Summer’s officially here and for Evesham that means plenty of excuses to get out of the house and enjoy the summer fun.
Once again kicking off the summer activates in town will be Evesham’s annual Fourth of July festivities.
As always, Evesham will celebrate the nation’s independence with events to last all day long throughout the Fourth of July holiday, starting in the early morning with the annual Mayor’s Cup 5K Run / 1 Mile Fun Run on Monday, July 4.
This year marks the ninth iteration of the event, and participants can pre-register through a link at www.eveshamcelebrations.org until June 30 for a 5K fee of $25 or 1 mile fee of $20.
Registration will also be available the day of the event starting at 7 a.m. at the Main Street Fire House, with the event itself beginning at 8:30 a.m. and an awards ceremony to be held afterward at 9:30 a.m.
The registration fee on the day of the event for the 5K will rise to $30.
Once the racers and walkers have had their fun, at 10 a.m., kids can register for the annual Kid’s Bike Parade down Main Street that will take place at 10:30 a.m.
Children up to grade five can ride in the parade using their normal or decorated (safe and operational) bikes, or parents may push children in strollers or wagons.
The short course takes kids from the Main Street Firehouse down to the Wiley Home at Plymouth Avenue, and as always parents are welcome to walk alongside their child.
After the kids have had their parade, the township’s annual Independence Day Parade will begin down Main Street at 11 a.m.
Prime viewing locations along Main Street fill quickly, so residents are advised to arrive early to pick a spot.
Residents can once again cap off their day with the annual fireworks celebration at Cherokee High School.
The school will open at 7 p.m. to allow residents to enjoy local vendors, with the fireworks display beginning at 9:30 p.m.
The Evesham Police Department has also developed a traffic plan for exiting Cherokee following the fireworks show.
Guests can view the parking map through a link on the ETPD Facebook page.
Police will have Marlton Parkway closed from Tomlinson Mill Road to Wescott Road during and after the fireworks from 9:15 to 11:30 p.m.
Summer concerts
Once the Fourth of July has passed, residents won’t have to wait long for Evesham’s other summer tradition — summer concerts.
As in previous years, Evesham Township and The Promenade at Sagemore will hold two separate concert series for residents to enjoy.
As in years past, Evesham Township’s eight-week series of concerts will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday nights throughout July and August at the Gibson House Community Center.
• On July 11 residents can listen to the Mummers of the Fralinger Stringband play upbeat songs.
• On July 18 residents will experience the Timeless Tunes Trio, who play Motown and rock standards, along with hits from 50s through the 80s.
• July 25 will bring the Sounds of Sinatra, which features songs from one of New Jersey’s most famous solo-artists.
• On Aug. 1 residents can listen to the High Noon Express, who continue to promote the band as “the little band with a big sound.”
• On Aug. 8 the band Unforgettable will perform its brand of soft classics.
• Aug. 15 brings the Texas Wranglers Band for bluegrass and country hits.
• On Aug. 22 Jim Laurie of Jim Laurie Entertainment will perform his solo piano songs for residents.
• Wrapping up the series on Aug 29 is another Mummer show with the Gloucester City Stringband,
For additional information about the 2016 Evesham Summer Concert Series, contact the Evesham Township recreation department at (856) 985–9792.
For the Promenade at Sagemore, the series is running from July 6 to Aug. 31 every Wednesday night from 6:30 through 8:30 p.m.
• Kicking off the series on July 6 is The Beat Tells, a Beatles tribute band.
• July 13 will bring singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Gaines
• On July 20 the Vanessa Collier Blues Band will showcase some blues tunes with elements of funk, rock and soul.
• On July 27 longtime rock band The Peace Creeps will help finish off July.
• On Aug. 3 The Swinging Foxes will deliver boogie-woogie, jazz, and rhythm & blues.
• Aug. 10 will bring Sons of Pitches and some country-jazz sounds.
• The Ginger Coyle Band will perform on Aug. 17 with a jazz-piano-pop fusion.
• On Aug. 24 the Shaun Ruymen Band will have singer and songwriter Shaun Ruymen play his pop, folk and rock songs.
• On Aug. 31 the Summer Concert Series will conclude with a “soul celebration” when All Souled Out plays.
The Promenade at Sagemore is located in Marlton along Route 73. For more details on the shows, call (856) 985–3846 or visit www.thepromenadenj.com.
