By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — It’s that time of the year again; time for families to play together during the township’s annual Family Fun Day celebration to be held at Michael J. Tighe Park, 65 Georgia Road. The event will begin at noon June 7 and run until 9 p.m. when a fireworks show will be presented.
According to Tina Smilek, the township’s special events coordinator, the organizers have scheduled a rain date for June 8, but it’s not going to rain on Saturday.
"We’ve had enough rain. It’s going to be good this year. Last year was beautiful," she said.
"I hope I haven’t jinxed things by saying that," Smilek added.
Family Fun Day will be packed with a lot of things to do, Smilek said. There will be games, rides and crafts.
The Freehold Township Police Department will offer to fingerprint children.
"Some of Freehold Township’s camp counselors will work with the kids. There will be kiddy rides, a rock climbing wall, a bungee run and games with prizes," the coordinator said.
Smilek said organizers try to keep the event very affordable for families.
"A $5 wristband allows them to play all day. For those who don’t want to purchase the wristband, it is only 25 cents per game," she said.
In addition, the fire department’s Safety Smoke House will be on hand. The smoke house teaches children how to get out of a house fire, Smilek explained.
There will also be a booth set up to collect nonperishable items for Project HOPE (Helping Other People Eat), which is Freehold Township’s emergency food pantry.
Smilek said the food pantry is running low on supplies at this time.
An antique/custom car show will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that people can register for ahead of time, or on that day. Prizes will be awarded, Smilek said.
Entertainment will go on all day, provided by Verdict, from 1-3 p.m., the Nerds from 4-6 p.m. and Dennis Carmella’s Disco Inferno Show from 7-9 p.m.
Food vendors and representatives of area businesses will also be on hand for Family Fun Day.
The fireworks display is sponsored by Pepsi.
"We had a lot of local sponsors to help us out this year. It’s really becoming a community event. There will be signs around the park thanking them," she said.
Smilek said she wanted to thank Jack Warner and his recreation department crew who do such a wonderful job setting everything up.
"They work 15 or 16 hours that day helping to arrange everything that goes on. Not to mention the hard work they do on the days leading up to the event," she said.