Founder's Day Returns With A Delicious Twist This Year In Berkeley

BERKELEY, NJ — As Berkeley Township celebrates its 150th anniversary, the annual Founder's Day event offers a new and delicious twist: a Taste of San Gennaro festival.

"If any of you are from North Jersey or New York and remember the feast from back then, we're attempting our own version of the feast," Mayor John Bacchione explained at a recent Township Council meeting.

The two-day event falls on Sept. 20 and 21. It will be held at Veterans Park in Bayville. It starts at 12 p.m. both days and runs until 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday.

Enjoy live music by Slap-Happy and Garden State Groove on Saturday and a DJ on Sunday.

Along with tasty food trucks and tents, there will be craft vendors, inflatable rides, face painting and more.

For those over 21, there will also be a beer and wine garden.

Council President Angelo Guadagno, chairman of the Parks & Recreation Committee, noted that attendance at Founder's Day is often low with many families having sports events on the weekends this time of year.

"This is a great idea to attract more people to show up," Guadagno said.

If it goes well, it will return next year, according to Bacchione.

Bacchione emphasized that all are welcome.

"You do not have to be Italian to come," Bacchione joked. "Any nationality. Everyone's welcome."