The Hometown Harvest Fair, which celebrates Hightstown’s heritage and seeks to foster a sense of community, has been set for Oct. 6, and adhering to tradition, it will be held in the middle of the borough’s business district.
The Hometown Harvest Fair starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m., and will be held rain or shine. There is no alternate date for the fair, which is in its 16th year.
“The Harvest Fair is a fun-filled day that aims to bring together our neighbors, small and local businesses, and organizations for one single day to celebrate our heritage and community,” said Sheila Hittesdorf, who chairs the event.
The idea for the fair grew out of a resident’s suggestion many yeas ago and it has taken off in popularity, Hittesdorf said. The family friendly event is held on the first Saturday of the Columbus Day weekend.
“Our historic downtown Hightstown will be lined with about 200 vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and a children’s area,” Hittesdorf said.
This year, the children’s area will feature story-telling in English and Spanish, as well as arts and crafts activities, mechanical rides, an obstacle course, an inflatable slide and a bounce house, she said.
The mechanical rides and the bounce house will be available all day. The Goddard School of West Windsor will offer arts and crafts every hour, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Knowledge Beginnings will have storytime every 30 minutes, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Weidel real estate agency will have free pumpkin painting all day.
An assortment of nonprofit groups plan to set up booths, including Better Beginnings, RISE – A Community Service partnership, the Greater Mercer TMA, and the Watershed Institute.
Other vendors and participants include Bibbity Bobbity Bowtique, the Cranbury Animal Hospital, the Cranbury Design Center, Dreamchaser Jewelry, Ella’s Crafts, Kelvin’s Treasures, Marivel’s Florist and Wayne’s Light Candle Co.
Community groups such as the Knights of Pythias Fortitude Lodge 160 and Hightstown Apollo Lodge 41 F&AM (Free and Accepted Masons, or Masonic Lodge) also will have booths.
Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1, the Hightstown First Aid Squad and Hightstown Police Department F.O.P. Lodge 140 will be there, too.
Of course, there will be plenty of food – from cupcakes offered by the House of Cupcakes to Kona Ice, the Empanada Guy, the Guate Pan bakery, Morgan’s Island Grill, Maple Magic and 12 Farms. For more information and a list of vendors, visit www.hightstownfair.org
