LACEY – The Township is enjoying its year-long 150th birthday and that warrants a number of big events – including a parade.
The Lacey 150th Anniversary Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 5. The parade route will start at the Municipal Building, then going down R. Kennedy Blvd (service road heading into Gille Park) turning right into Gille Park and ending on Bob Court Lane near the entrance to Gille Park. After the parade, there will be a festival held within Gille Park.
Various township organizations will be on site hosting games and activities such as sand art, crafts, a bike rodeo, sports skills challenges, demonstrations from local clubs and much more.
There will be plenty of opportunities to win a number of cool prizes like a Lacey 150th Challenge Coin, and other Lacey 150th merchandise. There will be a variety of refreshments available to purchase.
The evening will wrap up with a unique outdoor wrestling show from LTW, Locked Target Wrestling, at the infield of Softball Field 1. This show will feature some of Lacey Township’s finest professional wrestlers. The free show starts at 8:30 p.m. and those attending are encouraged to bring your chair.
The parade is the latest event celebrating the sesquicentennial. Other events scheduled throughout the year include Photo Contest, Geocaching Scavenger Hunt, Beach Blanket Bingo, The Lacey Life movie produced by Girl Scout Troop 50249, Lacey Birthday Bash hosted by Argo’s Farm, and a Town Wide Thanksgiving celebration.
“Since our founding in 1871, Lacey Township has been offering families a welcomed retreat to call home,” Mayor Peter A. Curatolo said. “As residents, we all know of the many reasons that we call Lacey home. Our beautiful parks, our rich culture and great schools but this year in particular we celebrate a landmark birthday – our 150th.”
The mayor noted that from the township’s founding in 1871, “through to today, we are indeed the best kept secret in Ocean County. We offer all the amenities of fine living with much less traffic than our neighbors to the north! From our school children to our senior citizens, an eclectic array of people are proud to call Lacey home.”
Mayor Curatolo noted that “from the time when Brigadier General John Lacey fought for America’’s freedom in the Revolutionary War through to the many sacrifices that our military families make to this day, we celebrate you. We celebrate our rich history and we celebrate Lacey Township. So please, raise your hands, raise a glass and toast the Lacey lifestyle.”
Special Events
The 150th Anniversary Committee is joining with Argos Farm to host a Birthday Butterfly Bash from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 7. The event will be held at Argos Farm and the cost is $10 per person. Activities include: Unlimited Cow Train Ride, Unlimited Jumbo Jumper Pillow, entry into the Sunflower Field, visiting the Farm Animals, as well as some other surprises.
The first 100 families to purchase tickets will receive a Butterfly to release at the farm at 3pm. The rain date for the event is August 8. Tickets are available online at argosfarm.myshopify.com.
The Lacey Historical Society has been holding special historical fireside chats on Friday nights and there is a lot to learn and enjoy at the Society’s Schoolhouse Museum which has reopened for the season.
Other fun activities coming up include Beach Blanket Bingo on August 27, 28, and 29. You can catch the sunset, play a few rounds of bingo with your neighbors from the comfort of your 150th Anniversary towel at Meadowlark Beach, Lake Barnegat and Bamber Lake.
Coming this fall, a very special variety show will be held on September 24 at Gille Park and will feature an evening filled with laughter, music, magic and much more. Experience all the talent that the Lacey community has to offer. Dance troops, hula hoopers, speed painters and other entertainers are welcome!
Performance applications are currently be taken for this special event. The application deadline is August 31. All accepted performances will be notified via email by September 1. The performance time is up to 5 minutes in length, and must be family friendly. Performance submissions can be found at forms.gle/S7KBx6PAXKndfeCk9.
Among the activities coming up for Lacey residents and others to enjoy include a film produced by Girl Scout Troop 50249 for their Bronze Award. There will also be a geocaching event with QR codes and you can be a part of it. Take part in geocaching historical points throughout the township and learn about them through QR codes.
For the latest updates regarding Lacey 150th Anniversary events, follow Lacey Township’s 150th Anniversary page on Facebook at @lacey150.
Those interested in helping the Lacey 150th Committee or want further information about the events being planned and those already scheduled, can send an e-mail to lacey150@laceytownship.org or contact the Lacey Township Recreation Office at 609- 693-1100 ext. 2203.
