If you haven’t heard already, the weekend of Friday, June 10 marks the beginning of a very big event for the town. Regardless of weather, we will be hosting our first Hometown Street Fair, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday evening. After months of planning and preparation with the Town Council and various town departments, I can honestly say that I will be surprised if the scope, variety, and overall level of fun at our event does not put us – at the very least – on par with the best local celebrations in the state.

This fair will have something for everyone, so bring the whole family. If you have dinner plans for Friday evening, cancel them. If you were thinking about a nice picnic in Central Park, call it off. Planning to hit a concert? See a show? Maybe take the kids down the parkway to Great Adventure? I seriously advise against it. The First Annual Secaucus Hometown Street Fair will have everything you’d see at any of these places and then some. And you won’t have the hassle of getting into the city, waiting on lines at an amusement park, or sitting indoors at some stuffy venue.

What I’m talking about here is a real, old-time street fair, so one of the attractions has got to be food – lots of food. We have local restaurants and cultural organizations - as well as some terrific out-of-town groups – lined up to provide all types of cuisine for your sampling pleasure. Whether you’re looking to really pack it in or take it light, there will be plenty to choose from. Aside from the fare offered by our many local establishments, sausage and peppers, bracioles, cheese steaks, calzones, shish-ka-bobs, gyros, hot dogs, zeppoles, funnel cakes, cotton candy, snow cones, and various assorted vegetarian dishes are just some of the items on the menu.

The fair will have just as much to offer in the way of entertainment. If you’re the sporting type, we’ve got carnival games, games for kids, and other games of chance on the docket. I can’t promise anything, but you may even get a chance to drop your mayor into the dunk tank.

If you have children who need to blow off some steam, get them a bracelet for $6, and they can have fun on all of the rides and attractions – such as the moonwalk, obstacle course, and giant slide – for the whole weekend. Music will be a huge feature as well, with a line-up that includes a Mariachi band, an orchestra, two oldies groups, and a special outdoor audition for the National High School Teen Idol Contest. Teens ages 13-19 from all over the Hudson/Bergen region and beyond will put their talents on display, in hopes that they qualify for the final televised event (which will also be held in Secaucus, at the Arthur F. Couch Performing Arts Center, later in the summer).

To top it off, when you come out to celebrate with us, you will be among friends, family, and neighbors, and together you can all enjoy the camaraderie, atmosphere, and culture that is specific to this town. Where else can you get the entertainment of a street fair while appreciating the beautification efforts of local landscapers or witnessing the dedication of the town clock? The short answer is…nowhere.

So stay in town on June 10 (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and June 11 ( 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and come down to Plaza Centre and Front Street. Shop the wares of local artists and craftspeople, eat, drink, and be merry. And if you haven’t had enough after it’s all said and done, take the kids over to Harmon Meadow on Sunday, June 12 for the Kelly Miller Circus. Part of the proceeds from their two shows (2 p.m. and 5 p.m.) will benefit the Secaucus Animal Shelter.

I have to thank the street fair committee for their assistance in planning this tremendous event, and I cannot forget the Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center for co-sponsoring what I believe will be the first of many exciting annual street fairs in Secaucus. See you there.