BRICK – There was food for every taste, and activities for every age group at the annual Brick Township’s Fallfest, held recently at Windward Beach Park.
The family-friendly festival featured 16 food trucks and 11 civic organizations who raised money for their organizations by hosting vendor games.
For example, Brick Memorial High School Dance Team ran a lawn darts/tattoos booth, while the school’s wrestling team had a pumpkin chucking/treat wall booth.
The Lake Riviera Middle School Art Club featured a spin art/milk jug toss/palette show while the Brick Township High School ice hockey team ran a hockey shoot.
Also, the Recreation Department ran a soccer darts/ski ball booth and Ocean County Parks Department was on hand to run a crayon rubbing craft.
Filling out the festival was DJ music, fire pits, a corn hole tournament, ball pits for kids, a beer and wine garden, a hay maze and a fireworks show at the end.
Brick resident Jackie Holmes came to Fallfest for the first time with her husband James and her toddler, James IV.
“It’s so nice, I’m enjoying it a lot,” Holmes said as she watched her son play in one of the ball pits.
“We’re enjoying the beer tent, and we’re going to try the corn on the cob, pork roll and funnel cake,” she said.
Township officials, including Mayor John G. Ducey and Director of Recreation Dan Santaniello attended Fallfest with their families.
“It’s an awesome turnout,” Ducey said. “There are more people this year, but the lines don’t seem as long.” Ducey’s 7-year-old son ran through the hay maze and watched his dad compete in corn hole.
[adrotate banner="278"]Santaniello said that Fallfest is different from the township’s Summerfest concert events because during Fallfest, people come and go all day. During Summerfest, most people come and stay for the whole show.
Weatherwise, it was a perfect fall day for a festival, sunny and crisp with temperatures in the mid-60’s.
Brick Police were helping to direct traffic, which was backed up on Princeton Avenue during most of the event, which ran from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Shuttle buses were available and had pick up/drop off from Midstreams Elementary School and the Veterans Memorial School Complex, which helped to alleviate the traffic congestion on Princeton Avenue.
“We have activities for everyone from 65 to one year old. It’s a true family fun event,” Santaniello said.
Courtney McGrath came to the festival with her young son, Grayson, and her boyfriend Sean Birch. The family is from the Midstreams and Van Zile areas of town.
“This is a nice reunion for Brick – we’re seeing a bunch of our friends,” McGrath said. “There’s lots of activities like the jumping house and the maze, and we had lobster rolls from Shore Fresh. I have my eye on dessert but I don’t know which one yet.”
Additional food trucks included pizza, baked goods, tacos, Cajun and smoked barbecue, ice cream, and more.
