Coordinated and hosted by the Montgomery Business Association, the goal of the event was to create a town tradition that local residents from Montgomery and surrounding towns will come to each year.
By Kathleen Turpin
For NJ Advance Media
Hundreds of visitors attended the first annual Montgomery FunFest, held at the Princeton Airport, on Sunday.
It was billed as offering a day of family, food, fun, and entertainment. Coordinated and hosted by the Montgomery Business Association, the goal of the event was to create a town tradition that local residents from Montgomery and surrounding towns will come to each year.
Over one hundred members of the local businesses, restaurants and community organizations participated in the day's events. There was live music, as well as live dance performances, which were held on two stages and at the Hospitality Tent. The Montgomery Business Association held a raffle and visitors had the opportunity to check out the vintage autos, which were on display along the airport road.
The Montgomery Business Association also invited the participation of Montgomery school district bands, choirs, arts, clubs and sports organizations. The Montgomery High School Dance Team performed at the Hospitality Tent, as well as on stage.
Volunteer youth from Montgomery and Princeton Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops provided traffic directions and acted as good will ambassadors during the event. The Montgomery Fire and Rescue teams were present to meet visitors as well as provide assistance, if necessary.
There were many opportunities to sample a variety of food products, from traditional fare to a popular cupcake truck, to a fine dining experience in one of the airport's hangers. Children events included face painting, martial arts demonstrations, arts and crafts, inflatable bounce houses, hula hoops for dancing to the bands and free balloons. Families also had an opportunity to sit in a vintage airplane, as well as to take a helicopter ride.
Members of two Performance Companies from The Dance Factory, Skillman, provided three dance performance routines; including one performance by the Elite Performance Company. The Elite Performance Company is comprised of a group of highly skilled and committed performance dancers.
Matti Walsh, a 10th grade student at Montgomery High School has been involved in performance dancing for 14 years. Megan Weekes, another 10th grade student at Montgomery, has been dancing 12 years. Julie Kazmierczak, a ninth grade student at Montgomery High School, has been performing 10 years.
Katie Vanderkam, a senior at Princeton High School has been a member of the Elite Performance Company for 14 years. They were in the Dance Factor Elite Performance Company when it performed at the Miss America Parade in Atlantic City in 2014.
As part of The Dance Factory's commitment to community service, a performance team of youth dancers spent part of the summer perfecting a new dance routine at the dance school in the mornings. Then they performed at local senior citizen facilities in the afternoon. As recognition of their community service, they were invited to perform at a pre-opening event at a Somerset Patriot's evening game.
While the sky was sometimes overcast and it rained occasionally, the first annual Montgomery FunFest attracted a large crowd who were not deterred by the weather. Children and adults appeared to be enjoying all of the various opportunities for exploration and entertainment.