Mercer County Park to Host Cultural Festivals

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the Mercer County administration.

Mercer County and the surrounding areas boast a dizzying array of ethnicities, languages, religions and beliefs. In celebration of this great richness of culture, a series of cultural heritage festivals will take place at Mercer County Park on Old Trenton Road in West Windsor in September and October.

On Sept. 1 and 2, the 10th Grand Indo-American Fair will take place at Mercer County Park. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend to celebrate and explore cultural delights of South Asia.

The event will draw many talented artists and performers as well as vendors from many states, and will showcase Indian art, jewelry, traditional dress, paintings and brass work. Admission is $2. The event is organized by Shirdi Sai Dham, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information, the organization can be reached at (609) 240-2350 or (609) 865-7773.

On Saturday, Sept. 8, the Mercer Irish Fest will be held at Mercer County Park in the West Picnic Area beginning at 10 a.m. The festival, sponsored by the Trenton Irish Heritage Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, will provide entertainment for all ages, many vendors of Irish goods, cultural education and performances by local bands. Admission is $5.

Central Jersey is also well known for its large Italian-American population, the culture of which will be celebrated at the 13th annual Italian American Festival of Mercer County, which will take place at Mercer County Park on Sept. 27, 28, 29 and 30.

The four-day extravaganza, organized by the Mercer County Italian-American Festival Association, will feature a piazza of delicious Italian food, an Italian market, a heritage pavilion with more than 200 displays of memorabilia of famous Italian-Americans and other Italian products, a bocce area, a cultural theater, folk dancers and singers, big band music, opera, well-known performers, amusement rides and a fireworks display. Admission is $3 and children 12 and under can attend for free. For more information, visit www.italianamericanfestival.com.

To cap off the season, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the Board of Chosen Freeholders will present the annual Mercer County Cultural Festival, also at Mercer County Park, on Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The festival will celebrate diverse cultures through traditional food, live music and dance performances, and will also feature artists exploring their heritage in their art and crafts. Admission and parking are free. In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled to Oct. 14. For more information, or if you are interested in being a vendor, please call (609) 278-2712, e-mail culturalfestival@mercercounty.org or visit www.mercercounty.org.