The Moorestown Business Association as an array of Autumn events for residents.
As the temperature starts to drop and leaves begin to change colors, Moorestown will welcome in autumn once again. With a new season comes a variety of events to spice things up for residents this fall.
The Moorestown Business Association will kick off its array of autumn events with Ladies Night Out on Thursday, Oct. 4. Melissa McGrath, chair of Ladies Night Out, said the event began three years ago as a way to give mothers and working women a chance to get together with friends and sit down at a local Main Street restaurant for a quiet, uninterrupted meal and stroll down Main Street.
The evening is a way for people to stroll and shop down Main Street with the shops remaining open later than usual and offering promotions.
”So many times women are accompanied by children and significant others and are on limited time,” McGrath said. “We encourage ladies to take this time for themselves.”
McGrath said the night’s festivities will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature music and a raffle for a basket of Main Street gift cards valued at approximately $300. She said the MBA has seen success with the event in year’s past because the weather is still warm, and the fun nature of the event attracts residents.
The MBA’s premier event of the season comes on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the annual “Autumn in Moorestown: Crafts, Cruise and Brews” festival shuts down Main Street. The event’s chair, Russ Nesevich, said they added the subtitle to represent the craft and art vendors, the car show and the craft beers.
This year, the festival will feature more than 70 local art and food vendors, and the car show component is being run by High-Octane South Jersey, a car club run by Moorestown resident Chris Scafario.
Nesevich said Autumn in Moorestown has been a success for many years now, so they weren’t looking to make any major modifications. He said they’ve changed the music around and are using a different car club than in prior years. However, the most notable change to Autumn in Moorestown is that craft beer and wine will be available with taps opening at 11 a.m.
“The people that already live or shop or dine here know what a great town it is, but there are lots of people who don’t make it a point to come to Moorestown,” Nesevich said. “We wanted to give them multiple reasons to do that, so, whether you’re into crafts and local artisans, exotic cars or listening to a fun band while trying beer from a local brewery, we wanted to give everyone a reason to come out — the more the merrier.”
Nesevich said there are a variety of reasons why people should attend. He said they can do some early holiday shopping for unique gifts from craft vendors and artists, have a nice meal from the food vendors or local restaurants, try some locally brewed beer, take in great music and check out cars people don’t get to see every day. The festival will also feature a number of activities for kids, including a stilt walker, puppeteer and henna tattoos.
On Friday, Nov. 2, the MBA will kick off the holiday season with Candlelight Night from 5 to 9 p.m. along Main Street.
“Candlelight Night is the kickoff to the holiday season in Moorestown,” said George Softly, chair of the event. “We use the ambiance and charm of candlelight to make Main Street glow, along with horse-drawn carriage rides, live music performances, and special games and events for all.”
Softly said Candlelight Night is special because of the old world experience from the time Moorestown was founded. He said there will be a horse-drawn carriage, the glow of the candlelit streets and the sound of carolers in the air.
“You can almost feel how it must have been so long ago,” Softly said. “I think the nostalgia, the events and the candlelight along the street really provide lots of entertainment, shopping, and a warm personal experience on our Main Street.”
The evening will also feature new musical talents, local artists and craftspeople — many of whom are from Moorestown.
Nesevich said the MBA has always tried to give people a reason to come to Main Street. So whether it’s “Moorestown Day” or “Autumn in Moorestown” or “Candlelight Night,” the events are successful because people and businesses in Moorestown take a tremendous amount of pride in the community.
“When you give them a reason to come out and celebrate that community, you can’t help but have a successful event,” Nesevich said.
For more information on any of the MBA’s fall events, visit https://moorestownbusiness.com.
