9th Annual Candlelight Concert: 9/26/09 at Village Park

[Guest]

SAVE THE DATE! The Cranbury Arts Council will host their 9th Annual Candlelight Concert, and their first ever Music FESTIVAL, on Saturday, September 26, 2009 in Village Park. The Festival will begin in the early to mid-afternoon and will continue into the evening.

http://www.cranburytownship.org/candlelight_concert_2009.html

[bumpkin]

Will there be refreshments available at this event? If not, perhaps some of our local businesses can setup food tents to help promote their respective shops. For example, it would be nice to see a Teddy's tent or a Blue Rooster tent or even a Cranbury Delights tent for that matter. By partnering with Main Street establishments, you would create a true community/small business bond.

[great idea!]

[Guest]

Thank you! I've already spoken to the Cranbury Delights owners and they said they could provide a whole host of items such as hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, beverages, etc. I'm sure if asked, they would be ready to set up shop.

[taste of Cranbury]

That is a good idea and the event could be like a Taste of Cranbury just like they have in larger cities.

[Guest]

Yes, "A Taste of Cranbury" .... love it! Who would the local establishment contact to see if there's any interest in having them set up?

[Guest]

Just an idea, but maybe the CBA and Arts council could work together on this. The CBA runs Cranbury Day, but this is nothing like that in terms of size or work.

[Guest]

[Cant Wait for Cranstock]

Saw signs in town that the Cranstock is from 1pm - 10 pm on 9/26 in the village park.

MORE INFO found in the Cranbury Newsletter:
The Cranbury Arts Council will host the 9th Annual “CRANSTOCK” Music
Festival on Saturday, September 26, in Village Park.The Festival will begin in the early afternoon and will continue into the evening. Local talent including the PHS a cappella men‘s group, The Testostertones, Exit 8A, a PHS sophomore rock and roll band, original music by SELKOW, Steven Sczepanik, the fabulous sounds of Cranbury Jazz, the popular dad‘s group, the Crandaddies as well as other performers throughout the day and evening. The Festival will culminate with a
final performance from the Robert Murdock Band and their tribute to the British Invasion, playing choice songs from the 60‘s through today. Look for the full performance schedule in early September. Plan to pack a picnic, bring the family and a flashlight, and join the Cranbury Arts Council for another gathering in the park and an evening under the stars.

http://www.cranburytownship.org/newsletter-2009-FALL.pdf

[Guest?]

It sounds like this is going to be pretty big. Does anyone have estimates about how many people are going to attend?

[bumpkin]

[Arlo]

[Cranbury Press]

Annual concert grows into music festival
Village Park to host 'Cranstock'
Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:12 PM EDT
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer

CRANBURY — The Cranbury Arts Council, which typically invites a band or two to play during its Candlelight Picnic Concert, is putting a new spin on the day, hosting an all-day festival Sept. 26 and calling this year’s event “Cranstock.”

”Coincidentally, the year of our first festival is the year the 40th anniversary of Woodstock is being celebrated so how could we not call it Cranstock?” said Debbie Rifkin, a member of the council.

”Last year, we moved to Village Park,” said Joanne Hanson, president of the council. “This year, there were so many bands that wanted to play, we thought, ‘why not let them all play?’”

Headlining Cranstock is the returning Robert Murdock Band, a group that covers British invasion tunes ranging from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones.

From jazz to a cappella to modern rock, event planners have organized a lineup of local favorites, including the Crandaddies, Cranbury Jazz, Selkow, Exit 8A, Steve Czepanik and the Testostertones.
”They’re local, and we want to support them and their music, and that’s part of the Arts Council’s mission,” Ms. Hanson said.

Fifteen-year-old Alex Rifkin, a member of Exit 8A, said he’s excited at the prospect of being on stage, unlike previous years when he’s watched from the crowd.

”We’re four sophomores,” he said, adding his group has a “punk-rock feel” and looks to bands like Green Day for inspiration. “We play mostly cover songs, but we just started writing some of our own.”

While Cranstock will be the largest event that some of these bands have ever played, some of the more seasoned performers are looking forward to performing in front of a large audience again.

”We’ve definitely developed a following,” said John Lecky, who plays piano with a group of his fellow Cranbury fathers in Crandaddies, an eight-member classic rock cover band. “We have fun on stage, and I think people see that, and that adds a lot to the music.”

Cranstock is a free event although the council will be taking donations. It starts at 1 p.m. and is expected to run until about 10 p.m. at Village Park, 38 Maplewood Ave.

The council is not planning for a rain date, and visitors who plan to stay for the after-dark performances are encouraged to bring a flashlight.

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/09/17/cranbury_press/lifestyle/doc4ab2983848726962551878.txt