Each summer, Cherry Hill Township holds a few events that bring residents together for an evening of music, food and camaraderie. Set against the backdrop of the Barclay Farmstead Museum, the township’s “Music Under the Stars” series offers four nights of music, food and community.
The series has been around since the early ’90s and has since grown to be a staple community event. On balmy summer evenings as the sun wanes, residents can make their way to the Barclay Farmstead Museum and listen to the sounds of local bands and other featured acts.
Ericha Farrington, special events coordinator for the township’s Recreation Department, said, in recent years, each concert has averaged somewhere between 400 and 500 people. She said the size of the crowd may fluctuate based on the bands they feature with tribute bands often drawing a larger audience.
Farrington said, to date, the community response to every show has been overwhelmingly positive. She said people are out of their seats singing and dancing throughout the evening.
“Everyone is having a good time,” Farrington said.
The event has grown in popularity to the extent that, instead of seeking acts, bands are now contacting the township asking to be featured. Farrington said they also give a fair bit of consideration to what’s popular at the time when scheduling the lineup. For instance, with The Rolling Stones currently on tour, they were eager to get Glimmer Twins, a Rolling Stones tribute band.
On July 9, the “Glimmer Twins” hope to give the audience some satisfaction, and “Jake’s Rockin Country Band” will take the stage on July 16. On July 23, the “Jersey Beach Boys,” a Beach Boys tribute band, will bring some good vibrations while “Don’t Call Me Francis” will finish out the series on July 30.
Farrington said they also work hard to promote local artists, and for that reason, they’ll offer the opener slot to residents. She said they have students from Cherry Hill West and other residents getting the evening started on all four nights.
But before the show gets underway, residents can also enjoy dinner. Food trucks and vendors will be on hand with the likes of Rob’s Craft Sandwiches, Mary’s Mobile Diner, Traveling Treatz and more offering up a variety of food. She said local businesses are happy to participate because they get to interact with the community and build relationships.
For those who have never been, the evening is also an opportunity to tour the Barclay Farmstead Museum, which is a more than 200-year-old piece of property. The site was built in 1816 by Joseph Thorn, a Quaker farmer, and is owned by the township. Barclay is listed on the National & New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
So residents should bring their chair or blanket and come prepared for dinner and show. Jodi Gilbert, the township’s public relations specialist, said it’s a chance to meet your fellow residents.
“It’s definitely a great community event where friends and family can come around and enjoy a summer evening with music, food trucks and get to hang with their neighbors,”
All Music Under the Stars will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Barclay Farms. All events are weather contingent. For more information on Music Under the Stars, call (856)488-7868 or email [email protected]. To find out more and to join the Facebook event, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2484399125181298/.
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