By Mike Morsch, Regional Editor
It’s not just anywhere one can find Harry Potter, a few rainbows and a large shamrock all in the same place.
But that’s what visitors to Hightstown’s first Fun Friday of the season were treated to June 23 at Peddie Lake.
Hightstown Cultural Arts Commissioner Barb Harrington had an idea that for the first Fun Friday event, it might indeed be fun for folks to put their artistic skills to use painting rocks.
And that’s what approximately 60 people – from preschoolers to teenagers to adults – did that evening. The arts commission had initially thought it wanted to keep the painted rocks to display, but because so many local children are involved in #HightstownRocks, most of the rock painters kept their creations.
According to Ann Marie Miller, chairwoman of the Hightstown Cultural Arts Commission, it is an initiative by the town that’s been going on since last winter. Children and adults in town paint rocks and on the back of the image write #HightstownRocks. They then hide them around town for other children to find.
"Many take pictures of the rocks and of the kids finding them and post them on Facebook and Instagram. If you search Hightstown rocks on either, you’ll find many photos," said Miller.
She added that many people attending the Fun Friday event were pleasantly surprised that the rock painting activity was free, sponsored by the arts commission. The organization is planning another arts activity for the next Fun Friday.
Fun Friday, sponsored by the Hightstown Parks and Recreation Commission, will be held once a month through September at Memorial Park, next to Tavern on the Lake. The remaining dates include July 21, Aug. 25 and Sept. 8.
The event showcases an assortment of vendors and farms, plus live entertainment. A local dance company, A Place to Dance, will perform at each Fun Friday from 6 to 6:15 p.m.
Other entertainment includes Kyler St. Phard on July 21; Claire Ernst and Connor Ernst on Aug. 25; and the Pennington Station Band on Sept. 8.
Fun Friday evolved from the Hightstown Farmers Market, with a goal of bringing people from the community together to support local farmers, vendors, crafters and entertainers.
