HIGHTSTOWN: This Saturday, a decade of ‘Harvest’

By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
   HIGHTSTOWN — The 10th annual Harvest Fair returns to the community tomorrow.
   The downtown Saturday event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
   ”We are all looking forward to Hightstown’s Harvest Fair on Oct. 6,” said Hightstown Mayor Steven Kirson. “The preparation for the fair began about a week after last year’s fair ended. Expectations are that this year will be greater than last year, which will be a tremendous accomplishment.”
   In 2011, more than 10,000 people came out to enjoy the festivities of what has become an autumn tradition in the historic borough.
   This free, family friendly event, to be held rain or shine, offers a variety of fun-filled activities and entertainment for people every age.
   ”We have well over 200 vendors registered for the event. More keep calling every day to see if they can participate,” said Kim Lemmon, who is in charge of registering and coordinating vendors for the event.
   These vendors and organizations will be selling artwork, handcrafted goods, seasonal treats and home and garden items. A variety of food selections also will be available.
   A children’s area will be set up and is scheduled to offer pony rides for youngsters. This area also will have clowns, jugglers, vendors and a stage offering child-oriented and educational entertainment.
   For those who wish to explore Peddie Lake during the fair, there will be two options. There will be pedal boats available for rides. Also, the Machestic Dragons, the Princeton Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team, will be bringing its 40-foot racing boat to offer public rides.
   Motorcycles and antique cars will be on display throughout the day. Motorcycles and post-World War II cars will be parked on South Main Street. Pre-World War II cars will be in the Stockton Street Historic District.
   The Chili Cook-Off once again will return to the fair. The Cook-Off is sponsored by the Elks Lodge 1955 to help raise funds for its many programs, including Elks National Foundation scholarships.
   A new event this year will be the Chalk Art Competition from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot by Wells Fargo. There will be four different categories for participants, including elementary school, middle school, high school and adult.
   Returning this year is the Amateur Photography Contest and Exhibit. First, second- and third-place ribbons will be rewarded, broken down into three age categories. Prints entered into this contest are in either landscape or portrait.
   There also will be four stages offering entertainment Saturday. Live music and dance with such genres of music as ragtime, country, acoustic, barbershop, blues, jazz, folk, gospel and rock will be featured. There also will be a DJ providing music.
   Trolley rides also will be available.
   The ever-popular Ducky Derby will close out the day, which is organized and run by the Hightstown-Apollo Lodge No. 41.
   The Lodge also plans the Harvest Fair annually in conjunction with the borough and Downtown Hightstown.
   ”It seems like we are going to have a huge turnout as we always do,” said Councilwoman Selena Bibens at the Borough Council meeting Oct. 1.
   She is co-chairwoman of the Harvest Fair.
   ”I am looking forward to the Harvest Fair coming up this weekend. Last year, it was a great event,” Councilman Robert Thibault said.
   ”The hard work of Dave Babcock, the fair chairman and the many volunteers are the (reasons) everyone will have a great time in Hightstown on Oct. 6,” Mayor Kirson told the Herald.