Manalapan celebration
rescheduled for July 20
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — A new date, July 20, has been set for Manalapan Under the Stars and Stripes, a mini-Manalapan Day celebration.
Due to many requests by residents, Manalapan Under the Stars and Stripes, which was rained out just as it was getting under way on June 14, will return to the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522 and Taylors Mills Road. The rescheduled mini-event will be linked with an evening concert and a fireworks display.
"The bottom line is we know how much the residents look forward to this and although we never had a rain date before, it works out that we can do it in conjunction with our concert," said Deputy Mayor Rebecca Aaronson.
According to Aaronson, the event will be an abridged version of what had been planned for June 14. There will be rides and activities for children, seven food vendors and 21 craft vendors.
"It will be in the part of the park near the Pop Warner field," Aaronson said. "Many of the local nonprofit vendors will be coming back."
Tables will be set up for several groups, including the community’s 9/11 Memorial Committee, domestic violence information; and the Manalapan Teen-Community Center Committee.
The July 20 event will begin at 5 p.m. with Amanda Phillips singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." The Crosstones will perform at 5:30 p.m., followed by the featured performance of the popular female singing group the Party Dolls, which will begin at 7:30 p.m.
After the concert, at about 9:15 p.m., a fireworks display will take place. The fireworks are sponsored by the Knob Hill Golf Club and U.S. Grounds Landscaping.
Aaronson said people who signed up for door prizes on June 14 will have their tickets honored.
"We have them (door prizes)," said the deputy mayor. "They are (presently) in the possession of the committee. They will be awarded (and) we have all of those names. A lot of local businesses contributed and they want those prizes awarded. We are going to do that."
Parking for the celebration will be available at Manalapan High School, Church Lane; Temple Beth Shalom, Route 522; and at all parking lots within the recreation center.
In case of rain or inclement weather, the entertainment portion of the event, the Crosstones and the Party Dolls, will be relocated to the Manalapan Englishtown Middle School, 155 Millhurst Road, beginning at 6 p.m. (the Crosstones) and continuing at 7:30 p.m. with the Party Dolls.