Community Celebration with an Economic Stimulus
JERSEY CITY, NJ – Festival Chairman Michael Yun (Central Avenue SID) and co-chair Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy are pleased to announce that the kickoff and banner-raising event for the second annual Everything Jersey City Festival took place on Wednesday, March 25 at 11 AM at the intersection of Central Avenue and Bowers Street in Jersey City. In addition to the co-chairs, Freeholder Anthony Romano, Councilman-at-Large Peter Brennand and Councilman Bill Gaughan were in attendance along with festival headliner Judy Torres and many festival sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors and fans.
“The Everything Jersey City Festival will provide a vital boost for local businesses and the arts in Jersey City,” said Mayor Healy. “I can’t think of a better way to showcase our many outstanding artists, musicians, businesses and community organizations.”
“This year’s festival will be all about family fun and providing a much-needed stimulus for Jersey City’s economy,” said Yun. “We’ve got something for everyone, from kids to music lovers to bargain-hunters.”
The Everything Jersey City Festival will take place on Central Avenue between Hutton and Congress Streets on Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 11 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free, and the festival is handicap accessible. The festival will feature two stages of free music concerts, including performances by “Queen of Freestyle” Judy Torres, CHOICE, Wayne Gorbea’s Salsa Picante, Angels Caribbean Band, The Doughboys, Celtic Cross, Blue Number Nine, Xol Azul, Cantigas Women’s Choir, and the Actors Shakespeare Company at NJCU. More performances, tours and demonstrations will be announced in the coming weeks on www.JCHeights.com. Kids will be able to enjoy a rock climbing wall, moonwalk, super slide, petting zoo, obstacle course and roving entertainers.
The festival will also feature hundreds of premiere exhibitors including local artists, crafters, businesses, community organizations, and festival food vendors. A limited number of exhibitor spaces are still available; the exhibitor application can be downloaded on the festival website (www.JCHeights.com) or requested by calling (201) 656-1366. The deadline for exhibitor application submissions is Friday, April 10, 2009.
In addition to the typical festival offerings, the festival will feature a huge one-day sale (10% to 50% off) at select retail businesses on Central Avenue. “Taste of the Heights” gift certificates offering 50% off a full-course, sit-down meal at a participating Central Avenue restaurant will also be given out to the crowd.
The Everything Jersey City Festival is being organized by the Central Avenue Special Improvement District Management Corp. (CASID) in partnership with Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, the City of Jersey City Municipal Council and Division of Cultural Affairs, the Jersey City Urban Enterprise Zone Program, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Director Bill LaRosa and the Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs and Tourism. Individual sponsors include Congressman Steve Rothman, State Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, State Senator Nicholas Sacco, Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, Freeholder Jeff Dublin, Freeholder William O’Dea, Freeholder Eliu Rivera, Freeholder Anthony Romano, Councilman Bill Gaughan, and James Carroll. Additional sponsors include Baines Family Dental (386 Central Avenue), Cambio Newspaper, Christ Hospital, Coach USA, El Sabroso Restaurant (414 Central Avenue), Eye Contact Vision Center (368 Central Avenue), Hudson County Community College, Jersey City Parking Authority, Jersey Journal, Jon-Roc Music (255 Central Avenue), Liberty Academy Charter School, LibertyHealth, Milrose Consultants Inc., New Jersey Transit, Oritani Bank (348 Central Avenue), Panepinto Properties, Port Authority of NY and NJ, PSE&G, Renato’s Pizza Masters (278 Central Avenue), Richard Seltzer, Esq. (436 Central Avenue), State Farm Insurance (505 Central Avenue), Stop & Shop Supermarket (232 Central Avenue), Susan Newman Design Inc., The American Flag Company , The E-Spot (445 Central Avenue), The Hudson Reporter, Uniq Pets (457 Central Avenue), United Water, and United Way of Hudson County.