BORDENTOWN CITY: Cranberry Fest to return this autumn

By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
   BORDENTOWN CITY — Folks are preparing to harvest a good time at the 23rd annual Cranberry Fest set to bloom its return next weekend.
   The free community festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 7.
   ”The Cranberry Fest and antique cars are quite a draw for the town. It’s good for the town and good for the businesses. Hopefully the weather will be 100 percent cooperative,” Bordentown City Commissioner Zigmont Targonski told the Register News on Tuesday.
   The Bordentown City Police Department as well as the Public Works Department collectively “pitch in to keep things orderly and running smoothly,” Mr. Targonski said.
   Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., in partnership with the Downtown Bordentown Association, is a longstanding sponsor of Cranberry Fest.
   ”This is the 23rd annual Cranberry Fest, which was established by the small business owners in Bordentown to honor the largest business in the City of Bordentown — and, to invite people to come for a free Fest,” said Jackie Reed, who is co-chair of the Cranberry Fest, on Tuesday.
   As previously reported, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. is scheduled to close its Bordentown City operations next fall for a planned relocation to the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
   Still, according to Commissioner Targonski, the annual festival is something that will continue in the city.
   ”Regardless of the plant moving, the festival is something that we will continue. We just need to come up with a new catchy name for it,” Mr. Targonski said.
   Ms. Reed told the Register-News that the annual Fest allows folks to see how much Bordentown has to offer.
   Noteworthy, Ms. Reed said that the Bordentown City police estimated that a total of 45,000 people attended the Cranberry Fest in 2011. The same amount of people are anticipated to attend this year.
   And this year’s autumn tradition will feature more than 140 vendors on hand offering a variety of items including jewelry, house plaques, alpaca items, wind chimes, painted glassware, knitted scarves, seasonal items, autumn wreaths, ceramics, note paper and cards, art, sculpture, photography, infused oils and cranberry bread.
   There will also be live music.
   A children’s area will be set up to showcase plenty of fun activities including pony rides, sand art, henna tattoos, face painting, a duck pond and colorful balloons.
   Plenty of food will be available for attendees along Farnsworth Avenue including the option of al fresco dining at some restaurants.
   Nearly 100 cars will be on display from noon to 4 p.m. at the Quentin Hausser Memorial Antique and Classic Car Show on Oct. 6.
   Then on Sunday, Oct. 7, the Princeton School of Rock will be performing a free concert at 1 p.m. on Church Street.
   Parking will be available at St. Mary’s Church for a fee.
   Free parking will be offered at Bordentown Elks Lodge No. 2085, located at 11 Amboy Ave. in Bordentown Township. It is the newest shuttle bus stop for visitors of the Fest. A free shuttle bus will pick up and drop off folks every 30 minutes.
   ”With the loss of the Bottom Dollar Parking lot, we are extremely grateful to the Elks for being such a gracious neighbor,” Ms. Reed said
   Free shuttle rides are also being offered from the following locations: the corner of Park Street and Farnsworth Avenue; Bordentown Beach at the foot of Park Street; Burlington Avenue and Farnsworth Avenue; Carslake Community Center; Clare Estates at Lafayette Street; and Crosswicks and Second.
   ”This year’s event is going to be bigger and better than last year — if that’s possible,” said Patti DeSantis, who co-chairs the event along with Ms. Reed, on Tuesday.
   ”A good weather weekend is all we need,” Ms. DeSantis continued. “We need to keep the rain away.”