Apples, dogs, businesses and parades are just a few themes you’ll see throughout this Fall’s key events.
As the leaves turn brown and pine cones appear throughout the forests, the Pinelands towns begin to celebrate fall with an array of events spread out on the calendar. This fall’s agenda features a wide array of events perfect for the entire family, including activities that support local animal shelters, businesses and artisans.
Rock 4Paws
Dogs, cats, beer and music galore will be on hand at Medford’s Indian Acres Farm on Sept. 16 for Rock 4 Paws, an event put on by the Paw It 4ward Foundation, a Cherry Hill-based animal rescue organization. Attendees are encouraged to bring their pets, and admission is free.
The event, which starts at 1 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m., will feature a wide variety of animal shelters on hand with dogs and cats available to adopt. Additionally, there will be a beer garden, wine garden, a dog grooming station and live music from local artists Eric Michael Riley, The Defused, The Steve Oakley Band, Behind Deadlines and the Bad Bees.
Groomers will be on hand to do stencil designs on dogs, as well as $5 nail clippings for pets. Microchipping services will be offered for $20.
Azita Kay, founder and CEO of the Paw It 4ward Foundation, stresses that adoption is the best way to acquire a new furry best friend. She said buying a puppy from a store is bad because stores typically get them from puppy mills, which, according to Kay, are notorious for inbreeding and mistreating dogs.
“You’re saving a life,” she said. “A lof of the dogs and cats that end up in shelters aren’t strayed or abused. They just lost their homes and they’re great pets. A lot of them are potty-trained and crate-trained and know commands already. You [sometimes] have a lot less medical needs because they’re not inbred from a puppy mill.” For more information visit http://www.rock4pawsfest.com/.
Tabernacle Community Fall Festival
Tabernacle Community Fall Festival is a free outdoor event hosted by Tabernacle Cub Scout Pack 439 and the Education Foundation of Tabernacle Township. There will be a Touch-a-Truck area, car show, craft fair, Kids Zone, food truck food court, Cub Scout zone, local businesses, music and more. In addition, the day starts with a 1-mile Family Run/Walk on the Seneca High School track. Complimentary breakfast will be available to all who participate in the walk.
Questions about the festival for attendees or potential arts and crafts, food or antique vendors can be directed to tabernaclepack439@gmail.com. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Tabernaclefallfestival/.
Medford Oktoberfest
On Saturday, Sept. 16, the Medford Business Association will host its annual Oktoberfest, which will feature a business expo, 20 local bands and a beer garden. The event, which will take place in Freedom Park, will commence at 11 a.m. and end at 7 p.m.
“It’s a great day out for the family,” said David Vaughn, the Medford Business Association’s executive director. “We have something for everyone at this event.”
Vaughn describes the Medford Business Association as “a voice for the businesses [of Medford], to the township for planning and zoning and for events and activities to help boost their bottom line.”
The entire event is sponsored by ShopRite of Medford, while the beer garden will be sponsored by Taunton Forge Liquors.
The event won’t just be for grown ups, though. There will be a moon bounce along with various arts and crafts activities for children, such as face-painting and hair braiding. The moon bounce will be free.
Vaughn wanted to give a shout out to ShopRite of Medford’s owners, David and Renee Zallie.
“They’re a great organization and company,” he said, noting their grocery store’s support for various events around Medford. For more information visit https://www.medfordoktoberfest.com/.
Apple Festival at Kirby’s Mill
One of residents’ favorite fall festivals, the Apple Festival at Kirby’s Mill, is back yet again for 2017. Taking place at Kirby’s Mill on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event will feature more than 100 craft booths, apple-oriented food, demonstrations, music and children’s activities. Admission is free. All proceeds from the Apple Festival, including profits from product sales and vendor fees, benefit the historical society and its ongoing restoration of the Kirby’s Mill complex. According to its mission statement, the Medford Historical Society seeks “to research, record, preserve, maintain and promote the general history of Medford.” For more information, visit https://www.medfordhistory.org/events/applefestival.
Pinelands Preservation Alliance’s 2017 Tour de Pines
From Oct. 4–8, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance will hold its 13th annual Tour de Pines, a bike ride on five loops in various areas of the Pinelands. Each day’s ride will be approximately 45–53 miles long and will feature various scenery spread across the Pinelands. Each ride will be a loop, so riders will end up back where they started.
The event costs $40 to register, which will get you into as many of the rides as you choose to participate in. The proceeds will go to benefit the PPA.
“It’s a really unique opportunity because this isn’t a race,” Becky Free, the PPA’s director of membership and coordinations, said. She noted the event is known to bring people together. “You really get to know people. It’s neat to see the camaraderie between people.”
Most importantly, Free stresses that donating to the PPA is a great cause for all who love living in nearby Pine Barrens towns.
“The goal of the PPA is to preserve the natural and historic resources of the Pinelands, and we want to make sure there’s always green places to ride your bike,” she said. “Unless people stand up for the Pine Barrens, it will become less likely for there to be a place for you to ride your bike or watch birds or go hiking.”
For more information visit http://www.pinelandsalliance.org/.
Halloween Parade
The Halloween Parade, arguably the most popular event in Medford every fall, will take place on Oct. 28 this year and begin at 7 p.m. The Halloween Parade serves as the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Medford-Vincetown Rotary, which puts on the event. Parade floats and residents in costumes will march down Main Street, showing off their spooky and creative Halloween attire. For more information about the Halloween Parade, visit http://www.medfordhalloweenparade.com/.
