HOWELL – Like many other town festivals scheduled for the summer and fall, Howell Day will not take place this year due to the conditions required for health safety concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.
Township Manager Brian J. Geoghegan said during an Aug. 11 council meeting that residents had been asking for weeks about the status of Howell Day, the township’s annual festival and salute to its heritage featuring vendors, attractions and showcases for various organizations in the community.
He told the mayor and council, “We are trying to have it but we are weighing a variety of factors; the expense to the township; whatever the governor’s orders may be at that given time so we have not made a final decision about that yet but we should be making a call on that in a week or so.”
In a week, they made that call.
“We have just this morning (Aug. 20) posted (to the township website and Facebook page) that Howell Day is cancelled this year due to the current Executive Orders in place,” Geoghegan told The Howell Times.
Geoghegan added, “we were hoping to still be able to have it. Unfortunately, we have reached a point where even if the Executive Orders changed, we could not possibly plan the event in such short time.”
The event was to have taken place next month. Last year’s Howell Day took place on Sept. 21 and like the many Howell Days of the past, it featured fun, food and entertainment. It was the first to also include a Green Fair. The event took place at the Soldier Memorial Park on Lakewood-Farmingdale Road.
Another special attraction featured last year was the Howell Municipal Alliance sponsored “I Am Talented Teen Music Festival.”
The Alliance sought out the many talented teens of the township for the festival. The Howell Alliance is part of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse municipal alliance program for community-based substance abuse prevention strategies.
The Alliance’s first festival was held at Howell Day in 2018 and performers played on a side stage but last year they had made their way to the main entertainment stage as a major attraction for Howell Day.
Alliance Coordinator Christa Riddle said the festival is used “as a way to promote the Alliance’s substance abuse prevention message while showcasing community youth’s talent, giving them a chance to shine and build confidence.”
“It gives youth a positive outlet and something to strive for while calling attention to the arts and creative outlets. Sometimes, kids with interests other than sports remain in the shadows, and we want them to have their moment in front of our community,” Riddle said. She was sorry to learn about Howell Day’s cancellation.
Others were also disappointed though understanding of the need to cancel the popular event which has drawn hundreds out to the park for a variety of activities.
Various businesses and organizations utilize the event to showcase their services and to introduce themselves to the community.
Among the many town based organizations present at last year’s event were members of the local Girl and Boy scouts, the Howell Police Athletic League and the Shade Tree Commission.
Members of VFW Post #9691 were busy promoting their building fundraising campaign at the time while various churches were present to promote themselves as well as some of their fall events. The Immanuel Bible Church in particular was promoting its annual Bluegrass Festival.
The Howell Police Dept. rolled out its vehicles and their officers greeted residents in an effort to get to know them better and to also remind residents about their annual Oktoberfest picnic that is another popular autumn event. First Aid Squad members and firefighters also showed off their rigs and trucks to the public as well. Fire prevention as well as fliers about recycling were also given out during the day.
Another traditional part of the event is that it allowed members of the respective Democrat and Republican clubs of the township to greet residents at their respective club tables where members could learn more about their organizations and information about candidates running for office.
Thanks to the coronavirus health crisis that has shut down much of the state since mid-March and has also hit local businesses hard, many other fall events enjoyed by residents may also be impacted or cancelled this year.
