Flooding as well as the rescheduling of the annual Lambertville Shad Festival means the guest of honor won’t make an appearance.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE Thanks to a double whammy, the shad didn’t stand a chance of being included this weekend in the annual festival that was inaugurated 24 years ago to celebrate the shad’s return to the Delaware River.
First the flood in early April caused damage to Lewis Island and at the Boat Club, leading to the cancellation of the traditional shad dinner and shad-hauling demonstration known as seining, according to festival Chairman Steve Stegman.
Even without a flood, the change of the festival’s date from April to late May this year would have meant less of a chance of catching any shad, whose migration pattern, dependent on water temperature, takes them farther north by now.
Tom Martin, president of the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the festival, acknowledged the shad’s absence on the chamber’s Web site.
"The damage to Lewis Island has prevented the Lewis family from conducting their traditional shad hauling demonstrations," he wrote. "The Sunday ‘shad dinners’ also fell victim of the mighty Delaware River. We all are looking forward to a calmer Shad Fest 2006 when we celebrate our silver anniversary!"
With the guest of honor missing in action this year, guests will have to forgo shad-related events and make do with all the long-established arts, crafts and entertainment that also mark the festival and provide hours of leisurely diversions.
The festival Saturday and Sunday will feature several new events, according to Mr. Stegman. These include the AARP Road Show, several evening events, including a performance by the Riverside Symphonia, and a jazz event.
More than 80 crafters and artisans will set up their wares in the heart of the city, including painters, potters, photographers, jewelers and designers of tile and clothing.
The festival kicks off Saturday at 12:30 p.m. when food and craft booths open. They’ll serve visitors until 5:30 p.m. when the festival closes for the day.
Also Saturday, more than 100 original posters by local artists will be displayed from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the recreation room of the First Presbyterian Church at 31 N. Union St. The posters will be auctioned to raise funds to further the arts education of local high school students. Last year, the auction raised $23,000.
Also on display will be the "Shad Kids" posters created by local schoolchildren. These posters will be located in the gym of the First Presbyterian Church. All elementary school students whose posters are on display will be honored with ribbons for their participation.
Also for the younger crowd, "fishing ponds" will be set up at the church as well as a used book sale, free lemonade and cookies. Elsewhere throughout the festival, children will be able to create sand art, make candles and have their faces painted, among other activities.
"The Shad Festival has evolved from a local art show into a nationally recognized, award-winning festival," Mr. Martin wrote on the chamber’s site. "The event is a fundraiser for many nonprofit organizations that serve our area. The festival welcomes spring to our region, showcasing our shops, restaurants and local lodging. The proceeds from the Shad Festival T-shirt sales fund production of our popular ‘Information Guide,’ which provides thousands of visitors to the Lambertville area each year with a handy reference.
"We are most proud of our scholarship poster auction. Since its inception, our poster auction has raised over $220,000 for our student art scholarship fund. So relax and enjoy all the activities planned for this year’s Shad Festival knowing that your participation over these two days is the main reason for our success.
"Thanks to all the departments of the city of Lambertville for, once again, helping to keep our festival fun and safe."
The AARP’s attendance at the festival is one of AARP The Magazine’s 16 stops on a summer road show. For adult visitors, the magazine will have free activities, demonstrations, product samples and giveaways.
For those whose hearts lie with Dixie and thrum to the strains of a Dixieland beat, the festival will offer a taste of New Orleans-style music when Jerry Rife’s Rhythm Kings performs Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets are required and cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. For tickets or information call 397-2425.
The Lambertville Historical Society will offer guided walking tours of the city at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tours start at the Marshall House at 62 Bridge St. The 1816 residence was the home of James Marshall, who was born in Lambertville in 1810 and later started the California Gold Rush in 1848 with his discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill. Same-day signup for the hour-long walking tour is required. Tours are $5.
The Symphonia will perform Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Church on Bridge Street. Giancarlo De Lorenzo will conduct "Italy and Beyond." For tickets at $19, $22 and $27, call 397-7300.
This year’s festival is dedicated to the late Martin Luther. One of the owners of Dresswell’s on Bridge Street, Mr. Luther was an active volunteer in several organizations, including the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce and the New Hope Arts Commission.
"His untimely loss has left a void in not only our business community but in all of our lives as well," Mr. Stegman said in his dedication on the chamber’s Web site. "He was a board member of the chamber, a tireless volunteer and a much-beloved member of our community. This year, the Shad Festival and Lambertville lost a good friend. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all his friends."
Some of the city’s main streets will be closed to vehicular traffic during the festival. The chamber recommends drivers park at lots set up off routes 179 and 29. From the parking lots, shuttle buses will take visitors to the festival.
Handicapped parking will be available closer to the festival at South Main and Lilly streets.
The chamber reminds visitors that violations of metered parking carry a minimum fine of $25. Illegal parking on Route 29 or other no-parking areas carries a minimum fine of $45.
"Please park in our lots," the chamber requested. "Parking proceeds are shared with the Lambertville Education Foundation, New Hope-Lambertville Rotary, Lambertville-West Amwell Youth Baseball League and the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce."
Parking is $6, which includes the shuttle service.
For more information on the festival visit the chamber’s Web site at www.lambertville.org or call 397-SHAD.
Following are other activities and features:
Information at the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce table adjacent to Wachovia Bank at the intersection of Union and Bridge streets.
Official T-shirts. Come to the centrally located chamber table and pick up a Shad Festival T-shirt, designed by local artist Lisa Beth Weber. Check out her matching cap.
T-shirts are $10 for children, $15 for adults and $17 for extra large. Caps are $18 each.
Comcast: Come discover state-of-the art technology and meet favorite cartoon pals at the booth set up at the entrance to the North Union Street parking lot.
Triumph Brewing Company in the food court will be featuring samples of its beer and food. After the festival, stop by their brewery and restaurant at Union Square in New Hope.
Water Snapshot: Curious about the quality of a local stream, lake or watershed in the Delaware River Basin? This will show people how to do this at home. Join the Delaware River Basin Commission as it takes a water "snapshot" and analyzes the quality.
The commission’s booth will be at Coryell and North Union streets. Demonstrations will be given continuously.
Trenton Titans: Meet mascots Clash and Rivet of The Trenton Titans professional hockey team. There will be a hockey goal contest for children. Stop by the booth in the North Union Street parking lot and pick up literature on one of the teams in minor league hockey.
The Lambertville Stormwater Management Committee will be on hand to show how to protect the water supply throughout the state. Stop by the booth at North Union and Bridge streets and learn how people can make a difference.
History of local food: Saturday only, Susan McLellan Plaisted and Cheesgookoos, dressed in historic costumes, will share tales of ancestors and their dependence on food from the Delaware River basin. It will be presented at Kline’s Court at Ferry Street.
Want to be a millionaire? Stop by the New Jersey Lottery Ticket trailer in the parking lot of the Wachovia Bank at Bridge and Union Streets and buy Pick 6 Lotto tickets.
New Jersey Travel and Tourism: Travel experts from around the state will be on hand to help discover "Jersey Gems" throughout the Garden State. Pick up a free travel guide at the corner of Bridge and North Union streets and plan a getaway without going far.
Elks beer garden and all-you-can-eat breakfast: Lambertville Elks 1070 is having a Budweiser beer garden celebration at 66 Wilson St. Meet the Budweiser beer girls.
The Elks will be serving New England clam chowder, Reuben sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and soda from noon to 5 p.m.
An all-you-can-eat breakfast will be Sunday from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Public restrooms: Several portable bathrooms will be set up adjacent to Wachovia Bank and at the corner of Coryell and North Union streets.

