The 34th Annual Shad Fest

It’s all about the shad this weekend in Lambertville as the 34th annual Shad Festival kicks off on April 25th & 26th.

Hunterdon County’s favorite outdoor festival of the year runs from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. And is filled with all kinds of fun like the area’s finest artists and crafters, great food live music and family entertainment, but the two-day extravaganza also serves as a venue for local non-profit organizations to raise necessary operating funds.

The American Shad is the largest fish in the herring family. Every spring, shad migrate from salt water to fresh water to reproduce. Fishermen call this the “annual spring shad run.”

Chefs prepare shad in a variety of ways. A lot of people like it smoked. One of the best local shad recipes is from Paul Eschallier of Bell’s Tavern – Shad & Shrimp Fritters.

Always in the mood for a celebration, Lambertville residents hosted the first Shad Fest in 1981 to highlight the local art scene. The Shad Fest tradition was born as spring blossomed, the shad made their way upriver, and the locals strolled through town enjoying the arts and crafts of their friends and neighbors. 32 years later, Shad Fest has grown from a local event to an award-winning tourist attraction.

Photo credit: http://www.shadfest.com/

In addition to the glorious music, the variety of food includes taco salads to fried Calamari, and favorites like shad chowder, hot dogs, fried oreos, hamburgers, fries and fresh lemonade. Face painting, sand art and fun and educational demonstrations near Lewis Island where the Delaware River Basin Commission will be teaching us about how to test water quality are also part of the event.

You can see this year’s official Shad Fest Posters here. Be sure to attend the artists opening reception, Friday Night, April 24th from 7-9 PM to get a first view of the exhibit and enjoy refreshments and noshes at the First Presbyterian Church Rec. Room on N. Union Street in Lambertville.

Shad Fest takes place rain or shine. Check out the live music line-up at key locations thorugh town below:

Live Music at Caffe Galleria
23 N. Union Street Street, Lambertville, NJ
Saturday