EAST BRUNSWICK Complete with food vendors, exhibition booths and performers, New Jersey Deaf Awareness Week Inc. is preparing to host its 14th annual Deaf Fest.
Founded in 1992, the non-profit organization holds a cultural celebration to promote awareness and education among the deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and hearing communities, according to information provided by the organization.
“Everyone needs to be aware that deaf/hard of hearing people are normal like hearing people. We also celebrate our deaf culture and community. I am sure that there are some hearing/hard of hearing people who want to learn American Sign Language (ASL) – they come to our festival and get the information from our exhibitors. We will have many volunteers from [the] deaf community and ASL students from ASL colleges/universities,” said Darlene Sarnouski, president of New Jersey Deaf Awareness Week, Inc.
The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds, Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. The event will take place rain or shine.
More than 40 exhibitors are expected, along with food vendors and entertainers. This year, the festival’s mistress of ceremonies is Evelina Gainia. Family entertainment will be presented by Dack Virning, Dan Cook and Steve Weiner.
Parking for the festival is free.
This event is sponsored by New Jersey Association of the Deaf and New Jersey Registry Interpreters for the Deaf.
For more information, visit www.njdaw.org.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
