Families and residents enjoyed rides, food, and live music over the Columbus Day weekend from Friday to Tuesday at James Braddock Park as part of the Hudson County Fair. For the first time at the fair there was a 90-foot Ferris wheel, petting zoos, one-day pony rides, and a raffle every day.
Resident Mohamed Mohamed brought his wife Nafousa Alnenr and children Ahmed and Nour Asayed to the fair for the weekend.
“We’ve been here since the afternoon, and now night,” Mohamed said. The children enjoyed the bounce houses, small roller coasters, and rock climbing.
For the first time at the fair there was a 90-foot Ferris wheel.
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Rodriguez wanted to go to the fair on Sunday also, but it was cancelled just for the day due to rain. As a result, it was extended until Tuesday.
For two hours on Saturday, Freeholder Anthony Vainieri held a small reunion with friends and other officials for North Bergen High School alumni and for those who moved away from North Bergen.
“The fair was a huge success, even the weather. We only had to cancel one day,” Vainieri said. “Tuesday was packed.”
Vainieri also said that this was the second year in which there were no summons given by the Police Department, and no injuries.
Every day the stage was filled with live music and dancers. According to Freeholder Vainieri, there were more rides than last year. Kids enjoyed small roller coasters shaped like motorcycles or cars, dragons that looked like they could fly, or carousels.
In the past, there has been a raffle for one of the days, but this year there was a raffle winner every day who received a TV or a bike. Plenty of families and residents painted pumpkins that they picked from a haystack.
What to expect next year
Vainieri said the live music was especially popular this year.
“Most people this year liked the bands, and that will be our focus next year,” Vainieri said. “The bands pulled in a great crowd.”
The fair organizers have already lined up some of New Jersey’s most popular cover bands next year, the Past Masters and the Nerds, Vainieri said.
“Next year there will be a beer garden that will be fenced off and for adults,” Vainieri added.