Tradition has it that the Fourth of July is the mid-point of the summer season and the countdown begins to Labor Day, when the season officially ends. It can be a bit melancholy for some—with half the summer already over. For others, it’s a time to jam in all the summer fun they can. I like to think that I’m of the latter mindset and we, at Main Street Vineland, still have a lot of summer fun in store for you. We’ve already experienced our wildly successful Cruise Down Memory Lane and our 5K Running the Ave events in June. Both events had record turnouts and a lot of excitement around them.

We announced recently that Members 1st of NJ Federal Credit Union will be the major sponsor of the Food Truck Festival on The Ave, which returns to downtown Vineland for the sixth year on Sunday, August 27, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. We’ve been hard at work tying everything up to make this food truck festival the best one yet. This sizzling mega-event, for which admission is free, is a highlight of the summer season and will feature over 25 food trucks and a packed lineup of continuous entertainment, including DJ Tony Gambino (Gambino Entertainment) and activities. In addition, activities in the Kid’s Corner will include games and other activities. Stop by and visit the various non-food vendors on site, as well as over 20 crafters. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

You can also take advantage of our downtown walking trails (Walk The Ave) and, while you’re doing so, stop into the various restaurants, stores, and other businesses on The Ave.

Meanwhile, we’re working on our later events—taking us into the fall and even the winter. We have our seventh annual Pumpkin Patch Party on Saturday, October 28, at the mini-parks, Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. Our Christmas Parade will be on Saturday, November 25 (rain date: November 26) on Landis Avenue. Finally, we’re already hard at work planning our third annual An Olde Fashioned Christmas on The Ave for December 1 and 2.

So, mark your calendars for all of these events and know that the fun is far from over.

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July is the month of our next group of quarterly team meetings. All teams will meet on Thursday, July 20, at noon at the VDID office and via Zoom. The organization team focuses on volunteerism and fundraising, Design Team works to make The Ave look the best it can be by enhancing its physical appearance. Some mural projects are being planned—part of our Urban Canvases on The Ave Mural Project—as well as other beautification projects. The promotions Team works on planning and executing events, and the Economic Vitality Team works on business recruitment, training, and assistance.

All our teams meet quarterly on the third Thursday of the month, at 12 p.m., at the Main Street Vineland office, 603 E. Landis Ave. You can join us in person or virtually on Zoom; let us know in advance so we can send you the link.