In just a couple weeks, Medford Village will be lined with decorations in preparation for the holiday season.
The holidays are quickly approaching in Medford. From Thanksgiving events to the Dickens Festival and the Toys for Tots holiday drive, there will be something for people of all ages to enjoy.
Dickens Festival
The biggest holiday event in Medford remains the Dickens Festival, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. It will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. The Medford Sunrise Rotary is again putting on the event.
“We don’t put the Dickens Festival on as a fundraiser for the Rotary itself,” Rotary president Rob Shafer said. “It’s our community service for the town. We want to put on the best event for the town.”
This year’s event will have a few new additions. A new band will be staged near Kirby’s Brothers on the northern end of Main Street. Characters from the movie “Frozen” will also pay a visit.
“We hope that attracts a younger crowd,” Shafer said. “But we obviously want to keep the tradition.”
All activities from previous years will be returning in 2014. A live nativity will be set up at Tomlinson Park near the Pinelands Branch Library. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be set up at the gazebo near the Medford Arts Center. There will also be music, entertainment and vendors lining Main Street throughout Medford Village.
Shafer said sponsorship has increased this year, thanks to the Rotary packaging sponsorship of the township calendar with Dickens’ Festival sponsorships. The Rotary has also gotten large commitments from businesses such as Murphy’s Market.
“We’ve gotten great support from local businesses,” Shafer said. “We’re excited that we’re adding a few things.”
The Rotary also raises funds to pay for the festival through coin drops. Shafer said the festival will continue to thrive if the Rotary gets a little help from the community.
“A little bit from everybody is all it takes for this event to go on,” he said. “One dollar from every person will make sure this event will go on for another year.”
Thanksgiving breakfast
Medford residents can kick off their Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 26 as the Medford-Vincentown Rotary Club holds its 10th annual Thanksgiving Community Spiritual Breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Medford Lakes Country Club.
According to the Rotary, last year’s event had more than 175 attendees. The keynote speaker will be Joseph Monahan from the Medford United Methodist Church.
The event is $16 per person and includes a breakfast buffet. All proceeds will be donated to the Gift of Life Program. To make reservations, call Rotarian Dave Stow at (609) 953–7600 or send a check made payable to Medford-Vincentown Rotary Club to P.O. Box 365, Medford, N.J. 08055.
Shawnee winter craft show
Those looking for the perfect holiday gift can check out the Shawnee Craft and Gift Fair on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shawnee High School.
The event will feature more than 120 vendor tables featuring crafts, jewelry, gifts and food. Admission to the event is free and open to all area residents.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Shawnee High School band program. For more information, call (609) 975–9469 or email shscraftshow@outlook.com.
Thanksgiving football
There will be Thanksgiving morning football in Medford this year as the Shawnee Renegades host rival Lenape High School at 11 a.m. The game will be between two highly ranked teams. Shawnee entered the South Jersey Group IV playoffs as the №2 seed, while Lenape was the №1 seed in the South Jersey Group V bracket.
Toys for Tots drive
Medford will continue to be a major hub for Burlington County’s Toys for Tots drive this holiday season. Collection boxes will be available at the following locations in the township.
- Just Children –130 Medford-Mt Holly Road
- Amoriello Hair Design — 560 Stokes Road, Suite 23
- Lenape High School National Honor Society — 235 Hartford Road
- P J Whelihan’s Pub — 61 Stokes Road
- My Investor Bank — 415 Stokes Road
- Columbia Bank — 133 Route 70
- ERA Statewide Realty — 709 Stokes Road, Suites 200 and 201
- Johnson’s Corner Farm — 113 Church Road
- Milton H. Allen Elementary School — 24 Allen Ave.
- Hayes Run Apartments — 407B Hayes Run
- Breakthru Fitness & Physical Therapy — 200 Tuckerton Road
- Fond Memories — 200 Tuckerton Road, Suite 7
- The Village of Barton Run — 322 A Barton Run Blvd.
- Elite Insurance Co. (Allstate) — 142 Route 70
- AVM Salon — 13 Tomlinson Mill Road
- C. Michael Rainbolt — 2 N. Main St., Suite 103
- Complete Care Chiropractic & Wellness — 639 Stokes Road
- Cornerstone Bank — 170 Himmelein Road
- Medford Foot Specialist — 128 Route 70
- NovaCare — 128 Route 70, Suite 2C
- Rustic Grill — 519 Stokes Road
- AVM Salon — 13 Tomlinson Mill Road
- Medford Lakes Colony — 79 Tecumseh Trail
- Image Beauty — 630 Stokes Road
