BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
JACKSON – Jackson Day 2006 with the theme “Under the Boardwalk” will take place on Sept. 9 at John F. Johnson Memorial Park, Cooks Bridge Road and Manhattan Street.
A rain date is set for Sept. 10.
“Every year we try to make it more and more interesting for the public,” said Anne Alberta, director of recreation. “We make it better and better.”
Alberta said Jackson Day is a well established community event.
“People would say, ‘Oh, Jackson Day, I used to go when I was a kid,’ ” the director said. “We all came together that day no matter what you were doing. [Now,] if anybody’s in town, [they say] we’re going to Jackson Day. It’s a day filled with fun and just a good time for everyone.”
The event, sponsored by the Jackson Recreation Department, will begin with the Jackson Day parade at noon.
“The parade route has been changed this year,” Alberta said. “The lineup will be at the VFW on Magnolia Drive. Then they will make a left onto Bennetts Mills Road, a right onto Manhattan Street and then it will cross Cooks Bridge Road and turn right into the park.”
Alberta said the parade will have a Mummers band from Philadelphia, bagpipers and representatives from nonprofit organizations marching, along with groups from the Italian-American Club, Pop Warner youth football and Jackson Little League baseball players.
Once guests reach the park, there will be more than 100 food and information vendors, rides, boardwalk games, and a craft exhibit.
For the children there will be a SpongeBob funhouse, a rock wall to climb, a trackless train, a giant slide, a junior Ferris wheel and Drekko the Dragon. Radio Disney will broadcast live from Jackson Day from 2-4 p.m.
Special games for the disabled will be an added feature attraction.
There will be all-day entertainment featuring disc jockey Touch of Class, who will have dancers, games, giveaways and karaoke, too.
“There will be lots of interactive games for the kids,” Alberta said.
The Marvelettes will perform at 5:30 p.m. and Barry Hobbs’ Drifters will perform at 7 p.m.
A fireworks display at dusk will conclude the festivities.
Parking will be available at the Holman School on Manhattan Street and at Johnson Park.