LAMBERTVILLE - The Shad Festival, now in its 36th year, has evolved from a local art show into one of the biggest spring festivals in the Garden State.
American shad are caught in the spring as they travel up the Delaware River from the Atlantic Ocean to lay eggs in the place they were born. Just when they start their run depends on the weather.
The festival, being held 12:30-5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, drew an estimated 30,000 people last year.
Besides the chance to eat plenty of shad, those attending the festival can peruse the work of 80 artists and crafters - from jewelry to ceramics, furniture to apparel and home decor, according to the Delaware River Towns Chamber of Commerce.
Food ranges from taco salads to fried calamari, in addition to favorites: shad chowder, hot dogs, fried Oreos, hamburgers, fries and fresh lemonade for the traditionalists. Wild Bill's Olde Fashion Soda will be there featuring homemade sodas like root beer, cream soda and sasparilla.
Another popular part of the festival is the poster display and auction.
Over 150 original art posters, created and donated by local artists, are on display during the weekend in the recreation room of the First Presbyterian Church, 31 N. Union St.
These posters will be auctioned off on Sunday at 3 p.m., with the money going to scholarships for students pursuing a collegiate career in the arts.
Local schoolchildren's posters will be on display at the Justice Center, 25 S. Union Street.
There will also be face painting, sand art and other children's activities, as well as rides. Shad seining demonstrations will take place at Lewis Island, where the Delaware River Basin Commission will also be teaching people about how to test water quality.
Shad Festival T-shirts are available online at the chamber website and will be available for sale at the festival. This year's presenting sponsor is the Hunterdon Medical Center Foundation.
Hunterdon Watercolor Society artists with Shad Fest poster donations are (front row, from left) Anne Sainz of Glen Gardner, Evelyn Voget of Annandale, Pam LaFevre of Milford and Gail Jorjenson of Milford. Pictured in the back row (from left) are Maureen Heritage of Bloomsbury, Norma Walako of Frenchtown, Carolyn Wagner of Whitehouse Station, Ruth Windsor of Frenchtown, Debbie Cortelyou of Bloomsbury, Brenda Bally of Flemington and Kay Casavantof Stockton. (courtesy photo)