The fair’s in town!
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Watch: 10th Annual Fireman's Fair
Manasquan’s annual Fireman’s Fair running now through Saturday at Mallard Park
MANASQUAN — The annual Fireman’s Fair rolled into town in a blaze of glory on Tuesday, just as it has for the past 10 years, with a grand parade of fire trucks winding their way down Main Street to the fair grounds at Mallard Park.
The fair will run each night through Saturday, and feature rides, games and plenty of food and drinks provided by local vendors, including ice cold beer in the O’Neill’s Beer Garden.
The fair, which is sponsored each July by Manasquan Volunteer Engine Company No. 2, was resurrected in 1998 after interest in the event fell off 10 years earlier. Now, a decade after the tradition was restarted, the event is larger than ever, with up to 30,000 people visiting the fair in recent years.
This year’s event could be one for the record books, said Mayor George Dempsey, who has also been a member of Volunteer Engine Company No. 2 for nearly 50 years. The mayor attended the opening night festivities on Tuesday and said he saw thousands of revelers enjoying the rides, games and food in the midst of a picture-perfect summer night.
“I’ve been a fireman for almost 50 years, and it was one of the largest crowds we ever had for the fair,” Mayor Dempsey said. “It was well attended, there were no problems, and everything went very smoothly.”
The fair serves as the fire company’s largest fund-raiser of the year, and in recent years, has helped the company pay for additions and upgrades to its equipment and firehouse on Parker Avenue. This year’s fair committee includes Mike Galos, Jack Herbert, Jim Hofstetter, John White, George Stork, John Buckley, Dan West and Rob Clayton.
The fun is set to continue each night this week through Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m.
In addition to a large selection of rides and games, there will be a Super 50/50 raffle with a grand prize of up to $25,000, which will be drawn Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at the fairgrounds. The winner need not be present to win.
Tonight, D.J. Jersey Joe will spin tunes in the O’Neill’s beer garden, compliments of Coors Light and Shore Point Distributors. Entertainment will be provided through Saturday with a D.J. by D.C. Entertainment.
In addition to the O’Neill’s Beer Garden, plenty of food offerings are available at the fair’s food court, provided by a number of local restaurants. Joe Leone’s, Gee Gee’s Pizza, East Main Street Trattoria, Mileto Polish & Italian Gourmet, Jakes Cakes, John & Debbie O’s, Gourmet Barbeque, D&D Concessions and Dairy Queen will all be on hand, offering a wide variety of flavors to suit all tastes.
For the remainder of the fair, each night will be considered “Family Night” with $20 pay- one-price unlimited ride tickets available for purchase. There is also a $40 “Megapass” available, which will cover unlimited rides each night of the fair.
The fair takes place at Mallard Park, off South Potter Avenue in Manasquan.
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