More Displays And Events Planned For Chatham Fishawack Festival's Lineup

CHATHAM, NJ — Chatham’s Retro Fishawack Festival is around the corner, the festival kicking off rain or shine on Friday, with activities added to Saturday’s lineup.

The Fishawack Festival, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is already packed with lots to do each day, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

All day shopping, dining and other activities are planned, with some other highlights each day, including the items below:

• On Friday, Dance Innovation will be performing from 4 to 5 p.m., with Blue Soul after for some funk, soul and blues at Reasoner Gazebo Park.
• On Saturday, there will be all-day dining options at the South Passaic Dining Pavilion or at eateries throughout Chatham.
• From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday the Chatham Borough Farmers Market is scheduled at Railroad Plaza South.
• The Chatham Jaycees Fishawack Run is planned on Sept. 25, beginning as well at Railroad Plaza South, with the one-mile "Fun Run" at 9 a.m. and four-mile run at 9:30 a.m. To sign up for either run, click here. More information about the Fishawack Run is at www.chathamfishawackrun.org.
• There will be performers all day at the Reasoner Gazebo the Saturday of the festival, including Dance Innovations, the Chatham Community Band, School of Rock, Save Mary and Unplugged, until 7 p.m.
• Up to 4 p.m. on Saturday, there will be the Kids' Zone and non-profit groups and businesses represented at booths on Main Street and at Firehouse and Post Office Plazas.
• From noon until 3 p.m., the Purple Aardvark will be hosting It’s a Ruff Life Rescue and collecting pet supplies for the rescue.
• From 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, the Beer and Wine Garden will be on the lawn by Reasoner Gazebo.
• Senior Happy Hour will be happening from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Beer and Wine Garden.
• On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the Sustainability Fair at Firehouse Plaza hosted by the Chatham Environmental Commission and Green Team, with Sustainable Landscaping, Greenhouse Solar and electric vehicles.
• Living Sustainably Events will be on Saturday at South Passaic Avenue, including Build One Bowl Meals from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Dish Kitchen; Java’s Compost teaching about composting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and more about compostable take out packaging from Good Start Packaging from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• On Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m., Rock ’N Roll Racing will be on at Post Office Plaza.
• During the Fishawack Festival, the Chatham United Methodist Church Community Food Pantry plans to host the "Give 10 Get 10" donation drive, which in exchange for a minimum $10 cash donation to the food pantry, the donor will get 10 percent off of things they buy from participating vendors at the Fishawack Festival. Throughout the pandemic, the pantry has helped fight food insecurity among Chatham and Madison residents, establishing a pop-up pantry as well as a Wednesday food drive. Click here for more information about the pantry.
• “Meet World Legends” at Legends Gallery on 275 Main Street, with pre-registration required at www.legendsgallery.net. On Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m. is Mookie Wilson from the New York Mets; and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., John Starks from the New York Knicks. Saturday’s appearance is yet to be announced. On Sunday between 2 to 4 p.m., is a photo op and meet and greet event with Carli Lloyd of the U.S. National Soccer Team.
• Festival t-shirts can be pre-ordered as part of a fundraiser from www.artwithheartdesigns.com, stop to 13A Roosevelt Avenue or call 201-787-7014.

EV Expo Newly Announced During Sustainability Fair

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chatham Borough’s Environmental Commission hosts the EV Expo as part of its Sustainability Fair, with electric vehicles on display that belong to Chatham residents as well as car manufacturers, also having their cars in Chatham’s expo.

Chatham Township Police Department’s 2020 Ford Hybrid Police Interceptor will be in the spotlight, with the borough planning to add electric vehicles to its municipal fleets in the future.

Among the cars manufacturers planning to show their vehicles, according to a news release from Chatham Borough, are: Chevy Bolt, BMW i3, Audi E-Tron Sportback, Jaguar I-Pace, Porsche Taycan, Mini Cooper SE, Volkswagen ID.4 and Karma Revero Sport. Tesla is expected to bring both its 3 and Y models; and Volvo the BEV XC40 Recharge and XC90 T8 Recharge.

Pedego Bicycles from Madison and Porsche will have electric bicycles on display and to try out, at the train station during the festival.

Volunteers To Be Recognized

Chatham Borough Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz is scheduled to recognize volunteers at the gazebo in Reasoner Park at noon on Saturday. Chatham Borough Fire Department, the borough’s council and the Community Services Department including Roubi Stavropoulos and Celia Kanellakos, will be acknowledged, according to a news release from Chatham Borough.

Visit Chatham Borough’s website for a lineup of the festival events here and here.

See event details on the festival's Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/fishawackfestival.

Contact organizer Janice Piccolo with questions at [email protected] or 201-650-3187.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: [email protected].