In what has become a springtime ritual, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is holding a River Festival in Laurel Hill Park on Saturday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Riverfest is an annual public celebration of the environmental recovery of the Hackensack River, a historic waterway and wetland complex. Last year, over 8,000 people attended. NJMC officials expect a larger response this year and are providing a host of additional events.
“This is going to be bigger and better than last year,” said NJMC Mike Gonnelli. “We’re offering a lot more hands-on activities for children, and a lot more environmental games. We’re having rock climbing, kiddie rides, an exotic animal petting zoo, pony rides, a trampoline, a dunk tank, even a gold fish toss.”
The event will include the highly popular pontoon boat rides, cultural and environmental displays, and a host of educational exhibitors, picnic facilities, and interactive entertainment.
Sponsored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission with the support and cooperation of local, county, and state government agencies, as well as civic and environmental organizations, the festival seeks to bring together a unique and recovering river ecosystem with the people who live within its watershed, and to encourage a growing appreciation of river life and its vitality.
The great improvement in water quality and wetlands health that has occurred in the Meadowlands over the past 30 years inspired the first festival. Public enthusiasm for the river experience and the desire to learn more about the Hackensack River’s renewal spurred the Commission to reach out to the community with another celebration.
“One of the many things we added to this will be the animal adoption,” Gonnelli said. “We have five or six area animal shelters that will have puppies and kittens for adoption.”
Many of the changes Gonnelli effected to make the whole affair more interesting include miniature golf by Encap, the firm that is slated to build four golf courses over the dumps in Lyndhurst, and an obstacle course. The Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department will have a display of its equipment, some of which kids will be allowed to handle, such as the fire hoses.
The festival, one of the NJMC initiatives in open space protection and wetlands enhancement, along with strict enforcement of environmental laws have made the Hackensack River an attraction once more, and people are turning to the river as a source of inspiration and pleasure.
All day events will be Pontoon Boat Eco-Tours, DJ performances by the pier, strolling entertainers (listed below), which have increased since last year and include magicians, clowns, costumed characters, an Egret on stilts, a mime, the Wahoo Medicine Show and Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus.
Sue Wee and Ugly Pig Races will take place at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:30 pm. Visitors can have their picture taken with the Snake Handler, who is a newcomer this year. The New Jersey Militia, General Heards Brigadewill perform a revolutionary war reenactment.
Returning exhibitors include the Girl Scout Office of Greater Essex and Hudson counties, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, the Hudson County Fisherman Association to the United States Coast Guard, and the Secaucus Fire Department.
New exhibitors include various businesses, environmental and animal adoption organizations to regional medical and sporting groups.
Food Stands will include barbeque pits, a sea food stand, a funnel cake stand, and a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream truck, Live Entertainment includes Bandstand Performances by Games & Music with Lisa, Bee Wrangle, Wolf Vision, Snakes ‘N’ Scales, and a pie eating contest. Half hour shows of the Flight of the Raptor will also be held.
Games and novelties include a fire truck slide carnival booth, a basketball hoop game, arts and crafts, mural making, caricaturists, face painters, and others.
For directions or more information, call NJMC at (201) 460-4608, or visit the web site at www.meadowlands.state.nj.us.com. The rain date for the event will be June 8.