Festival plans are under way; new twists on tap for Cranbury Day

By: Michelle McGuinness
      Cranbury’s favorite holiday will return this year with some new twists.
      Cranbury Day, sponsored by the Cranbury Business and Professional Association, is scheduled for Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on North Main Street, and will feature some new events along with the old favorites residents have come to expect.
      "We’re trying to do some different things this year to kind of shake it up," said association President Joanne Meehan, who has been involved with Cranbury Day for 21 years.
      The annual event generally includes food vendors and fundraisers, as well as an antique car show.
      This year, however, Ms. Meehan said there will be some new attractions, including a dog parade and contest sponsored by the Best Friends kennel in East Windsor.
      Ms. Meehan said prizes will be given out for the largest and smallest dogs, as well as the best dressed dog.
      She said judging will take place at about 9:30 a.m., followed by a pet parade up Main Street toward the post office. The winners will be announced by disc jockey Brett Gash, who will be stationed in front of Pets Decor.
      "This is the first time we’ve ever done something like this," Ms. Meehan said. "Everybody brings their dogs to Cranbury Day so we should have a lot of fun with this."
      She said the contest is open to everybody, including nonresidents.
      Another change from past Cranbury Days are the bands scheduled to play for most of the day in the parking lot of the Methodist Church.
      The bands will be playing near other events, such as collage-making and a clothesline art contest, that are being organized by the Cranbury Arts Council.
      Amy Amico, chairwoman of the Gourgaud Gallery in Town Hall, said that in the past, bands have played in the middle of Main Street during Cranbury Day.
      Ms. Amico wasn’t sure yet exactly which bands would be playing, but said the Arts Council plans to find at least four or five local bands from Cranbury, Princeton and the surrounding area.
      The Arts Council is also planning a collage-making workshop open to everyone. Ms. Amico said it will start at 11:30 a.m. next to the Cranbury School and last until about 2:30 p.m., or until the supplies for the collages run out.
      The council is also planning to bring back its clothesline art contest. The Art Council will judge original artworks by Cranbury residents. The entries will be broken down into three categories – one for children from kindergarten to sixth grade, one for children in seventh through 12th grade and one for adults.
      Art can be entered into the contest from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Art Council’s booth in front of Town Hall. Ms. Amico said winners will be announced at 2 p.m. and the artwork will be left on display until about 3 p.m.
      Entries must be on paper and unframed so it can be hung up for display at Cranbury Day.
      The contest ran successfully last year, according to Ms. Amico, and the Arts Council is hoping for even more contest entrees this year.
      Ms. Amico said last year’s turnout for the contest was good.
      "We’re hoping for even more kids to get involved," she said.
      Ms. Meehan said Cranbury Day will have events to appeal to all ages – from the Barber Shop singing group performing by the DJ at 12:30 p.m. to the child-oriented song and dance program by Yosi at 11 a.m.
      Ms. Meehan said an effort was made to include more things for teenagers this year. This, she said, was part of the reason to bring in live local bands.
      "This is basically for all ages and that’s the beauty of the event," Ms. Meehan said.
      Ms. Meehan said that one event will not be returning this year – the 5K race. She said the sponsors of the race, who used it as a fundraiser, weren’t raising much money off the race.
      "Logistically, it just did not work," Ms. Meehan said.
      Ms. Amico said her only concern is rain. She added, however, that she’s optimistic that Sept. 8 will be a sunny day because of a local saying: "It never rains of Cranbury Day."
      "I think Cranbury Day has each year gotten more popular because it’s such a safe environment," she said. "I think it really should be a success."