Fall festival planned in Jefferson

JEFFERSON — The Jefferson Township Recreation Department will host its annual Fall Festival at Camp Jefferson, 81 Weldon Road on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event and all activities are free to the public except where noted.
Confirmed entertainment will include music by DJ Earl Heller of Sound Solutions, Wisch-Craft Magic Shows at 10:30 a.m. and at noon, Karen’s Pony Rides and Petting Zoo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monsters University 5-in-1 Combo Inflatable Activity along with a Witch Balloon Artist from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be daytime hayrides, a fall coloring activity, pumpkin decorating, pumpkin picking in the pumpkin patch, and a trip through the Camp Jefferson Corn Maze. The Jefferson Township Police Department will be present with safety information and the department’s off-road vehicle, the BD&W Model Train Club display will be open, and there will be a Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin Contest and a Candy Corn Contest as well. There will even be a special appearance by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
There will be a night-time haunted hayride (nominal fee) throughout the spooky Camp Jefferson grounds during the Haunted House activities.
Refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day with proceeds to benefit “Operation Camp Jefferson”, a scholarship fund set up for needy families so their children can have a summer day camp experience next year. Members of the Jefferson Township Middle School Student Council and Red Cross Club will be volunteering at the refreshment table.
When approaching Camp Jefferson, please follow the directions of the volunteer parking attendants. Continuous shuttle service for overflow parking will be provided by the Township’s Recreation and Dial-A-Ride Departments to and from off-site locations at the Board of Education’s Central Offices Building at 31 Route 181 and at Ellen T. Briggs Elementary School, 1 Jefferson Drive (off Espanong Road), both in Lake Hopatcong. Please follow the directions of the parking attendants.
The Festival will be host to two collections throughout the day — The Recreation Department will be accepting non-perishable food items, paper products, toiletries, and household cleaning product donations for the local pantries. Also, the Jefferson Township High School Soccer Association will be collecting usable and wearable clothing, shoes, accessories, household items, and toys. Please email lmbishop@hotmail.com to check on items that cannot be accepted.
Call the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404, Ext. 4 or Ext. 5 for information about its Fall Festival events; log on to www.jeffersontownship.net, Departments, Recreation; or e-mail CPUNTURIERI@jeffersontownship.net.