By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — Buoyed by the success of the inaugural Montgomery Funfest last year, the Montgomery Township business community is gearing up for this year’s edition of the family-friendly event Sunday afternoon.
The second annual Montgomery Funfest will be held at the Princeton Airport, off Route 206, between noon and 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. The community festival aims to highlight the retail and services businesses in the township, said Montgomery Business Association President Jean Robinson.
Admission is free, but there is a charge for parking. It will cost from $5 to $15 to park at the Princeton Airport, but there is free parking across Route 206 at the Wall Street Office Park. A shuttle bus will ferry visitors from the free parking area to the hospitality tent at the airport.
The goal of the event is to connect individuals, families, schools, local businesses and non-profit organizations to celebrate the community, said Ms. Robinson, who is chairing the event. Organizers want to showcase the best that Montgomery has to offer, she said.
Many businesses have a storefront, but there are also many services that do not have a retail presence — which means that many people do not know about them. Funfest is one way to introduce them to the public.
Last year, there were about 130 booths set up at the airport. An estimated 10,000 people passed through the admission gate. On Sunday, there will be approximately 150 booths, plus amusement rides for the children, Ms. Robinson said.
Following the opening ceremony at 11:45 a.m., the Montgomery High School Drum Line and the Montgomery High School cheerleaders will walk up the road to the airport. Ms. Robinson plans to offer a few remarks as she greets the crowd.
“The difference between this year’s Funfest and last year’s Funfest is that we have expanded the amusements and ‘inflatables’ for the children. There will be something for everyone,” Ms. Robinson said. That includes a classic car display, a fire truck display and pony rides.
There will be lots and lots of food from local restaurants, such as The Tiger’s Tale, Kath’s Catering, Maddalenas Cheesecake Co., YaYa Noodles, Gennaro’s, the House of Cupcakes, New World Pizza, Saraha Restaurant and Q Brothers Ice Cream.
Businesses and non-profit agencies — from the Harlingen Veterinary Clinic to Sunnyside Gift Co., Camp BowWow of Bridgewater, Princeton Fitness and Wellness, Home Sweet Home, Montgomery Physical Therapy and Global Home Improvement — will be on display.
The Nassau Tennis Club, Princeton Martial Arts Center, the Montgomery Woman’s Club, the Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary Club, the Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2, Princeton Show Jumping/Hunter Farms and Kickside Martial Arts will all have booths.
The Montgomery/Rocky Hill Girl Scouts, the Montgomery Basketball Association, Montgomery Friends of Open Space, Montgomery Cub Scout Pack 185 and the Montgomery Township Shade Tree Committee also will have a presence at Funfest.
At the four stages set up around the airport, visitors can listen to music and watch demonstrations. Backbone Yoga, the Princeton Center for Yoga & Health and Ahn’s Taekwondo Academy will perform. Musical bands such as The Shaxe, Fitz & the Cats, and Acoustic Road will play.
“All we need is for the community to come out,” Ms. Robinson said.
