Deptford will host the free Jericho Neighborhood BBQ in the Jericho section’s Allen Park on Saturday, Sept. 16, from noon to 3 p.m.
Hundreds of people – all township residents are welcome – are expected to attend the event, which will include food, music and entertainment. Prior barbeques have taken place in Jericho once every few years.
“Jericho is one of the oldest and original neighborhoods in Deptford,” said Mayor Paul Medany. “It’s full of new folks that have just moved in and older folks who have lived here their whole lives. It’s a nice neighborhood.”
Jericho sits near the town’s border with Woodbury Heights and is located between Tanyard and Glassboro roads. Allen Park sits along Mall Avenue.
The goals of the barbecue, according to Medany, are to build community spirit for Deptford by giving people the opportunity to meet council members and for Jericho residents to know their neighbors better.
“Events like these are extremely important to us (the council),” Medany explained. “Most people don’t normally get the chance to talk to their neighbors or meet the council because they’re busy. The barbeque gives people the chance to do this.”
The Jericho event is the third and final one in a series of neighborhood barbeque and block parties that occurred in July in Locust Grove and earlier this month in the Heritage Neighborhood Community. A new series will begin next summer, with dates and places to be determined.
The Jericho barbecue is also the last major summer event for Deptford, though there are still a number of events planned for the fall. They include the fall festival on Saturday Oct. 7; Trunk or Treat on Thursday, Oct. 26; and the Holiday Bazaar on Saturday Nov. 7.
“It’s all about building community spirit at the end of the day,” Medany noted. “It’s extremely important to us and we want people to be proud of Deptford.”
