While the township of Weehawken’s officials made last-minute preparations for the town’s 11th annual Weehawken Day Festival in Lincoln Harbor Park, there was one unavoidable obstacle that had everyone’s attention: Hurricane Isabel.
No one could judge the path of the killer storm, which eventually went through Pennsylvania, but caused its fair share of damage on the Jersey shoreline.
There was some concern that the storm might hit the area on Saturday, the scheduled day of the festival, which had been planned for months.
“We couldn’t make a decision to move forward because of the hurricane,” Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said. “We were worried about the hurricane all week.”
However, once the storm made its way through the area Thursday night into Friday morning, there was nothing but sunny skies behind it.
Which meant that all systems were go for the festival, which turned out to be the biggest and best in the town’s history.
More than 5,000 township residents made their way down to the waterfront last Saturday to enjoy a free day of fun, food and festivities – Weehawken style.
Residents from 8 to 80 had the time of their lives, whether it was playing games of chance, trying the numerous rides, participating in the various activities, or just having good old-fashioned all-American fun. There was something for everyone.
Eleven-year-old Gelsomina Picariello loved the dancing. She spent most of the afternoon doing the Electric Slide and working on her hip-hop moves.
“I liked the dancing more than anything else,” Picariello said. “But there were other things I liked as well. I liked the games, because I won prizes. I won two stuffed animals. I liked the rides. I liked the food, especially the cotton candy machine. But I really liked the dancing.”
All of the day’s activities were free of charge to Weehawken residents, courtesy of a state grant provided to the Weehawken Against Drug and Alcohol Alliance.
The cotton candy machine was a big hit with the kids, with a constant flow of youngsters waiting their turn for a free sweet treat.
“I loved the cotton candy machine,” 10-year-old Jacob Romano said. “I stayed right there for a while. I also liked the games and a couple of the rides. I went on the rock climb, but I didn’t make it all the way to the top. But it was still a lot of fun.”
There were events for the little toddlers. Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob Square Pants were on hand to perform for the kiddies, much to their delight.
There was music all day in the form of three concerts, music for all ages.
“The music was great,” said former Weehawken Senior Citizen of the Year Alma Segedian, whose husband, Frank, is a long-time music teacher. “I loved listening to the music.”
Segedian was a busy woman all afternoon, volunteering her services to several different groups, then eventually sitting down to help the face-painting of some of the youngsters.
“I tried,” Segedian said. “I watched the girls make flowers, so I tried that as well. I also played a little Bingo. I didn’t win, but I played. It was great fun. It was a beautiful day. You couldn’t ask for a better day. Everyone was so friendly and it seemed as if everyone knew everyone else.”
Segedian said that it was the best Weehawken Day Festival, and she’s been to every one of them.
“It really was great,” she said, “and I already look forward to the next one.”
Segedian also said that she had a lot of fun watching Mayor Turner sit in the dunk tank for an hour to help raise money for the Weehawken High School Class of 2004’s senior activities. Turner, Councilman Robert Sosa and Board of Education President Richard Barsa took turns in the tank, raising $600.
“You have to give Mayor Turner kudos for allowing himself to be dunked like that,” Segedian said.
Turner, who visits the tank every year, took a different approach this year. He wore a jacket and tie into the tank – complete with Bermuda shorts.
“People always say that they’re shocked to see me without a suit on,” Turner said. “So I figured I would even wear a suit into the dunk tank.”
Turner said he doesn’t mind the aquatic abuse, except for one small factor.
“By the time I got in there, the water was all dirty and muddy,” Turner said.
It was believed that politicians always like to get down and dirty. Guess not in this instance. Turner was pleased with the way the day turned out.
“It was one of those years where people came and they didn’t want to leave,” Turner said. “People came and stayed for a while. They really had a good time.”
Turner credited the efforts of the 350-plus volunteers who donated their time to make the day run smoothly.
“I have to thank the volunteers, because they made the day a success,” Turner said. “We had lousy weather all week, but the sun came out and we had a great day. We had great atmosphere and a lot of fun. It was the biggest crowd we ever had, but it was the smoothest operation with the least amount of problems. We were so tense all week with the weather than when Saturday came, everyone just relaxed and had a real good time.”
And already, plans are in the works for the 12th Annual Weehawken Day Festival in Sept. 2004.
“We have to start now and get everything blocked in,” Turner said.