FREEHOLD — The Freehold Center Partnership will host 19 family-oriented special events in 2003, including the return of the borough’s weekly summer concert series and monthly Kruise Nite, held downtown from May through September.
Most of the events, which also include street fairs, food festivals, and holiday-themed celebrations and activities, are free and open to the public.
Partnership Executive Director Jayne Carr said financial support from sponsors and a $5,000 Cooperative Tourism Marketing Grant from the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism help make the events possible.
"We had a great year and attendance was strong at all our events in 2002," Carr said.
"As host city for Downtown New Jersey’s annual conference last spring, we welcomed Gov. James McGreevey and representatives of commercial districts (from) all over the state. Right now, we have less than a 2 percent commercial vacancy rate in the borough, and downtown has never looked better."
To kick off the 2003 schedule, the borough’s annual Antiquefest will be held May 18 along West Main Street, which will be lined with vendors selling antiques and collectibles.
May 29 marks the return of Kruise Nite, which features an array of classic cars and motorcycles on display downtown, with live music and entertainment. Kruise Nite will take place from 6-10 p.m. on the last Thursday of the month, May through September.
The partnership will host an Independence Day celebration on July 6 at Freehold Raceway, featuring rides, games, music, food and fireworks.
On July 10, the Thursday Summer Concert Series will kick off with Mission Dance. The series continues on July 17 with the Party Dolls, July 24 with Chuck Lambert, Aug. 7 with Jade Fire, Aug. 14 with the Jazz Lobsters and Aug. 21 with the Nerds.
The concerts are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Hall of Records parking lot on Main Street.
Freehold’s Fall Antiquefest and San Gennaro Festival will be held Sept. 21. Antiques dealers will display their wares along the streets and Freehold’s finest restaurants and food vendors specializing in Italian fare will be on hand for the street festival.
The borough’s annual holiday festivities will begin Dec. 1 with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Hall of Records Plaza.
The 11th annual Freehold Holiday House Tour will take place on Dec. 6, the free Comcast Holiday Concert featuring the Arcadian Chorale and Freehold Brass Ensemble concert band will be held Dec. 12, and the borough’s annual Holiday Lantern Walk is scheduled for Dec. 19.
The partnership’s holiday events will conclude with the annual menorah lighting on Dec. 22.
The nonprofit Freehold Center Partnership is dedicated to fostering economic development and continued revitalization of the downtown commercial district, as well as preserving the borough’s historic past.