Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove
By Brian LaMuraglia
Sunday’s 22nd annual Morristown Festival on the Green had some new features that are likely to become permanent: Extra police, police dogs, surveillance drones and sealed trash cans.
Yet while authorities were on heightened alert in the wake of the previous weekend’s bombings in Seaside Park and Manhattan’s Chelsea section, those frightening events did not appear to scare off visitors.
A large crowd flocked to the historic Green to enjoy music, food and fun under clear blue skies and a warm September sun.
“I didn’t think twice about an attack,” said Carmen Williams, 47, grandmother to Surai, 4, and D’nasia, 9 months. “It’s unfortunate what happened, but we can’t live our lives scared of being attacked.”
The Morristown resident and her grandkids joined thousands of others who ambled by tents and booths of 160 exhibitors and local restaurants, and four stages with live music, live animals and children’s shows.
Visitors could find everything from fusion Mexican-Japanese food to Seeing Eye puppies and Arctic foxes. There were inflatable slides, rock-climbing and mini-train rides, too.
And this year, there were plenty of signs from police reminding guests: “Report suspicious activity.”
Slideshow photos by Katharine Boyle
“We have plenty of security,” said Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty. “We have security you don’t see, on every corner, near every garbage can, we have security on the rooftops. It’s very secure.”
Karen Carvelli of the Morristown Partnership, the business organization that runs the festival, said there were no thoughts about rescheduling after the incidents of the previous weekend.
Instead, the staff met three times with police to go over procedures, she said.
Metal garbage cans in the middle of the Green were closed with tape and replaced with cardboard receptacles.
Law enforcement personnel were seen piloting small remote-controlled drones over the crowd.
“It’s terrific. We couldn’t ask for a better day,” said Partnership Chairman Phil DelGuidice. “We took extra precautions, and beefed up staff with the police. We’re being proactive.”
“It’s a pretty big crowd this year,” said Vincent Cattano of the Morristown United Methodist Church, which staffed a table outside.
“It’s busy,” said Marty Epstein of Marty’s Reliable Cycle. “My voice has gone hoarse from talking to so many people.”
MORE FROM THE 2016 FESTIVAL ON THE GREEN
Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin
