Gloucester Township’s summer schedule is packed with exciting events
By SEAN DEVLIN
The Sun
Going down the Shore is not the only fun summer option in New Jersey. Gloucester Township has a quite a few events planned for the hotter months to get families out of the house and spending time with the community. Sponsored by the township and organized by Main Stage Center for the Arts, residents have seven opportunities to enjoy local, free and family-oriented music at Veterans Park this summer.
Every Monday from June 25 to Aug. 6, residents can gather at the park at 7 p.m. for the Sounds of Summer Concert Series. Each concert lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Ed Fiscella, producer and founder of Main Stage Center for the Arts said, “It’s a chance for the community to get together in a great park and for people in the community to share in the experience.”
Fiscella explained the concerts are scheduled on Mondays to give families something to do during the week as community events are generally scheduled for the weekend.
With a priority of booking local talent, the first event features Megan Knight — a Gloucester Township native.
Knight, 19, recently came out with an EP album, “State of Mind.”
Another concert will see the South Jersey group The Big Bleu Band hit the stage with a mix of rock, pop, Motown and more.
With local performers, Fiscella said a stronger sense of community is built at these types of events, especially when friends and family members of the musicians are intermixed with everyone else from the area.
When considering locations for the series, the township and Fiscella felt Veterans Park was a no-brainer.
The partnership between the township and Main Stage dates back nearly 30 years, Fiscella said. In recent years, the township installed speakers throughout the park that will allow for residents using the walking path and the playground to enjoy the concert.
Performers will set-up in the park gazebo.
These concerts are free. Check the township Facebook and https://mainstage.org/tag/gloucester-township/ for any changes.
Other Gloucester Township events:
The Gloucester Township Police Department will host National Night Out from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Aug. 7.
In 2016, the National Night Out named Gloucester Township as first place in the state and eighth in the country for National Night Out participation for communities with a similar population.
On average, 16,000 communities across the country take part in the event that happens every year for the last 35 years in August that is meant to garner positive relationships between community members and local departments such as law enforcement.
For more information about this event, contact Cpl. Jennifer McLaughlin at jmclaughlin@gtpolice.com or (856) 374–5735.
The township is also urging people off the couch and away from Netflix and hopes residents will comes out to Veterans Park for the three movie nights — movies under the stars.
At 7 p.m., July 12, township residents can gather for games and at dusk enjoy a viewing of “Jumanji.” Beginning at the same time, Aug. 9, “Cars 3” will hit the big screen, and on Sept. 14, residents can enjoy one of the last nights of summer by watching “A Wrinkle in Time” outside.
Residents are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
For more Gloucester Township summer events, visit the the township Facebook page and click “Events.”
