JACKSON — For the first time in years, the annual celebration of Jackson is returning to Labor Day weekend.
The second consecutive Clean Communities and Recycling Jackson Day will take place at John. F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park on Sept. 1. The event ran for decades, but went on hiatus for financial reasons in 2009. It came back last year.
“We have a lot of things going on that day, so there is going to be something for everyone,” township Recycling Coordinator Patricia Wood said. “It is a good end-of-the-summer celebration.”
Jackson Day will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festivities just off South Cooks Bridge Road will feature more than 100 vendors and 45 local nonprofit organizations, as well as family friendly events.
The day was described by Wood as a way for Jackson families to get together and become more aware of local recycling efforts.
“The day is now set aside to promote recycling and our Clean Communities program,” Wood said. “It is growing and we want to make sure we get people participating.”
Throughout the day, musical performances from local acts, including Jackson Memorial High School’s award-winning marching band, will take the stage.
Wood said there will be a petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, hay rides and other free activities. Carnival rides will also be available.
Although children were able to get on all of the rides for free last year, Wood said the committee had to institute a $5 fee for all-day access to some of the rides as a way to offset the costs.
“The 15 rides we have this year are one of our biggest expenses,” Wood said. “The whole point is that it does not fall back on our taxpayer.”
A fireworks display is also on the event schedule.
“The whole day is paid for through donations, sponsors and grant money,” Wood said. “We try to keep the expenses at a minimum.”
For the first time, the committee was offering different levels of sponsorship.
Mitch Leigh’s Jackson Twenty-One and the Walter Earle Corporation contributed at the platinum level of $5,000 or more.
Other sponsors of Jackson Day include Coca-Cola, CentraState Healthcare System and Meridian Health.
A number of local businesses have donated prizes that will be given out during the day. Six Flags Great Adventure offered 100 admission tickets to the theme park, while the Bask by Exhale Spa at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City donated a gift certificate.
Wood said the Jackson Day Committee has been willing to barter to get some of the things that are needed to put on the event.
“Nonprofits that wanted to have a space on the grounds (on Jackson Day) were asked to clean a mile of road in Jackson and pay a small fee,” Wood said.
Wood said she and her fellow committee members hope Jackson Day regains its status as a township tradition.
“I love this town, I love it here. I think we [as a committee] get a lot of satisfaction from getting our community together,” she said.