In last week’s column about our downtown opening up, I mentioned, as a case in point, the callout for entertainers for our third Food Truck Festival on The Ave on August 22. Going into a bit more detail about this, it shows optimism for the future as we come out of the pandemic. Whether to have events like the Food Truck Fest—or whether to have the events scaled down—are factors we’ve had to consider for over a year. Now, the tide is turning, and we can look to a festival with entertainment and other features that you’ll enjoy.
Also, if you’ve got talent, it’ll give you the opportunity to showcase it before thousands of people who, after a long time in hibernation, want to get out and enjoy themselves. I’m sure that it’ll be great for you, as an entertainer, to get out and perform before a live audience again.
It’s also good for The Ave, as it brings that added dimension to one of our biggest outdoor events. Good food! Good music! What could be better!
Interested? Then contact Main Street Vineland Associate Director Robert Scarpa at [email protected]. Do you have an audio or video clip—a sample of you performing on YouTube or some other platform? If so, make sure to include that. Performances will run the length of the festival—11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; we’re looking for the performers to do sets of 20 to 30 minutes. Mics and sound are provided. DJ Zach is on board as entertainment coordinator for the event. Let’s show everyone that “The Ave’s Got Talent!”
For the rest of you, come hungry and stay late. The festival will be held rain or shine at Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. Plenty of food trucks will be on hand to supply good eats. Members 1st of NJ Federal Credit Union is the major sponsor of the event and Newfield National Bank is the Entertainment Sponsor.
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You can still register for our Third Annual Running The Ave 5K on Sunday, June 27. Held in cooperation with Second Capital Running and with major sponsorship by Lidl, it’ll be held rain or shine, starting at 9 a.m., right on downtown Landis Avenue. Special awards will go to the fastest runner from Vineland and a True Grit Award for the last-place finisher. Team challenges will take place for the fastest family and fastest business. Social distancing measures will be in place. Sign on at theave.biz.
To cool off in mid-summer, we’re debuting Christmas in July on The Ave, scheduled for Saturday, July 24, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be the prelude to a weekend-long event—An Olde Fashioned Christmas on The Ave, to take place downtown December 3–5. Plan for some preliminary Christmas cheer while enjoying your summer.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for all events. Whatever COVID guidelines are in effect at the time of each event will be enforced.
While you’re downtown, remember to take advantage of the variety of restaurants for a meal—or just a snack to cool off. Our restaurants specialize in genuine multicultural cuisines. Don’t wait for an occasion to come downtown and enjoy.
