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Getting ready for the Autumn Lights Festival

| 20 Sep 2012 | 01:41
    Wall to Wall, street to street people at West Milford's Autumn Lights Festival on Saturday, 10/10/09. The road was closed to vehicular traffic from Bearfort Shopping Village to the intersection of Union Valley and Marshall Hill Road. West Milford residents and visitors enjoyed the street fair - made even more special this year as the town celebrates its 175th Anniversary.
    Wall to Wall, street to street people at West Milford's Autumn Lights Festival on Saturday, 10/10/09. The road was closed to vehicular traffic from Bearfort Shopping Village to the intersection of Union Valley and Marshall Hill Road. West Milford residents and visitors enjoyed the street fair - made even more special this year as the town celebrates its 175th Anniversary.

WEST MILFORD — Get ready for the township's Autumn Lights Festival (ALF). ALF will be held on Saturday Oct. 13, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The volunteer committee has been working hard to make this year's event bigger and better than ever. With over 15,000 people in attendance at last year's festival, expectations are that over 20,000 people will attend this year.
"With so many people in attendance at last year's festival, it became harder to find parking," said Erika Crocco, media coordinator for the festival. "The solution this year is that shuttle buses are now being offered from PAL and Hillcrest Community Center on the day of the event."
The shuttle buses will run all day, allowing people to come and go as they please and drop them off at the beginning of the festival site.
"Parking will be at PAL and Hillcrest and we hope that a lot of people will take advantage of the shuttles to make parking and transportation around the festival easier," Crocco said.
In addition to the shuttles, more vendors are expected this year and a lot of the popular vendors are back as well. Take your time and browse the items vendors are offering as you walk down Union Valley Road on what we hope will be a beautiful day, just like last year's.
"We have been very successful in the past with sunshine and warm weather and we hope that will continue this year," Crocco said. "Come and savor your favorite foods from Italian ices to pizza, from hot dogs to sausage and peppers and of course the Presbyterian Church's famous barbecue."
And there will be lots of local entertainment on all four of the stages. Maybe this year you will try your hand (or should we say mouth) at one of the eating contests. This year, in addition to the pickle and spaghetti eating contests, there will be a pie eating contest.
Enter your baby in the cutest baby contest or submit a photo to the Barbara Welkey Photo Contest.
The little ones will have a ball as the "jumpies" and "inflatables" are back this year with even more choices. Pinecliff Lake will hold its antique car show and, as always, 4-H will have a lot of hands on exhibits for all.
There are very few vendor spots remaining, but no more food vendors are being accepted. Vendors may obtain an application and a hold harness at www.autumnlightsfestival.com. A current list of vendors can be found at that same Web site.
Mark your calendars for ALF 2012, Saturday, Oct. 13. There is something for everyone at this uniquely West Milford festival.