The annual Cranbury Day traditional street fair was held Saturday and attracted an estimated 2,000 people from the community and surrounding area, according to organizers.
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
CRANBURY — The annual Cranbury Day traditional street fair was held Saturday and attracted an estimated 2,000 people from the community and surrounding area, according to organizers.
”The word on the street is this is one of the best Cranbury Days ever,” said Christine Thompson, of the Cranbury Business and Professional Association, which sponsors the annual event, said in an email on Wednesday.
Cranbury Day has been held each year for the past 30 years and is sponsored by the Cranbury Business Association.
The Cranbury Station Gallery and Teddy’s Restaurant have both also been involved for at least 30 years, according to Ms. Thompson.
The morning started off with the fifth annual Helene Cody 5K Run/Walk and the 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk.
The Helene Cody 5K Run is a 3.1-mile run that started and ended on Brainerd Drive. The proceeds benefit the Helene Cody Foundation and its work to inspire youth to volunteer.
The run is held in remembrance of 16-year-old Cranbury resident Helene Cody, who died in October 2008 from a brain aneurysm.
Categories included – up to 10, 11-13, 14-16, 17-19, 20-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69, 70 -79, 80 and up. There were 390 competitors and with the youngest competitor being a five-year-old and the oldest being 86.
The three top finishers in the Helene Cody 5K in the Top 10 Males category were – Jacob Rist, of Princeton; Andes Bog Bog, of Princeton; and James Cao, of Princeton with all of them finishing in just under 17 minutes.
The three top finishers in the Top 10 Females category were – Phoebe Whiteside, of Princeton; Stephanie Nawarcaj, of Monroe Township; and Emma Eikelberner, of Princeton who finished between the 19 and 22 minute mark.
More than 80 vendors businesses and organizations were involved.
Entertainment included live music ranging from rock and roll, jazz, country music to string quartets to family-fun filled activities which included rides, a giant inflatable slide, face painting, clowns and arts and crafts projects.
The event filled the downtown area of Cranbury from Scott Avenue to Park Place from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., organizers said.
There were 20 new vendors- Bright Horizons, Rescue Mission, Gentle Healing Spa, Chic Boutique, Nut Lady, Silpada Designs including two student vendors, according to Ms. Thompson.
”It was a beautiful day with lots of people and lots of people buying,” Ms. Thompson said. “The demos were fun, a great attraction. The Mummers String Band was fantastic. It had people dancing in the street, really lively, and a great way to start the day.”
New this year, was a wide range of music and two staging areas, with one in front of the post office and one in front of the Methodist Church.
”The music was well received with crowds growing at times and a variety of bands,” Ms. Thompson said.
She said the list of bands included, Uptown Mummers String Band, a local Scout band, Ed Goldberg, Carnaby Street, Tone Raiders, Faded Denim, Zoes Playlist and Pierre Dujue Jazz Quartet.
East Windsor resident Renee Spero took advantage of spending the day with her son, Ryan, 2, while her husband and daughter, Erica, 4, went to a football game.
”I love that there’s such a nice range of things to do at Cranbury Day,” said Ms. Spero in an email on Wednesday.
Ms. Spero said she has attended the event for the second consecutive year.
”It really is entertaining for all ages,” Ms. Spero added. “Ryan and I arrived at 10:30 a.m. and stayed through the duck race, except for a visit to Village Park.”
She said her son’s highlight of the day was the car show.
”He plays with toy cars constantly and was in awe of the wonderful restored cars on display,” Ms. Spero said. “He posed next to each one and asked me to take his picture by yelling ‘Cheese’.”
She said Ryan also took a turn at the dunk tank.
”He also loved throwing balls at the dunk tank,” Ms. Spero said.
The Cranbury Lions Club hosted its second annual Rubber Duck Race.
Around 1,500 rubber ducks were dumped into Brainerd Lake on one side and whichever duck swims, or floats, to the finish line wins.
”It was a huge success,” Ms. Thompson said. “They had duck hat making in morning then a parade down to the lake at 1:15 p.m. The ducks got dumped, they swam and we had three winners.”
According to Ms. Thompson, the club sold out of tickets for the second year and “made some money” which was donated to the Library Foundation.
”Cranbury Day is a great day due to a small group of people organizing the day and then a lot of help that day from the police department and also the Township Public Works Department,” Ms. Thompson said.
”We look forward to going back next year,” Ms. Spero said.