By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — Aarush Rai clung to the metal railing, watching intently as a man and a woman approached the helicopter on the tarmac at the Princeton Airport, its blades whirling and its engine making a low-pitched noise.
The man and the woman stepped up into the helicopter, and the blades began to whirl faster and faster. The engine’s noise increased and became higher in pitch. The helicopter shook slightly from side to side.
“Look, it’s going to go up. They’re going in it. Look at it, it’s going to fly,” Aarush said as he hopped up and down, onto the metal railing and onto the ground. He gestured toward the sky as the helicopter lifted off the tarmac.
That was the most fun that 7-year-old Aarush had at Montgomery FunFest Sunday afternoon. The first-time-ever event, sponsored by the Montgomery Business Association, was held at the Princeton Airport. The goal was to introduce visitors to Montgomery businesses and assorted nonprofit groups in a family-friendly setting.
The helicopter rides in Analar Helicopters’ choppers were among the many attractions offered at FunFest — from games and face painting for children, to a display of classic cars that included 1960s-era Ford Mustangs, a 1973 Chevrolet Corvette, and a 1932 Chevrolet tow truck that was “hauling” a 1926 Chevrolet coal delivery truck.
While Aarush was fascinated by the helicopter, other youngsters had fun bouncing around in “bounce houses” that resembled a fire truck and a police car, and an inflatable obstacle course. Joyful screams filled the air as the children bounced from one side to the other.
Around the corner from the bounce house, real firefighters and emergency medical technicians — members of the Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2 and the Montgomery Emergency Medical Service — had set up booths. Nearby, Montgomery EMS president John Connacher was seated in the dunk tank off to one side, waiting to be dunked.
Children — and their parents — were also drawn to the Commemorative Air Force’s display of small airplanes that had been used by the military to train pilots. On display was a Cessna T-51, which is a military version of the civilian Cessna C-150.
Also on display were two replica bombs — a 500-pound bomb and a 250-pound bomb — and a 50-caliber machine gun that has since been disabled and which had been used during World War II. A German Mauser aircraft machine gun, also of World War II vintage, was on display. It could fire 800 rounds per minute.
Kickside Martial Arts attracted a crowd of children and adults, who watched as one man used his arm to break four landscaper paving blocks that had been stacked on top of a pair of cinder blocks. When he crashed through the blocks with his arm, the crowd “oohed” and “aahed” at the feat.
Entertainment included musical groups throughout the afternoon.
Church groups, including the Rocky Hill Church and St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, set up booths. Among the nonprofit groups that had set up booths were SAVE and Red Oak Animal Rescue, which brought a few dogs and cats that need new homes.
Businesses also set up booths to introduce themselves to potential clients and customers. Some businesses have storefronts while others are service-oriented, and the booths allowed visitors to learn more about them. The point of Montgomery FunFest was to allow businesses to showcase themselves.
And of course, there was food — lots and lots of food, from barbecue to funnel cake, cupcakes, a juice bar and pizza. The Terra Momo restaurant group set up a farm-to-table feast inside the hangar.
Several fitness outfits had conveniently set up booths nearby, to let visitors know they could work off those extra calories by patronizing their businesses.
Although the skies sprinkled rain off and on during the afternoon, a steady stream of visitors walked down the lane to the Princeton Airport. Montgomery FunFest co-chairmen Jean Robinson and Todd Royer had said FunFest would go on, rain or shine — and it did.
“I am extremely pleased with the enthusiastic response from the Montgomery Business Association members, the vendors, the entertainers and, most of all, the community,” Ms. Robinson said. “I think we set a pretty high bar for next year’s FunFest.”
Mayor Christine Madrid and Township Committeeman Rich Smith praised the Montgomery Business Association and the Montgomery Township Economic Development Committee, which collaborated to make the event possible.
“Everyone had a great time,” Mayor Madrid said. “It was such a wonderful opportunity for Montgomery to come together as a community. Thank you for all of your hard work.”
Mr. Smith said the months-long collaboration between the township’s Economic Development Committee and the Montgomery Business Association “led to a fantastic event that will continue as an annual event for Montgomery.”
Meanwhile, Montgomery Business Association co-founder and board president Lorette Pruden said she was “amazed” at what the team of organizers, which included Ms. Robinson and Mr. Royer, had accomplished in four months’ time. She also praised the event’s corporate sponsors for their generosity.
“I am thrilled that the community responded like it did. It was laid out like a midway carnival. I think this is the kind of event that Montgomery has been waiting for. We hoped for a good turnout, and it paid off,” Ms. Pruden said.
