-9818.
