Cozy Cranford packs fall with family fun

According to the Cranford Historical Society, Cranford got its name from the kids. At a Fourth of July picnic on Josiah Crane's farm, they jokingly chalked 'Craneville' in large letters on the side of a building. Decades later when the farm was sold for real estate, the name -- misspelled as Cranville --  had stuck. A century later, Cranford is still celebrating holidays of every season with just as much enthusiasm. All through October, Cranford residents and business owners compete to create the most inventive scarecrow for display throughout the downtown. With 111 scarecrows last year and growing, the scarecrows serve as a tour guide to the downtown.

With over five thousand votes tallied last year in the two categories (Best Scarecrow by a business or by a resident), even the world’s most famous scarecrow could see that this idea “had a brain.”
The downtown has mom-and-pop shops and also supports earth-friendly shopping and dining. Marino’s Seafood Market doubles as an eat-in restaurant; for under $12, taste the spicy crab bisque and fried haddock sandwich for one of the freshest and most simple seafood meals I’ve had to date. Rockin Joe Coffeehouse has united with Hanson Park Conservancy to donate coffee grounds for fertilizer. Try the Coca Mocha… an Almond Joy for java lovers. Buy fresh cracked wheat or apple pie bread, made from scratch and preservative-free, from Breadsmith, a European-style bakery.

Kilkenny House, an Irish pub that has been named one of the Top 50 Irish pubs by national newspaper Irish Echo, offers live music every Wednesday and Sunday. Or visit A Toute Heure, a neighborhood bistro that only uses locally grown and seasonal produce.
The scarecrow stroll is on display until October 31st, closely followed by the Family Friendly Bike Ride Sunday, November 8th.  From 9 to 11 AM, enjoy this five-mile ride through downtown and along the town's bike path. It's a great excuse to spend time outoors with the family before the fall season ends.
Be advised, outside the mid-October street fair and the bike ride, Sundays are pretty quiet in Cranford. Go celebrate the season during the week or on a Saturday. Josiah Crane would be proud!
To view a slideshow of last year’s scarecrow stroll visit the Cranford downtown website.

- Jen Legra