By Amy Batista, Special Writer
JAMESBURG — Thousands of people from throughout the region visited he annual Fall Festival on West Railroad Avenue Sunday.
”The festival was a huge success,” Mayor Marlene Lowande said.
The annual festival is sponsored by the borough and proceeds go into the Recreation Fund, which is used for future festivals and the holiday tree lighting as well as other borough recreational programs, according to officials.
”The event is very good for our town,” said Councilwoman and Chair of Public Events Barbara Carpenter. “It brings people from all over. There were vendors from North, South & West Jersey along with local vendors.”
The annual event took place along West Railroad Avenue Sunday after being rescheduled from the previous weekend because of inclement weather.
”Due to potential showers, we had to use our rain date of Oct. 14,” Ms. Carpenter said. “It was a smart decision because the new date was an absolute beautiful day with lots of sunshine. The crowds just kept coming.”
Officials estimated that several thousand people browsed the merchandise of 130 vendors on hand, offering a variety of items including Halloween and fall décor, food, clothing, homemade crafts, children’s games and toys, jewelry and other goods.
A number of nonprofit organizations and local businesses were also in attendance providing information and services, including the Helmetta Animal Shelter, numerous animal rescue groups, the local library handing out free children’s books, and many others.
Numerous bands and groups including the Spotswood Academy of Music provided entertainment throughout the day, in addition to a DJ, on two stages that were set up in two different locations.
”There certainly was something for everyone,” Ms. Carpentner said.
,” Mayor Lowande said it was a great day for Jamesburg’s businesses and everyone who attended.
”(We are) looking forward to next year,” she said.
New to the event this year were two new kiddie rides – a giant slide plus a bouncy ride with a slide inside, pony rides and a petting zoo.
”Once again we had our kiddie train ride which ran through the center of the event,” Ms. Carpenter said. “There were lines for all three rides. The kids were having the time of their lives which was so gratifying to see.”
Trisha Okenhouse, an employee at Allegiance Garden Center in Helmetta, was working the festival selling Halloween décor, mums, pumpkins, corn stalks, and other fall festive decorations.
”It’s a great time,” Ms. Okenhouse said. “Everyone has a really good time. A lot of people were coming through.”
The most popular item at her booth was the “Mum-In-A-Box.”
”It’s like all the decorations in one,” Ms. Okenhouse said.
Stephen Karoly of Monroe was enjoying the festival with his family.
”It’s just a beautiful day and a great event,” said Stephen Karoly. “(My daughters) look forward to it every year.”
Kerry Dohl of Monroe was walking her dog, Lucie, through the festival.
”It has a lot of interesting things,” she said. “I usually go home buying some stuff.”
Jessica Motard, 5, of Spotswood was at the festival lending a helping hand at her uncle’s Allegiance Garden Center booth.
”Even though she is only five, she came to help sell her uncle’s scarecrows,” said mom Jean Motard of Spotswood. “Every time someone goes by, she asks them if they want to buy a scarecrow.”
Jessica said selling the scarecrows was the favorite part of the festival for her.
Dawn Struthers of Jamesburg was there with her family including her son, Nick, 8, who was looking to find more Pokémon cards to add to his collection.
”We come each year,” said Ms. Struthers. “It really is a lot of fun.”
Colleen Holland was volunteering at the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter along with her adopted dog, Rosie, and was there to raise awareness about the shelter and answer questions.
”We are a municipal shelter in Helmetta,” said Ms. Holland of Jackson. “We do animal control for a whole bunch of towns around the area. We work with other rescues to diversify the animals that we get in.”
According to Ms. Holland, around 60 cats and 40 dogs are currently up for adoption at the shelter.
”We have a lot of dogs and cats up for adoption right now,” Ms. Holland said. “We need great homes (for them).”
Sisters in Crime of Central Jersey Past President Roberta Rogow, of Irvington, explained what the group is about as she sat behind a table with crime scene tape draped across it and editions of its book “Crime Scene: New Jersey” and “Crime Scene: New Jersey 2” on display for people to learn about and purchase.
”It is an international organization that was started 25 years ago to further women in crime writing,” said Ms. Rogow. “We meet once a month. We have a short business meeting and we have a speaker who can be a writer or a crime professional or somebody who is an expert in something that could be used in writing crime fiction.”
Ms. Rogow said and their meetings are open to the public and welcome new members to join them. The books are produced by the group, according to Ms. Rogow.
”I’ve always wanted to tell stories,” said Ms. Rogow, who started writing in the 1970s and eventually got into mystery writing.
The Jamesburg Elks also sponsored a Classic Cars & Motorcycles show during the event.
”The town always comes together during this time,” Ms. Carpenter said. “The police, our Department of Public Words crew, fire department, EMS, our mayor and council, members of the Elks, and local businesses.”
Ms. Carpenter said that after months of planning, the reward of seeing all the happy faces on the children having so much fun was worth all the work.
”My favorite part of the event is watching it all come together after planning it for so long,” Ms. Carpenter said. “Seeing all the faces on the children having so much fun. It’s a perfect day to enjoy yourself with family, friends and neighbors. It’s also the best time of year with Halloween around the corner, Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas.”

