Winter Festival offers family fun in New Hope, Lambertville

Fiesherman’s Mark is a beneficiary; parking restrictions given

   Winter Festival officially kicks off its family-fun weekend for the young and old Friday with a showing of “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” at 7 p.m. at the Acme Screening room.
   Saturday begins with the Children’s Theater & Music at St John’s School in Lambertville at 9:30, including Tucker Tales and the Little Rockers, DPAC and choral performances from Lambertville and New Hope, all performing family favorites. There will be two live ice carvings at Nicola’s Pizza, Lambertville, at 11 a.m. and the Lambertville Station at 2 p.m.
   The annual parade will kick off with the mummers strut at noon from the New Hope-Solebury High School marching down Bridge Street across the bridge and to the final destination in Lambertville, tossing candy along the parade route for the children’s enjoyment.
   The parade includes music by the Uptown Mummers String Band, Greater Kensington String Band, Woodland String Band, South Hunterdon High School Marching Band and other organizations, including Lambertville and New Hope American Legions, floats and much more. Prizes will be awarded in the float category.
   Hike up Music Mountain with the family anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. Enjoy one of two local ballet performances from Ballet of Lambertville at 3 p.m., under the direction of Janet Mangiaracina at St John’s, or attend the 4 p.m. performance of “Selections from the Roxey Ballet Repertory” at Roxey Ballet.
   ”Holla-If-You-Love-Hockey” Film Festival beckons hockey fans on Saturday. First meet the New Jersey Devils mascot between 2:30 and 3 p.m., as well as Grand Marshal, New Jersey Devils’ Alumni Player. The Film Festival will be hold two showings of “Miracle,” the true story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, which stunned the heavily favored Soviet squad in the Olympic semifinals to advance to the championship game, inspiring the question: “Do you believe in miracles?” Times are 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. at the Acme Screening Room, Lambertville.
   On Sunday morning, grab the family and dash off to the Children’s Events at New Hope–Solebury High School, beginning with a hot stack of pancakes at the Pancake Breakfast, 8:30-11:30 a.m. The Children’s Obstacle Course will be held between 9 a.m. and noon, as well as the annual Snow Folk Art Exhibition.
   Outside in the parking lot, Eagles fans can hone their gaming skills in the Eagles Mobile FanZone, a specially equipped van with video games, playstation consoles and high definition flat screens.
   Next move the family to the final family activity of the festival, a live ice carving at Addison Wolfe Real Estate at noon.
   For complete information visit www.winterfestival.net.
   Twin Rivertown Projects, Inc. — a 501c nonprofit corporation of New Hope and Lambertville business owners, residents and others — has selected the New Hope, Lambertville, and Solebury Parks and Recreation departments and local food bank: Fisherman’s Mark, as the primary recipients of proceeds this year.
   Winter Festival also benefits other community organizations such as social services, schools, fire, police and rescue organizations. This year, the group is hosting a Food Drive for Fisherman’s Mark. Bring a nonperishable food item to the festival and place in blue donation canisters located at most festival events and along the parade route.
   IN ADDITION to the full calendar of events, the Festival will benefit the less fortunate through a food drive and donations to Fisherman’s Mark, an independent, nonprofit organization in Lambertville. Fisherman’s Mark provides food and clothes, affordable childcare, employment counseling, GED or ESL tutoring and healthcare to those in need.
   Winter Festival visitors can support Fisherman’s Mark by bringing nonperishable food to festival events. Those planning to watch the parade Jan. 30 at noon can bring their food donations to a receptacle at the corner of Bridge and Union streets in Lambertville or the corner of Bridge and Main streets in New Hope.
   There will be a collection point at St. John’s School in Lambertville Saturday morning and afternoon and on Sunday morning at New Hope–Solebury High School. There also will be receptacles at the Parry Mansion in New Hope and the Marshall House on Bridge Street in Lambertville on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
   In addition, many festival events will be accepting food drive contributions. For a complete list of drop off locations, go to: www.winterfestival.net/fishermansmark.html.
   Another option for supporting Fisherman’s Mark is with a cash donation via the Winter Festival Web site at www.winterfestival.net/fishermansmark.html or at any of the food drive locations.
   ”We truly appreciate the Winter Festival organizers for selecting Fisherman’s Mark as a beneficiary of this year’s activities. The need in our local community has never been greater. Our client base has increased by 400 percent over the past five years,” commented BJ Petty, executive director of Fisherman’s Mark. “Anything you can give will be appreciated but we especially need food for people on special diets; low sodium, sugar free foods and healthy choices are important.”
   Winter Festival parking restrictions — As part of traffic control and security measures New Hope Police will implement for the 2010 Winter Festival parade on Jan. 30, the following road closures and restrictions will be in effect for much of the morning and part of the afternoon on that day.
   — Access to the New Hope-Lambertville Free Bridge, via East Bridge Street, will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to approximately 1 p.m.
   — West Bridge Street from Kiltie Drive to West Ferry Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 11:45 a.m. to approximately noon, and West Bridge Street from West Ferry Street to Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to approximately 1 p.m.
   — Persons wishing to access Union Square by vehicle during that time may do so via Hardy Bush Way.
   — South Main Street from Bridge Street to West Ferry Street and North Main Street from Bridge Street to West Randolph Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to approximately 1 p.m.
   In addition to these road closures and restrictions, all parking meters on West Bridge Street will be bagged “No Parking” starting at approximately 11 p.m. on Jan. 29. Any vehicle parked in a bagged parking space as of 9 a.m. Jan. 30 will be removed by police at the owner’s expense.
   Metered parking regulations will be suspended on Jan. 30 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Any person whose residential parking space falls within the restricted areas may, therefore, park at any metered space within the borough, without charge, during that time. After 2 p.m., enforcement of all parking regulations will resume.
   Persons who will be affected by these road closures and/or parking restrictions should take appropriate action prior to the start of the parade. Once the parade begins, police cannot guarantee that persons will be able to arrive at or depart from the affected areas. Information signs and detour arrows will be placed at locations throughout the borough to assist motorists in avoiding the parade route.
   Any questions regarding these measures should be directed to New Hope Police at 215-862-3033.