By Amy Batista, Special Writer
The Hometown Harvest Fair will return to the historic downtown business area, with thousands expected to fill Main Street to partake in the annual festivities.
The event will take place rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 10. The event, which is traditionally held during the weekend before Columbus Day, is free to the public.
“Attendees can expect great food including the chili cook off run by the Elks, live music, hand-crafted items, seasonal items, artwork, jewelry and more,” Hometown Harvest Fair Committee Chairwoman Trish Egan said.
The fair is the largest event hosted by Hightstown.
“Money raised from the event will be given back to the town in some way,” Ms. Egan said. “For instance, last year the money was given to the bridge committee to fund some new lighting around the lake.”
This year, sponsors include CCL Label, 1st Constitution Bank, Stitches-n-Ink and Voices of Hightstown. Additional sponsors are Hightstown Diner, PakMail, Weidel Real Estate, and Windsor Nissan.
The fair will spread across the majority of the downtown business area stretching from the Franklin Street intersection with Main Street at the firehouse to the post office.
The event is organized by a volunteer committee appointed by the mayor and is staffed by community-minded volunteers as well as local groups and organizations.
“This is my first year as the committee chair,” Ms. Egan said. “Last year, I was involved but I was the vendor chair and Dave Babcock was the committee chair. Although I am the committee chair this year, I am not the main person organizing this event. It really does take a team of volunteers.”
Planning for the fair begins in March and April. This year, the committee has coordinated with more than 250 vendors and organizations to offer a variety of items and services at the fair.
“Personally speaking, my favorite part of the event is the accessibility to really good, different foods and unique crafts all in one place,” Ms. Egan said.
The borough’s Cultural Arts Commission will facilitate a variety of art activities at six stations throughout the fair.
“Guests can participate in hands-on projects like large, colorful mosaics; meet portrait artist David Rivera and enter a drawing for a chance to win great prizes and more,” she said.
The children’s area will have inflatable rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, vendors and a stage with youth-oriented shows including George the Magician, Mad Science and Story Time with Grandma Lee.
There will be a total of three stages offering a wide assortment of music and entertainment including performances by Kelly Dance School, A Place to Dance, Sofia Khorosh, Rise Fashion Show, Karl Dentino, Kim Yarson Bank and DJs.
Fair-goers will also have the opportunity to enjoy pedal boat rides on the lake, mechanical bull riding and a photography contest.
Hightstown High School is reviving the dunk tank, which will be located in the Jersey Appliance parking lot at 139 Mercer St.
“Dunk your favorite football player at the Hightstown Harvest Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Ms. Egan said. “The Rams are suiting up to raise funds for the Rise Food Pantry, which provides provisions to over 600 local families each week. Bring your canned goods or your cash.”
Visit www.hightstownathletics.com prior to the event to see when each football player will be a sitting duck at the fair.
The festivities will end with the fifth annual Ducky Derby organized by the Hightstown Apollo Masonic Lodge.
“The Hightstown Apollo Lodge 41 will be selling chances to win $500, $100 and $50 through a rubber duck race,” Ms. Egan said. “Small rubber ducks are numbered and sold prior to the fair and during the day of the fair until 3:30 p.m. Then, the ducks are dumped into Peddie Lake.”
The ducks go over the lake falls and are corralled by fire hoses provided by the Hightstown Fire Department.
“The first three ducks to pass through the V-shaped hoses win,” she said. “We usually have Hightstown’s mayor wade into the water to officiate at the selection of the winning ducks.”
“Winners are announced after the race and prizes. Visa gift cards required by (law) are later mailed to winners,” she said. “This year the lodge will also be running a 50/50 raffle with prizes of 25 percent, 15 percent and 10 percent of the gross revenues of ticket sales.”
For additional information on the Hometown Harvest Fair, visit www.hightstownfair.org.
