Haddonfield’s fall festival returns for the first time since 2019 on Oct. 8, with this year’s location on Kings Highway between Potter Street and Haddon Avenue, which will be shut down for the duration of the event.
“I was looking for ways to make it more accessible and safer for people to come visit, but also looking for ways to make it more experiential,” said Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich, referencing the previous location on the sidewalks of Kings Highway.
“This isn’t as if we’re at a booth or a type of conference event where everybody’s staffing tables and giving handouts, but actually an opportunity for people to interact and engage with nonprofits.”
In the past, the fall festival had two main components, a craft show by Renaissance Craftables and an informational section where residents could meet and learn more about various Haddonfield organizations.
“This year, Renaissance Craftables was not able to fulfill a fall commitment on any of the weekends we were looking to do the fall festival, so we thought this was a perfect opportunity to pivot,” the mayor explained. “For this year, at least – this may change in the future – but for this year, we don’t have the craft component.”
Instead there will be a number of fall-themed festivities by Haddonfield nonprofits and organizations by borough hall, with additional activities at the Children’s Sculpture Zoo, the Historic Society of Haddonfield, the Haddonfield Farmers Market and the Haddonfield Friends Meeting.
“It really is about connecting our residents and our businesses with our nonprofits and enabling them to thrive, because after COVID, so many of them are struggling,” said Bianco Bezich. “For two-plus years, they weren’t meeting in person. They lost volunteers who were vulnerable. They lost some of the income, because people couldn’t afford to spend as much or donate as much, and they lost visibility.
“ … In 2022, we want to engage everybody in the community and give them that opportunity to know what (nonprofits) do and why we do it,” she added, “and attract more people and really honor the existing volunteers.”
Fall festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rather than having tents with informational materials, each participating nonprofit will have family friendly activities, including the following:
- Rotary Club of Haddonfield: Pumpkin Patch with painting
- Grace Episcopal Church: Famous Chili Cook-off Contest & Tasting
- Haddonfield Quaker Meeting: Colonial kids games, family activities and tours will take place at the Meeting House on Friends Avenue.
- Haddonfield Public Library: Harry Potter sorting hat, slime making and games
- Haddon Fire Co. No. 1: Touch a Truck and car-seat Inspections behind borough hall
- Haddonfield 65 Club: Activities for all ages, class by Tai Chi Master Jack Poupard
- Dance Haddonfield: ballroom dancing
- Friends of Indian King Tavern Museum: Caricature artist, Indian King Museum open
Some activities may require a fee to participate; proceeds will go to the organization sponsoring the event.
To stay up to date with the festival, visit https://downtownhaddonfield.com/events/fall-festival-2022/.
