The Haddonfield Celebrations Association has been continuing the traditions of the borough for 75 years. The July 4 fireworks and parade, Halloween Parade and Holiday Tree Lighting are all a result of the dedication of a few individuals who have given their time to making Haddonfield a place people want to call home.
“We try to keep traditions alive,” Bob Stokes, a volunteer at the Celebrations Association for eight years, said. “These kinds of things are the reason why people live in Haddonfield and what sets us apart from many of the other communities around.”
The Celebrations Association is made up completely of volunteer residents, many of whom have been involved for long periods of time. One volunteer, Ginny DeLong, has been a member for 27 years.
“I’ve always been involved in the community,” DeLong said. “From the PTA to the Board of Education, I’ve tried to play a part in Haddonfield. These organizations allow us to present Haddonfield to the public at its best.”
The mission of the Celebrations Association is to keep the “small town America” feel Haddonfield is known for and to pass this on to the younger generations.
“The events we put on are all about bringing the community together,” DeLong said. “They are family gatherings that we hope will get the younger people in the borough excited about continuing these traditions.”
Operating completely independently, the Celebrations Association relies on fundraising and volunteer efforts. The borough provides a donation every year, but to raise the necessary funds, which can exceed $40,000, the Celebrations Association relies on donations and fundraising.
“It takes a lot of money to put on these events,” Stokes said. “Not only money, but it also takes a lot of time, and we’re always looking for new volunteers.”
The number of volunteers has been steadily decreasing in recent years, according to DeLong. She equates this decrease to the new generation.
“People are busier than ever,” she said. “A lot of people don’t have the time, but in order to keep these events going, we need to get more volunteers. The Celebrations Association has been able to survive for 75 years because we continuously pass the torch on to the next generation. But, if we don’t get more volunteers, these traditions might stop happening.”
The July 4 fireworks and parade is the first event every year for the Celebrations Association. This year’s fireworks will take place on July 3 at the high school and will feature entertainment by the Shore Thing starting at 7 p.m.. There will be no chairs allowed on the football field during the fireworks this year, however. Chairs will be allowed on the track around the field, but not on the field itself.
The parade will take place at 10 a.m. on July 4. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the formation of Haddon Fire Company №1, the theme for this year’s July 4 Parade is “Haddon Fire Co. №1 — Celebrating 250 years of Continuous Service.”
