Arts in the Park returns for lucky number seven

For the seventh year in a row, downtown will be given over this weekend to a celebration of all things artsy. Arts in the Park, Highland Park’s annual arts festival, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this Sunday, September 25, along Raritan Avenue between Second and Fifth Avenues.

The showcase of Highland Park as “Rutgers’ Left Bank Community” (as James McCrone of Main Street Highland Park is fond of saying) will offer paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, photos, food, music and more.

“This is a community of creativity, multiculturalism, and a vibrant downtown business district,” said Paul Lanaris, acting executive director of the non-profit downtown revitalization group.

MSHP's free community event will take place rain or shine. Event organizers expect the cultural festival to attract thousands of art and music lovers from central New Jersey.

The street fair, which will feature more than 60 artists as well as a number of community groups and local businesses and restaurants, will allow artists to display and sell their works as well as enter into a juried art show.

Arts in the Park will also feature live entertainment, with two music stages featuring jazz, rock, folk, and bluegrass performances, and a spoken word stage.

Resident and local preschool owner Grace Puleo has organized a large Kids Zone that will include a chalk mural, temporary tattoos, arts and crafts, face painting, music and dance demos, and more – all provided by local businesses.

“We want people to think of our town as a place to visit for a unique experience – whether it is shopping for specialty gifts, eating an authentic meal, or relaxing in a yoga class,” said Main Street's Lanaris. “We want to show people what we have to offer and showcase a talented group of artists.”

Arts in the Park is co-sponsored by Unity Bank, the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Cyber Knight Computers, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

“It's hard to believe it has been seven years since the first Arts Fest,” said Rachel Ruggieri, another of the event's volunteer organizers. “I love this town for its creative spirit and this event really allows us to shine and promote our diverse business district.”