June 4 kicked off a three-day event in Harrison Township that saw Main street converted into a street fair to celebrate community spirit.
The celebration featured crafters and meet and greets with different vendors. The Tribute band Us & Them started the 176th annual event off with a performance featuring the greatest hits of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd.
Harrison Day actually took place through June 6, but that wasn’t the only thing that had changed since the last celebration in 2019. Because of COVID, the township recreation commission wanted this year’s fair to stretch over three days so crowds could be condensed.
“It was quite different because the street was closed, we held a parade, and it was a single-day event,” said Recreation Coordinator Sharon Chew.
Among 49 local businesses and vendors on Main Street, this year were Candy Campbell and daughter Christy Maxwell, who combined their businesses Crafts Under the Sun and Mama Cakes Soap Company and featured handcrafted wreaths and painted porch signs.
“It has been a beautiful day and the festivities are very well managed,” said Campbell.
On the other side of Main Street was Mathnasium, an after-school, math-only learning center determined to make its subject fun for children. It offered kids at the fair a chance to win prizes after correctly guessing math equations.
“Math is everywhere, math is everything and we are here to make it fun because it is in every aspect of our lives,” said owner and center Director Deenaz Narvel.
On day two, when most of the festivities were held, amusement rides for children were stationed at three locations: Mullica Hill Baptist Church, BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors, and Lot 29 on north Main Street. Also featured was a meet-and-greet with the Ewan Volunteer Fire Company and The Harmony Fire Company. Fireworks ended the night.
“On the heels of a successful celebration on Main last weekend, I think it’s appropriate to say that our township events get better and better every year,” Mayor Louis Manzo noted. “The reason for that is very simple: We are blessed in this town with a deep team of committed individuals.”
Manzo also acknowledged the efforts of Deputy Administrator Dennis Chambers and the recreation commission.
