A Harrison Township Day banner from the 2021 event. This year’s version is expected to draw a larger crowd.
Harrison Township Day will make its return to Ella Harris Park on Saturday, June 1, after being held on Main Street since 2018.
The reason for that, according to recreation commission coordinator Sharon Chew, is that the township expects more people to swing by this year.
“I think we are having a couple thousand people,” she said. “A lot of people in surrounding towns come to the event, since their towns don’t have dedicated recreation programs.”
“While the Main Street location is great fun, many missed the carnival feel that the park provided,” explained Mayor Louis Manzo. “So after receiving feedback from our residents and, of course, consulting with our own ‘Queen of Fun,’ recreation Coordinator Sharon Chew, I’m excited to announce the return of Harrison Township Day to Ella Harris Park this year.”
The majority of the event’s attractions, according to Chew, will be free because of the day’s main sponsor, Inspira. Attractions will include amusements provided by J-Dogs Catering and Amusement from West Berlin.
The 4 p.m. event will also include a petting zoo, wagon rides, pig races, hot dog dachshund races, a beer garden co-sponsored by the township fire district, a magician and a DJ who will also host karaoke. The police department will also host a demonstration of its K-9 unit and the fire department will bring its trucks.
The event will conclude at 9 p.m. with a fireworks show from Brian Horne, owner of Stags Leap Ranch Development, a farm shop in Mullica Hill.
“It’s a great day for families,” Chew noted. “It’s especially great because there are many families out there that are living paycheck to paycheck. The majority of the event is free, and it offers families an affordable opportunity to spend time with each other.”
In conjunction with Harrison Township Day, the recreation commission is collaborating with the Mullica Hill Business Association to kick off the weekend with Main Street’s Sip, Savor and Social on Friday, May 31.
“Merchants will be doing a kickoff for the weekend’s festivities,” said Chew. “While Harrison Township Day is geared more towards families, this is more for adults.”
“This adult-oriented get-together will feature live music, dining, libations from local breweries and wineries (benefitting local causes) as the perfect backdrop for a late spring evening stroll down our historic Main Street for shopping and conversation with friends and neighbors,” Manzo pointed out.
Both Harrison Township Day and Sip, Savor and Social are among the largest activities the township hosts throughout the year. Others are Lights on Main in November and the annual Halloween Boogie Walk in the fall.
“These events are made possible through the efforts of the Harrison Township Recreation Commission, a resident volunteer board led by chairperson Alyse Dvorak, alongside the commission’s board members, numerous volunteers, and the unwavering energy of Chew,” Manzo related.
“Did you know that all the recreation commission events are entirely self-funded?” he added. “No taxpayers’ dollars are expended in their execution. Thank you to our recreation commission.”
