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Events

8/27/2011 - Cumberland County Riverfest And Crabfest

UPDATE The Crabfest has been cancelled on the Riverfront, however you can redeem your tickets at the Carmel Firehall from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 27, 2011. It will be for pick-up only. Thank you of all your support. The Bridgeton Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Association wishes everyone a safe weekend! (Check This Link For The Latest Information) Let's Do It Again! The Cohansey RiverFest/Bridgeton Crabfest Is Back! If you don't already have Saturday, August 27^th red-lettered on your summer calendar, now's the time. Chances are you won't want to miss this year's Cohansey RiverFest, the all-day fun-packed festival celebration of South Jersey nature and history, centered at the Bridgeton Riverfront. "We're out to prove it again," says Tony Stanzione of the Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce, whose partnership with Bridgeton Main Street is bringing back the undisputed centerpiece of the big event--the Bridgeton Crabfest. "We're still buzzing over last year's kickoff," he said. "The success of the Crabfest at the first-ever RiverFest proved that the Bridgeton Riverfront is a natural hub for Cumberland County tourism that includes good eating, live music, and plain old-fashioned fun. " Matt Blake of the American Littoral Society also sees the big picture. "Our whole mission is to get people outdoors," he says, "biking, sightseeing, and enjoying the phenomenal places in the Cohansey River watershed." The Littoral Society is hosting two major events that start in Bridgeton: an "Eco-gems" interpretive bus tour through the countryside and a kayak trip on the Cohansey River. The bus-tour highlights several off-the-beaten paths through hidden nature preserves and still-pristine Hopewell and Greenwich destinations. Thanks to a partnership with Al & Sam's Canoe, the kayak trip feature a scenic wildlife-rich hour-plus paddle along the Cohansey from Bridgeton to Fairton. What about us bikers? No problem! Cyclists who like some history with their aerobic highs can pedal around Bridgeton’s thousand-acre parklands and huge Historic District along a cool mixed-up route led by the folks at Randy’s, Bridgeton's hometown bike shop on E. Commerce St. For an off-road view of Bridgeton's vast City Park, they can switch gears and catch a kayak or canoe jungle ride (thanks to Al & Sam's again) down the Raceway and through the wild urban habitat of the Bridgeton Zoo, the oldest and longest continuously operating zoo in New Jersey. "Believe me, when the Siberian tiger roars," says Blake. "It's no great stretch to think you're on river safari." Meanwhile, intrepid sailors can join Cap'n Rick Bacon again on the 30-foot Tern out of Hancock's Harbor in Greenwich, as easy riders can get their dibs too, says Bridgeton RiverFest planner Flavia Alaya, who admits she looks forward to the river safari (also out of Hancock's Harbor) on the 'Osprey,' with seats and viewing platform and comfortable round-trip tour through amazing bald-eagle habitats and marshland wilds. "It's definitely binocs and 'wow' time," she says. "And some of the best crab cakes around are right there at the Hancock's Harbor Bait Box. No offense to the Crabfest," she adds, "but we should be pumping up enough appetite that Saturday to go around at least twice." Back at the Riverfront, Rutgers University's Cousteau Center will be entertaining kids (and parents) at Cohansey Fountain Park, alongside the Crabfest. "Last year we were talking about the comeback of the South Jersey sturgeon," says Lisa Calvo, Watershed Coordinator. "It's the Year of the Oyster this time, another great comeback story for the rIver and the bay." Calvo says that the Rutgers operation, located in the recently restored Sheppard House, a major historic building at the entrance to the City Park, is partnering for RiverFest events with the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory as well as New Jersey Sea Grant and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. "All of us are excited to tell the story of what local kids are doing to bring back oyster aquaculture to nearby waters," she says. Along with educational exhibits, the team of eco-conscious educators will be offering fun and artful maritime activities, including kits and instruction for making model tall ships to sail on the spot, right there in the fountain. Offering something cool an unique for every taste, age and energy level, the culture-conscious RiverFest includes an outdoor ("plein-air") paint-for-a-day art contest sponsored by the Cumberland County Cultural Heritage Commission and Gallery 50. And back by popular demand is an eye-opening walking tour around the downtown riverfront with the smartest history buffs around, sponsored by the Bridgeton Historic District Commission. But there's more, and more still coming! Only the Cohansey RiverFest website can keep up with it! Organizers recommend readers check it out often at: www.cohanseyriverfest.org or call the following numbers for more info: General Information & Sponsorship Offerings: Bridgeton Main Street 856-453-8130 or 973-864-4001 or email: carolahartley@aol.com Particular events: American Littoral Society Bus tour: (856) 825-2174 Al & Sam’s Canoe Kayak trip (856) 825-2174; Zoo paddle (856) 692-8440 Osprey Cruise (609) 898-3500 Rick Bacon's Tern Sail: (856) 455-1088 Randy’s Bike Tour: (856) 455-8309 Rutgers Cousteau Center: (856) 575-5580 County Cultural Commission Art Contest: (856) 453-2175 or Gallery 50: (856-575-0090) Historic Walking Tour: Flavia @ (856) 221-3276 or email flaviaalaya@gmail.com

** UPDATE**
The Crabfest has been cancelled on the Riverfront, however you can redeem your tickets at the Carmel Firehall from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 27, 2011.

It will be for pick-up only. Thank you of all your support.

The Bridgeton Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Association wishes everyone a safe weekend!
(Check This Link For The Latest Information)

Let's Do It Again! The Cohansey RiverFest/Bridgeton Crabfest Is Back!

If you don't already have Saturday, August 27^th red-lettered on your summer calendar, now's the time. Chances are you won't want to miss this year's Cohansey RiverFest, the all-day fun-packed festival celebration of South Jersey nature and history, centered at the Bridgeton Riverfront.

"We're out to prove it again," says Tony Stanzione of the Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce, whose partnership with Bridgeton Main Street is bringing back the undisputed centerpiece of the big event--the Bridgeton Crabfest. "We're still buzzing over last year's kickoff," he said. "The success of the Crabfest at the first-ever RiverFest proved that the Bridgeton Riverfront is a natural hub for Cumberland County tourism that includes good eating, live music, and plain old-fashioned fun. "

Matt Blake of the American Littoral Society also sees the big picture. "Our whole mission is to get people outdoors," he says, "biking, sightseeing, and enjoying the phenomenal places in the Cohansey River watershed." The Littoral Society is hosting two major events that start in Bridgeton: an "Eco-gems" interpretive bus tour through the countryside and a kayak trip on the Cohansey River. The bus-tour highlights several off-the-beaten paths through hidden nature preserves and still-pristine Hopewell and Greenwich destinations. Thanks to a partnership with Al & Sam's Canoe, the kayak trip feature a scenic wildlife-rich hour-plus paddle along the Cohansey from Bridgeton to Fairton.

What about us bikers? No problem! Cyclists who like some history with their aerobic highs can pedal around Bridgeton’s thousand-acre parklands and huge Historic District along a cool mixed-up route led by the folks at Randy’s, Bridgeton's hometown bike shop on E. Commerce St. For an off-road view of Bridgeton's vast City Park, they can switch gears and catch a kayak or canoe jungle ride (thanks to Al & Sam's again) down the Raceway and through the wild urban habitat of the Bridgeton Zoo, the oldest and longest continuously operating zoo in New Jersey. "Believe me, when the Siberian tiger roars," says Blake. "It's no great stretch to think you're on river safari."

Meanwhile, intrepid sailors can join Cap'n Rick Bacon again on the 30-foot Tern out of Hancock's Harbor in Greenwich, as easy riders can get their dibs too, says Bridgeton RiverFest planner Flavia Alaya, who admits she looks forward to the river safari (also out of Hancock's Harbor) on the 'Osprey,' with seats and viewing platform and comfortable round-trip tour through amazing bald-eagle habitats and marshland wilds. "It's definitely binocs and 'wow' time," she says. "And some of the best crab cakes around are right there at the Hancock's Harbor Bait Box. No offense to the Crabfest," she adds, "but we should be pumping up enough appetite that Saturday to go around at least twice."

Back at the Riverfront, Rutgers University's Cousteau Center will be entertaining kids (and parents) at Cohansey Fountain Park, alongside the Crabfest. "Last year we were talking about the comeback of the South Jersey sturgeon," says Lisa Calvo, Watershed Coordinator. "It's the Year of the Oyster this time, another great comeback story for the rIver and the bay."

Calvo says that the Rutgers operation, located in the recently restored Sheppard House, a major historic building at the entrance to the City Park, is partnering for RiverFest events with the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory as well as New Jersey Sea Grant and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. "All of us are excited to tell the story of what local kids are doing to bring back oyster aquaculture to nearby waters," she says. Along with educational exhibits, the team of eco-conscious educators will be offering fun and artful maritime activities, including kits and instruction for making model tall ships to sail on the spot, right there in the fountain.

Offering something cool an unique for every taste, age and energy level, the culture-conscious RiverFest includes an outdoor ("plein-air") paint-for-a-day art contest sponsored by the Cumberland County Cultural Heritage Commission and Gallery 50. And back by popular demand is an eye-opening walking tour around the downtown riverfront with the smartest history buffs around, sponsored by the Bridgeton Historic District Commission.

But there's more, and more still coming! Only the Cohansey RiverFest website can keep up with it! Organizers recommend readers check it out often at: www.cohanseyriverfest.org or call the following numbers for more info:

General Information & Sponsorship Offerings:

Bridgeton Main Street
856-453-8130 or 973-864-4001 or email: carolahartley@aol.com

Particular events:

American Littoral Society Bus tour: (856) 825-2174
Al & Sam’s Canoe Kayak trip (856) 825-2174; Zoo paddle (856) 692-8440
Osprey Cruise (609) 898-3500
Rick Bacon's Tern Sail: (856) 455-1088
Randy’s Bike Tour: (856) 455-8309
Rutgers Cousteau Center: (856) 575-5580
County Cultural Commission Art Contest: (856) 453-2175
or Gallery 50: (856-575-0090)
Historic Walking Tour: Flavia @ (856) 221-3276 or email flaviaalaya@gmail.com