All Around Pennsauken

By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

The Pennsauken Township Public Events Committee, in association with the Pennsauken Firefighters Association, will host the fifth annual Pennsauken Harvest Festival, a celebration of heritage, arts and community. The free event, held on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Pennsauken Community Recreation Complex on Westfield Ave., will highlight Pennsauken’s diverse cultural identity.

“We’re hoping for clear skies and cool fall temperatures for this showcase of culture and community,” says Pennsauken Deputy Mayor Betsy McBride. “We’d like to thank our many sponsors for their support of this year’s Harvest Festival, including AFC Urgent Care; Aluminum Shapes, LLC; Arnold’s Safe and Lock; Bayada Home Health Care; Bergey’s Truck Centers; the Business, Industry, and Government Council of Pennsauken; Camden County; Cartun Hardware; Conner, Strong & Buckelew; CRW Graphics; Dr, K Orthodontics; Falco, Caruso, and Leonard Funeral Home; Jefferson Health New Jersey; McFarlan’s Market; Montegrillo Cucina Italiana; Pinsetter Bar and Bowl; Republic Bank; Stevens Management; T&M Associates; and TNT Pest Control.”

The fifth annual Harvest Festival has plenty of entertainment to enjoy. On the main stage, music and dance acts will showcase a wide variety of cultural performances. Held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Month, a time of year to focus on promoting the importance of fire safety in the community, the Pennsauken Fire Department will hold several demonstrations, including rappelling and a car extraction, as well as hosting their annual chili contest. This year’s theme is, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.™”

“There are simple steps people can take to reduce their risk to fire and to be prepared in the event that a fire occurs,” explains Captain Dan Kerr, fire marshal of the Pennsauken-Collingswood Fire Prevention and Inspection Bureau. “Look for places where a fire can start; listen for the sound of the smoke alarm; and learn two ways out of each room.”

Rows of vendors and crafters will line the parking lot of the Community Recreational Complex, located next to the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission building, north of Cove Rd. Attendees looking to enjoy a meal or snack will have several food trucks to choose from. There will be plenty of free activities for the kids, including scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, sack races, pony rides, soccer shootouts, inflatable bouncers, jump rope making, balloon twisting, and face painting.

New this year to the Harvest Festival are contests for pie baking and fall desserts. All pies must be in a disposable 9” baking tin and will be judged on taste, presentation, crust, and uniqueness. All entries for either contest must be made with natural ingredients; no store bought desserts will be accepted. Participants must submit their pie or fall dessert by 1:00 p.m.; judging begins at 1:30 p.m. For more information and how to enter, contact Patrice at fabnails@aol.com.

Regular and handicapped parking will be available for attendees, both on site as well as the areas adjacent to the Pennsauken Community Recreation Complex; during the event, traffic assistance will be provided by Pennsauken Police. A shuttle to the Harvest Festival will also be provided at the World Harvest Christian Center, 7201 Westfield Ave.; the shuttle begins at 11:00 a.m. and runs continuously during the event. The rain date for the event is Sunday, Oct. 7.

For more information, visit “Pennsauken Harvest Festival” on Facebook or go to http://www.twp.pennsauken.nj.us/content/harvest-festival-2018.