MIDDLETOWN – The township has dedicated the third weekend in June to celebrating its official founding 350 years in 1664.
This jam-packed weekend will feature a formal gala, parade and burial of the Middletown 350 time capsule.
Expect heavy traffic delays Saturday on Tindall Road, Highway 35, Middletown Lincroft Road, Kings Highway, Church Street and the surrounding area from 10:30 am until approximately 1:15 pm. Detours will be in place. Motorists are urged to find alternative routes.
The festivities begin on Friday, June 20, at the Middletown 350 Anniversary Gala. The formal evening will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Middletown Arts Center. Tickets are $85 and include two glasses of wine or beer, dinner, dancing, a preview of the Middletown 350 Time Capsule, casino tables, and more than more 30 prizes donated by local businesses. Tickets can be purchased at www.middletownarts.org or in person at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street. Call 732-706-4100 for details.
The Middletown 350 Parade and Time Capsule Celebration begins with a parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at Middletown High School North, 63 Tindall Road. Hundreds of friends and neighbors will show their hometown pride by marching 1.6 miles along Tindall Road and across Route 35 into the oldest section of township, Middletown Village. The parade then continues along historic Kings Highway and down Church Street to Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church St. Call 732-615-2260 for information.
After the parade, a brief ceremony will be held on the lawn adjacent to the Middletown Arts Center to mark the burial of Middletown 350 Time Capsule. The ceremony is part of the Time Capsule Celebration. This family-friendly celebration begins at 11 a.m. on the arts center lawn and includes live entertainment and children’s activities. Food, drinks and snacks will be available for sale.
Free parking for the celebration will be available in the main parking lot at the Middletown Train Station.
The parade route will be closed to traffic as it travels along Tindall Road, across Route 35, to Kings Highway and Church Street. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes late morning and early afternoon.
The 50-year time capsule will be surrounded by an Anniversary Plaza, designed with personalized bricks. Donors who purchase a brick will have their special message be part of the plaza for years to come and also will help the Middletown Arts Council continue its mission of bringing enriching arts programming to the community.
Those interested in purchasing a brick can download an order form at www.middletownarts.org or visit the arts center.
Whirl Construction is donating labor and equipment needed to install the plaza and assist with digging the hole for the time capsule. Marturano Recreation Company (MRC) is donating two benches that will be installed at Anniversary Plaza.
The Middletown 350 Committee reserves the right to cancel the Middletown 350 Parade and Time Capsule Celebration in the event of inclement weather conditions. In the event of inclement weather conditions, the parade and time capsule celebration will be moved to Sunday, June 22, if weather conditions permit.
A list of all Middletown 350 activities and memorabilia for sale are available by visiting www.middletownnj.org.
