The Health & HarvestFest drew hundreds of people to Springfield Avenue on a gorgeous, sunny fall Saturday to enjoy live music, games, kids activities, food, a cooking contest and more.
“We couldn’t have had a more beautiful day to celebrate the the harvest season and to promote a healthy lifestyle for the entire family, all in one family friendly event,” said Springfield Avenue Partnership’s Julie Doran. “Combining the Springfield Avenue Partnership’s HarvestFest with the the Maplewood Loves Wellness committee’s Health Fair proved very successful. The work of the organizers along with the support of our amazing sponsors and businesses, and a big assist from those in charge of the weather, came together to create our biggest and best Fall celebration yet!”
Springfield Avenue Partnership and the Maplewood Loves Wellness committee hosted the event, held at the Hilton Library Branch area & Gazebo grounds. Presenting sponsors were Natalie Farrell of Weichert Realtors, St. Barnabas Medical Center, Summit Medical Group and Overlook Medical Center | Atlantic Health System. The Gazebo stage was sponsored by BCB Community Bank of South Orange.
Activities for the kids included:
- Pumpkin patch and painting sponsored by Express Yourself Studios
- Bounce House sponsored by CKO Kickboxing of Maplewood
- Petting Zoo sponsored by Le Petit Academy & Meineke Car Care Center
- Pony Rides sponsored by Blue Life Karate, Tile Design Inspirations & Advance Auto Parts
Wristbands are sponsored by Woolley Fuel Oil - Other event activities including hula hoops and sidewalk graffiti are sponsored by Valentine Plumbing, Vanessa Pollock of KWR Midtown Direct Realty, Time to Clean and County to County Landscaping
- A chair yoga demonstration by Radiant Health Easy Yoga, time TBA.
Copies of Tastes of Maplewood | Healthy Cooking Recipes from Local Eateries, from Maplewood Loves Wellness were available.
Abril Cocina chef Mario Valdez
The Healthy Cooking Contest entrants were Pimento Grill, The Rack, Park Wood Diner, Abril Cocina, Lickt Gelato, Maplewood Pizzeria, Holly’s Fish Fry and returning champ Winchester Gardens.
Cooking Contest Winners:
- The Park Wood Diner in the entree category with a catfish dish
- Abril Cocina for best vegetarian dish, vegetable bean quinoa salad
- Winchester Gardens for best dessert with their Apple Crumble
Winchester Gardens chefs
Springfield Avenue Raffle Winners:
Park Wood Diner Gift Certificate: Susan Beatty Park Wood
Verjus Gift Certificate: Reesa Salomon
Di Pietro’s Foods Gift Basket: Janine Marley
Enjoy Claire Sinclair’s lovely photographs; click on any photo in the gallery to begin.
