The Everything Jersey City Festival
Last Updated: April 18, 2008
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The Central Avenue SID (CASID), the City of Jersey City, and County of Hudson are pleased to announce plans to hold the first annual Everything Jersey City Festival from 11 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, May 17, 2008. The festival is anticipated to welcome 5,000-10,000 people from all over the area to Central Avenue, where they can enjoy the following attractions:
- FREE CONCERT - three stages of music and entertainment
- rides and activities for the kids
- demonstrations by local dance troupes, martial arts schools and public safety officials
- hundreds of exhibitors, including local businesses, artists, crafters, non-profit/civic organizations and vendors from around New Jersey
The Everything Jersey City Festival will be a great opportunity for the entire Jersey City community to come together in pride & harmony to enjoy a fun day with family, friends and neighbors. No admission will be charged, and local businesses, artists and organizations will be able to exhibit at very reasonable introductory rates.
The festival is organized by the Central Avenue SID Management Corp., in partnership with Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and the City of Jersey City Municipal Council, Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise and Board of Chosen Freeholders. Paid for in part by the State of New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Program. Hosted by Heights Councilman Steve Lipski (Ward C) and Councilman Bill Gaughan (Ward D).
This page will be updated with details about the festival as they become available, so check back often.
- Read the latest festival press release.
- Read the festival edition of the Heights News.
- Read the festival news story from the Jersey Journal.
Entertainment Information
From local favorites to nationally-known acts, there will be something for everyone on the two main festival stages!
- The Legendary Teenagers - World-famous doo-wop group performing their hit "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
- Ray Rodriguez y Swing Sabroso - Salsa Dura para bailar!
- Amy Speace - Catchy Americana with indelible hooks, sharply observed lyrics and a gritty urban edge
- Runaway Orange - Radio-friendly pop-rock for everyone!
- Surati - Traditional and contemporary Indian dance and music led by founder-director Rimli Roy
- The Eamonn Ryan Band - Not your father's Irish band!
- BuzzUniverse - An eclectic blend of rock, jazz, latin & world grooves
- D. Plumbers - Rollicking Western Tex-Jazz-a-Billy!
Also look for demonstrations by Don & Rosita Dance Studio, Jang Star Taekwondo School, the Kennedy Dancers, and Family Fitness Martial Arts.
Be sure to stop by the Lincoln Street Stage, sponsored by Nino's Shoes, where DJ Commandante and guests Willie Moreno, NJ4, El Intocable and RNS will get you dancing in the street with karaoke and more!
And check out the following community activities that will be taking place throughout the day:
Jersey City Reservior Tours - 1:00, 3:00, 5:00
Meet at Central Ave. and Zabriskie St. (north side)
Offered by the Jersey City Reservior Preservation Alliance
Heights Historical Landmarks Tour - 1:00
Meet in front of Capital One Bank (Central Ave. and Bowers St.)
Offered by the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy
Professional Cake Decorating Demonstration - 2:00
Goehrig’s Bakery Booth (near Thorne St.)
Student Showcase at the Hope Center for Visual and Performing Arts - All Day
110-116 Cambridge Ave. (through municipal parking lot next to 356 Central Ave.)
The CASID Thanks Our Event Sponsors:
Please visit our supporting sponsors with the links below:
Businesses and organizations who become sponsors of the Everything Jersey City Festival will enjoy a wide range of promotional benefits in conjunction with the festival marketing campaign. If you or your business or organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, please review the Sponsorship Opportunities package (PDF Download) and contact Brittany Hopkins, CASID Director, at (201) 656-1366 or bh@jcheights.com.
Exhibitor Information
4/23/08: Exhibitor registration for the 2008 Everything Jersey City Festival is CLOSED. Thanks to all who applied! Accepted exhibitors will receive their entry passes and logistical information in the mail shortly. If you would like to be put on the exhibitor mailing list for next year's festival, please email your contact information to bh@jcheights.com
Note: All exhibitors are required to have and provide their own canopy and at least one table. Non-food exhibitors can purchase a standard 10x10 ft canopy from the Kennedy Department (270 Central Ave.) for only $55 while supplies last. Food vendors are required to have a fire resistant canopy which can be rented from All Star Rentals (mention Everything Jersey City Festival). To contact All Star Rentals, call: (973) 591-1333.
FOOD VENDORS: Please carefully review the fire and health safety guidelines from the City of Jersey City, which you will be expected to adhere to at the festival.
Getting to the Festival
Festival attendees are highly encouraged to take advantage of Jersey City’s extensive mass transit system to get to Central Avenue on May 17:
Coach USA bus routes: 10 and 99s to Central and Manhattan and detour along Summit
NJ Transit bus routes: 87 to Central and Manhattan, 83 to Summit and Bowers, 85 to Central and Congress
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to the 9th Street-Congress Street station - take the elevator to Congress Street and take the FREE shuttle to Central Avenue
PATH to Journal Square - take 10/99s towards New York or 87 bus towards Hoboken
Park and Ride: A shuttle will be available for festivalgoers who park in the Hudson County lot at Central Avenue and Hoboken Avenue. Limited parking will be available in municipal lots near Central Avenue (see map).
Visit www.CoachUsa.com and www.NJTransit.com for schedules and fares. For driving directions to Central Avenue, click here.
Volunteer Information
FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED! There are lots of ways you can help out at the festival - be an ambassador for the bands or the VIPs, be a monitor to keep the fun stuff like the kiddie rides safe, or be a Block Captain and keep the exhibitors in line and the crowds informed! We’ll be sure to give you a thank-you gift and some time off to enjoy the festival, too. Volunteers are needed to take one or more shifts (3-4 hours) during the day – to sign up, just email your name, contact info and the times you'll be available on May 17 to bh@jcheights.com. If you know of a group of potential volunteers, you can download and print the form below and have them send it in.
Volunteer Sign-Up Form (PDF Download)
Community Advisories
ATTENTION HEIGHTS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES
- Central Avenue will be closed to traffic between Hutton Street and South Street from 7 am to 8pm on May 17th to allow for setup and cleanup. Bowers Street will be open to westbound traffic across Central Avenue. Other side streets adjacent to Central Avenue between Hutton Street and South Street will be closed to all traffic. Police officers will be posted at each closed intersection to assist residents of the closed streets in accessing their homes.
- Parking will be prohibited on Central Avenue and short portions of some side streets during the street closure. Municipal lots will be open to the public. Every effort is being made to encourage festival visitors to take public transportation to the festival to ease the strain on parking near Central Avenue.
- Coach USA bus routes 10 and 99s will be rerouted around the closed portion of Central Avenue during the street closure.
- Central Avenue businesses will be open during the festival, but due to festival traffic, you are highly encouraged to run your weekly errands before May 17.
The one-day inconvenience of the street closure will be offset by the many positive impacts of the festival, including the many family-friendly attractions that will be brought to Central Avenue, the opportunity for local non-profit and civic organizations to fundraise, and the boost for local businesses who participate as exhibitors.
The CASID appreciates the interest of the Jersey City community in bringing a memorable festival to Central Avenue. We thank you in advance for your patience and contribution to the festival. Check back again soon for more news and updates as we plan for May 17th!