Daretown Day Festival starts off with firing of the Pole Tavern Cannon
UPPER PITTSGROVE -- On Saturday, Sept. 10, everyone is invited to gather in Daretown and celebrate Upper Pittsgrove Township during the Daretown Day festival. Events are planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Daretown School, the Pittsgrove Baptist Church, and the Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church.
Be sure to arrive by 9 a.m. for the firing of the Pole Tavern Cannon. This historic cannon was made in 1763 and came to Upper Pittsgrove over 200 years ago after the War of 1812. As part of the Salem County Arsenal, it was regularly used by the local militia for practice drills. It was restored by Jay Williams several years ago, and is usually housed at the Upper Pittsgrove Township Hall in a building created by the Boy Scouts. To begin the Daretown Day festivities, it will be fired at the grounds of the Old Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church. The opening ceremony will then be held inside the historic 1767 brick church.
At 10 a.m., the parade will run through Daretown, from the New Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church to the Daretown School. Parking will be available beside the Daretown School, at the Pittsgrove Baptist Church, and in a few other areas around town. Once the road is closed, it will be time to set your lawn chairs along Daretown Road and enjoy the parade. The parade will include floats by local churches and non-profit organizations, tractors, antique vehicles, veterans, fire engines, cyclists, and others marching through Daretown. The parade will end at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Ariel picture of Daretown in 1990. The afternoon activities will center at the Daretown School, with a welcoming ceremony at noon by our local elected officials. There will be information booths by several local non-profits, games and activities for children, re-enactors, spinning demonstrations, pony rides, chickens on display, food and treats, antique cars, tractors, fire engines, historical displays, and more. There will be a kiddie tractor pull at 2 p.m.; registration is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. At the Pittsgrove Baptist Church, there will be a hot air balloon on display for people to walk through.
Live musical entertainment will be provided throughout the afternoon from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Performers include Sweet Mercy (a bluegrass/Southern rock group), Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church, Woodstown Presbyterian Church, Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church Brass Band, Aldine Methodist Church, and Fellowship Bible Church.
Inside Daretown School will be several historical displays on Upper Pittsgrove history, including a historic powerpoint presentation, a slideshow on the barns of Upper Pittsgrove, a Greater Elmer Area Historical Society display, model one-room schoolhouses of Upper Pittsgrove, and local genealogy information. Histories of the area will be available for sale.
Every attending household will receive a free program booklet, which will include the program of the day and a tour guide of all the buildings of Daretown, as well as advertisements from those who have contributed to planning this day. There will also be commemorative T-shirts for sale with a specially designed drawing of Daretown landmarks.
The day will end at 4 p.m. with a closing ceremony and a final firing of the Pole Tavern Cannon at the Daretown School. Be sure to come to Daretown for this special celebration and community gathering.
For more information or to volunteer, check out the facebook page at www.facebook.com/daretownday2016 or contact the Daretown Day Committee by calling or emailing Bonny Beth Elwell at 609-670-0407 or bonnybonnybeth@gmail.com or Kristy Rosenbaum at 856-275-7814 or ludwig177@comcast.net.
This item submitted by bonny Beth Elwell, Daretown Day 2016.