Winter may be holding on with icy fingers, but spring officially sprung on Friday, March 20, and to celebrate the occasion Secaucus held an all-day “Celebration of Winter Past” on Saturday.
One year after the highly successful Winter Blast festival that marked the Super Bowl at nearby MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, “Winter Past” filled Buchmuller Park with food trucks, a beer garden, activities for kids, ice skating, music, and more.
“It’s really nice for the kids,” said Barbara D’Avanzo. “It’s nice for the adults. It’s nice for everybody just to get out and finally see people.”
A resident of Garfield, D’Avanzo was visiting her son’s family in Secaucus. “I come to everything here,” she said. “It’s a really great town. They’re really nice to everybody.”
“They have the characters running around for the kids – Olaf, Spongebob,” noted daughter-in-law Christine D’Avanzo about the costumed performers wandering the park posing for photos with families. “And they employ so many people from town, the young kids. They’re out there working and they’re getting some money in their pockets. So it’s good for everybody, young and old.”
Christine was a particular fan of the food trucks. “They always have good ones, like the Soup Guy,” she said. “I always go back to my default. I go straight to there and then I branch out.”
Tasty treats
The food trucks were doing a brisk business even in the early hours of the day. Joe Loesner was on line for the scrumptious sandwich treats at IncrediBalls, along with his son Joseph and Joseph’s friend Dean Sosa, both 8.
Joe is the founder and force behind the Meadowlands Comedy club and the upcoming Meadowlands Comedy Festival, scheduled for six nights throughout the region, including three in Secaucus, beginning April 14. “Since the Izod Center’s closed I want to let people know that there’s still live entertainment in the area,” he said.
Among the venues for the festival is the Plank Road Inn in Secaucus. “The Plank Road hasn’t changed since my father took me there as a kid 30 years ago,” said Loesner. “I love the history. Colin Quinn was there when he was young. They have a picture of Chris Rock in there and you can see he’s 19. They got him for $27. And now look at him.”
“It’s nice for everybody just to get out and finally see people.” –Barbara D’Avanzo
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“It’s a little hard now because it’s cold out here,” said Vikki Paparazzo, proprietor of B&A’s Sweet Creations. Whipping up delicious chocolate and sweets, she has been selling her goodies from home for more than 10 years and had a booth at the event.
Accompanying her were daughters Brooke-Lynn, 4 and Annalise, 4, the “B” and “A” of her company name.
“I’m her taste-tester,” said Brooke-Lynne happily. “I was taste-testing last night. It was good. Sometimes I try to help. And then I just randomly start eating.”
Other tents included Spectrum Works, the Secaucus screen printing business established to employ and empower individuals with autism; the Secaucus Coalition for a Healthy and Drug-Free Community; and the Hygiene Project, who were giving out free snacks and drinks to kids and adults.
Entertainment for kids and adults
Olivia Lai and Linda Chu came out from Lyndhurst and Nutley respectively. They heard about the event from a mom’s group posting online and brought their kids.
“They’re having tons of fun,” said Chu. “This is a great event. It’s our first time and we’re really enjoying it. We’re very impressed.”
Lai agreed. “We just did the bouncy house, face painting, and took pictures with the characters. And right now we’ll do ice skating.”
In addition to scheduled performances by champion skaters and exhibition hockey games, the newly renovated ice rink was open in the afternoon for free skating.
Secaucus resident Frank Falco attended Winter Past with his wife Anna, a special education teacher at Clarendon School, and children Ava, 7, and Frankie, 3. “Every time the town throws something we bring them,” he said. “We kind of walk around and mingle and have fun. We know most of the people here from town. Ava’s excited for the ice skating.”
Frank’s eye was on the nearby beer and wine garden, though. “I can’t wait for that thing to open,” he said. “Let the kids have their fun now. I’ll have mine later.”
Set up under a huge tent, the beer and wine garden held one of the two event stages where musical performers entertained the crowd. Despite the chilly weather, residents and visitors clustered inside, enjoying the company, the music, the drinks.
While the band played, Secaucus resident Fred Schaefer stood drinking a cold brew with his friend Judy from Manhattan. “This is a day in the country for me,” laughed Judy. “It’s a very nice town.”
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.