Throughout 2013, Haddonfield and its community will commemorate the 300th anniversary of the borough’s settlement in 1713 with a yearlong Haddonfield Tricentennial Celebration.
The Celebration includes a number of events throughout the year.
In addition, Haddonfield’s Tricentennial is committing to a 300 Days of Service initiative.
This will create an ideal opportunity to build community and volunteerism, and support the many organizations that serve the community and will include a database of local charities and service projects, and will promote those activities to a database of volunteers, hopefully increasing their numbers and impact for years to come.
Some events planned over the next few months include:
On Saturday, February 23 attend the JWC Annual Gala and Silent Auction. The Junior Women’s Club of the Haddon Fortnightly will host its Annual Fundraising Gala and Silent Auction from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Haddon Fortnightly, Grove Street at Kings Highway. This year’s gala will feature the cuisine of local Haddonfield restaurants. The cost is $50 per person.
On Sunday, March 3 attend the Messiah Sing Along. 800 voices will be lifted in song, joined by an orchestra featuring David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and musicians from the Curtis Institute and Philly pops, conducted by Paul Bryan. Prominent vocal soloists from the Philadelphia area will include Alize Rozsnyai, Perry Brisbon and Richard Zuch. This musical treat takes place at the First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, 20 Kings Highway East. This sing along takes place between 2:30 and 5 p.m. and admission is $20 per person. The Messiah Sing-Along benefits “Feed My Starving Children.”
On Saturday, March 9 visit the Indian King Tavern Open House featuring the colonial conjurer, Leuram the Great. The doors of the tavern will open to the public for tours between 1 and 4 p.m. A program at 2 p.m. will feature Leuram the Great, a simple-minded Colonial Conjurer who claims to have traveled the world and performed for the heads (and feet) of state! Admission is free, but seating for the program is limited.
On Friday, April 5 attend the Dance Haddonfield’s 13th Annual Dance. Dance Haddonfield will hold their 13th annual celebration at the Holiday Inn Cherry Hill. Dine and dance the evening away to the music of Sam and Betty. The celebration will also commemorate the 300th anniversary of Haddonfield by having Linda Hess (Indian King Tavern Curator) demonstrate dance from that era (with the understanding that this would not have been an activity Friends would have appreciated in 1713). Tickets are $50 and include hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, served dinner and dessert. Dress is formal/semi-formal.
On Saturday, April 6 attend the It Takes a Village: Feed My Starving Children. First Presbyterian Church will host a community-wide food packing event for starving and malnourished children at 8 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 20 Kings Highway East. At a cost of only 22 cents per meal, they will be hand-packing rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and vitamins which will then be shipped to developing nations and also be working with Minnesota-based “Feed My Starving Children”, a Christian non-profit dedicated to feeding God’s children in body and spirit. Five hundred people will be invited to participate in the food packing. Donations are encouraged and welcomed.
On Saturday, April 27 attend the All Rhoads Lead to Crows Woods, A Tricentennial Earth Day Celebration.
The Historical Society, Shade Tree Commission, Environmental Commission and Sustainable Haddonfield plan to join forces in celebration of Haddonfield’s natural history with an Earth Day Celebration and Birthday Party honoring Samuel Nicholson Rhoads, a prominent 19th century Haddonfield naturalist. A day at Crows Woods is planned with a full slate of outdoor activities and exhibits, natural hikes, and of course, birthday cake.
The EC and Sustainable Haddonfield will develop workshops and other activities for children and adults including a tree/woodland walk including a visit to the beaver dam.
The HSH will provide a display about Samuel N. Rhoads including a life-size standing figure, journals and items used for his international collection expeditions. It will be a look into the past of bird expeditions of the Academy of Natural Sciences to inspire future generations.
The STC will offer tree planting and pruning demonstrations by the Haddonfield Branch Managers throughout the morning. The STC will announce the Fall 2013 Tricentennial Trees sale and planting day and “subscriptions” sold to purchase trees for this event.
On Friday, May 3 attend the Haddon Fortnightly Home and Garden Tour. Taking place at 10 a.m. at the Haddon Fortnightly, 301 E. Kings Highway, the event features a geranium sale and luncheon. The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
On Sunday, May 19 attend My Doll & Me Tea. The Haddon Fortnightly presents an afternoon of fun and fancy for “Little Moms” and their American Girl-type doll at 3 p.m. the Haddon Fortnightly, 301 E. Kings Highway. There will be crafts, games, prizes and a tea party. The cost is $20 per person.
For more information on these and other events and the Haddonfield Tricentennial, visit http://haddonfield300.org.
For more information about the Partnership for Haddonfield and the town of Haddonfield, visit www.HaddonfieldNJ.org or call (856) 429–4700 ext. 326.
