One of Cherry Hill Township’s largest annual events is becoming even bigger this year.
Cherry Hill’s annual Harvest Festival, featuring Fire and Life Safety Day, will take place at Croft Farm, rain or shine, on Sunday, Oct. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. This year’s event will include all of the attractions from last year plus a few additions.
The biggest change to the festival is an increased presence from the Cherry Hill Police Department. In the past, the festival featured numerous attractions from the Cherry Hill Fire Department. Now, both agencies will be represented.
“We’ve had participation from the fire department for a number of years, but we wanted to expand it this year,” township director of communications Bridget Palmer said.
A number of police vehicles will be on display for festival-goers to check out. The police will also have its kid ID card table set up this year, where children can get an ID card for free. The card assists police in finding lost or missing children.
Visitors will also have a chance to send Cherry Hill police officers for a bath in a dunk tank.
“Any visitor that brings non-perishable food for our food drive will have a chance to dunk our police officers, including (Police Chief William Monaghan),” Palmer said.
Palmer said the festival will be a great opportunity for kids to meet and interact with members of the police department.
“The police department is making a push to do more in terms of community policing,” Palmer said.
The other addition for 2015 is a craft fair. There will be 19 crafters from around the area at the festival.
“We have local crafters who will put together things and sell jewelry, decorations and repurposed items,” Palmer said.
Tents will be set up to the right of the main driveway leading to Croft Farm.
There will be a strong fall atmosphere at this year’s Harvest Festival as in past years. The event will include a pumpkin patch, make and take crafts, Halloween-themed activities, a petting zoo and pony rides. Live entertainment will be featured throughout the afternoon. Some of the performers include “The Luck Brothers,” “Just in Time,” the Camden County Bell Choir and Chorus, Bowman Schools of Dance, Cherry Hill East Mimes and the Cherry Hill West Theater group.
Many Cherry Hill organizations will be on hand as part of the festival’s information fair, including the Cherry Hill Public Library, Cherry Hill Environmental Board, Kingsway Church and Rutgers Camden County Master Gardeners.
Harvest Festival visitors will get to check out photography from local artists. The Fall into the Arts photography show is on display through Oct. 25 at the Croft Farm Arts Center. The center will be open during the entire festival, and photographs will be available for purchase.
The festival is free and open to the public. There will be food available for purchase. For more information, contact the Cherry Hill recreation department at (856) 488–7868 or events@chtownship.com. More information is also available at www.CherryHill-NJ.com/HarvestFestival.
