SPOTSWOOD – What amounts to a huge party this Sunday will serve as the culmination of a series of events celebrating the borough’s 100th anniversary.
Jack Eichenlaub, co-chairman of the committee that coordinated the events, said he expects 2,500 to 3,500 people to attend the gala on Sunday, being held at the Garden Falls/Stone Museum on Spotswood- Englishtown Road in Monroe Township. The event runs from 3 to 8 p.m., and will feature fun activities for all ages.
The event will feature kids’ activities, miniature golf, paintball target shooting, two bands, DJs, car show, karate and dance demonstrations, historical artifacts, merchandise sales, and free food for everyone.
The borough is using buses to shuttle people from Spotswood High School, Immaculate Conception Church, Clearwater Village and Crescent Park to the event. The limited onsite parking at the Garden Falls complex will be limited to workers, volunteers, honored guests and people with disabilities.
An event ticket is required to board the buses. Spotswood residents can pick up tickets at those sites the day of the event if they have not previously done so. Nonresidents may purchase tickets at the transportation centers for a cost of $15 per adult; children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. Buses will begin departing 2 p.m. and will run continuously until the event conclusion at 8 p.m.
Dignitaries will be on hand for the event, and the borough will honor six people for their achievements, including the Rev. Joseph Woods and former Board of Education President Frank Kardashian. That ceremony runs from 4 to 5 p.m.
Eichenlaub, who co-chaired the 100th Anniversary Committee with Bruce Eckman, said food will be available all day, and the event will also feature a number of things for children, including inflatable bouncing amusements, paintball, rockclimbing walls, a radar gun to measure baseball throwing speed, and exhibitions.
The facility will have a 27-hole miniature golf course and driving range available.
Food is being catered by two Spotswood eateries, Cambridge Inn and Papa Joe’s.
Spotswood’s history will be recognized with display cases exhibiting town artifacts.
Borough Council President Curtis Stollen said the gala will be the largest of the series of centennial events, which commenced last year.
Eichenlaub said invitations were sent out to residents, and the committee received about 3,000 affirmative responses. Those who have not yet signed up can still get tickets at the busing locations the day of the event.
The buses will probably be able to take about 1,500 people per hour to the event, Eichenlaub said.
The committee has tried to hold a different event each month, and members are pleased to see such a large number of people anticipated for Sunday.
“It’s been very successful so far,” Eichenlaub said. “This is the culmination of it.”