By AUBRIE GEORGE | The Cherry Hill Sun
School is in full swing, the weather is getting cooler and the leaves will soon change color. Summer is almost a memory, but there will be no fall frowns for area residents this season with plenty of fun events lined up for the coming weeks.
Senior citizens will have plenty to do this season, but they can start with lunch and a movie with the Cherry Hill Arts Board on Friday, Oct. 2 at the Croft Farm Arts Center. Seniors are invited to enjoy a hot dog lunch followed by a viewing and discussion of the film “Mamma Mia!” starring Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep. “Mamma Mia!” tells the story of a young woman about to be married who discovers that any one of three men could be her father. She invites them all to the wedding without telling her mother. Doors for this event open at 11:30 a.m. and the film will begin at noon. A short discussion of the film will follow. Tickets are $3 per person and can be purchased through a form in the township’s fall recreation booklet or by calling The Cherry Hill Arts Board 661–4810 or e-mailing Arts@CHTownship.com.
For more information about events at the Croft Farm Arts Center, call the Cherry Hill Arts Board at 661–4810, email them at arts@CHTownship.com or visit www.CherryHillArts.blogspot.com.
The Friends of Barclay Farmstead invite residents to attend the 13th annual Living History Day at the Barclay Farmstead on Sunday, Oct. 4 from noon to 4 p.m. This free event offers residents a chance to step back in time and experience early American life by enjoying hands-on activities such as candle making, quill pen writing, Early American games and rope bed making. Participants will also get to see spinning, weaving, open-hearth cooking and blacksmithing demonstrations and will have the opportunity for tours of the 1816 farmhouse, outbuildings and 32-acre property.
Take a look at the community’s past when The Friends of Barclay Farmstead present Tales of Cherry Hill ’s Past: A Night-Light Trolley Tour on Saturday, Oct. 24. Tours Depart: 4:30 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. and begin at historic Barclay Farmstead. This authentic trolley ride takes participants to the Scarborough Covered Bridge, Ellis House, Colestown Cemetery and Bonnie’s Bridge. The tour will feature an extended stop at Croft Farm to offer participants a chance to view the juried photography exhibit on display beginning Oct. 24. The tour also features a candlelight-guided tour of the Barclay Farmstead museum, which is a restored Federal-style farmhouse that includes period furnishings, clothing, textiles and other items unique to 19th century agrarian life. Light refreshments will be available for purchase during the tour. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information about events at the Barclay Farmstead call them at 795–6225, email them at info@BarclayFarmstead.org or visit their Web site at www.BarclayFarmstead.org.
Get into the spirit of Halloween with tales from the shadowed woods of the Somerset Hills to the banks of the Delaware River when The Cherry Hill Historical Commission and the Cherry Hill Public Library present Historic Haunts of Central Jersey on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This free event at the Cherry Hill Public Library provides those who attend with a rich mix of factual history and sound investigation of ghostly phenomena with a presentation of photos of investigation sites and audio clips of unexplained voices. The presentation is based on the book “Ghosts of Central Jersey” in which author and paranormal investigator, Gordon Thomas Ward, presents a collection of reports that will inform, entertain, and lead to places where the past is considered to be very much alive. This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
For more information or to register for library programs and events, call the library at 856–903–1207 or visit their Web site at www.chplnj.org.
Everyone in the family will enjoy an afternoon that promotes fun and safety at during Harvest Festival and Fire and Life Safety Day at Croft Farm on Sunday, Oct. 25 from noon to 4 p.m. This free event features Halloween fun with a safe trick-or-treating trail, pumpkin painting and a costume parade. There will also be fall fun in the form of pony rides, the Garden State Discovery Museum’s Bubble Wonder, balloon artists, a storyteller, live entertainment, the Cherry Hill My Gym moon bounce and refreshments. In addition, the event also features a save-a-life fireman’s challenge, kid ID card registration, an interactive emergency vehicle display and the chance to squirt a real fire hose. Cherry Hill Township and the Cherry Hill Fire Department will provide valuable fire safety information and fall fun for all ages. Croft Farm is located at 100 Bortons Mill Rd.
Residents ages 12 through 16 years old who care for children are invited to learn about fire safety during a free class on Oct. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cherry Hill Fire Department. All who attend will learn how to be fire safe while babysitting. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 12. Class size is limited to 20 students, so register early. Download the registration form at www.cherryhillfire.org or obtain a form the fall recreation booklet.
Springdale Farms is bringing back their famous corn maze and his year, the theme is renewably energy sources. The maze design is a sun cascading over a rolling countryside. As kids make their way through the maze they will find pictures, clues and games to make learning about renewable energy fun. The 2009 corn maze season runs through Nov. 1 and is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the last ticket sold at 3p.m. Admission for adults age 13 and up is $9. Children ages 4 through 12-years-old get in at $7.50.
The corn maze is open on select Friday nights from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for “Flashlight Fridays”. This year’s Flashlight Fridays will be on Oct. 2 and 9. Those who attend are asked to bring their own flashlights. The last ticket is sold one hour before closing at 9 p.m.
Springdale Farms is located at 1638 S. Springdale Rd. For more information call them at 424–8674 or visit their Web site at www.springdalefarms.com.
The Garden State Discovery Museum will be providing tons of fall friendly events for local kids this season. The Little Discoveries Barnyard will open on Friday, Oct. 2 with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Kids will be able to feed rocking horses, sort chickens’ eggs, churn some butter, or just relax on the porch of a 1940s farmhouse. Kids will be able to make it rain in the fields and learn how water is recycled and reused on a farm. They can uproot vegetables and plant flowers in the toddler-friendly garden and activities will include making vegetable prints, square dancing and family potato sack races.
Fair princesses are invited to attend a “Fairy Ball” on Friday, Oct. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The evening will be filled with glitter, sweets and surprises.
Activities include horse drawn carriage rides, dancing, crafts and more.
This fabulous, fun-filled night is $20 for children who are Museum members and $25 for non-members. Cost for adults is just $5. Reservations and payment are required in advance by calling 424–1233, extension 305.
Celebrate the German tradition of Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will feature root beer tasting and cultural music for sing-a-longs and dancing.
The museum will be holding a blood from on Monday, October 12 from noon to 6 p.m. That day will also feature a “mock” blood drive for children to see what their parents and guardians are doing.
Children will be greeted by a mascot named Buddy Blood Drop. Donors will receive passes to the Museum and a special discount in the Discovermore Store and staff will be on hand to help watch the kids while parents donate.
Residents can register at the museum’s front desk, e-mail or call the Museum at cflcoordinator@discoverymuseum.com or 424–1233, x.309. Residents can also register at the American Red Cross Web site, membersforlife.org/pennj/schedule/login.php and enter 14444 for the Sponsor’s Code.
