Rain or shine, the Highland Park community will be shining with activity and exuberance all day on Sunday, May 1. Organized by Main Street Highland Park, the Highland Park 5k Run In the Park is taking place at 9 a.m. Race proceeds benefit the Borough of Highland Park Police, Fire, First Aid, and Recreation departments; the Highland Park Public Library; and Main Street Highland Park. Online runner registration, sponsorship opportunities, and other information can be found at http://runinthepark.org/
And after you burn all those calories on the run, stick around for the annual Highland Park Street Fair at 11:30 am to 4:30 p.m. and treat yourself to an array of snack and lunch offerings, plus entertainment, and crafts! The Annual Highland Park “Spring Fling” Street Fair on Raritan Avenue between Second and Sixth Avenues is one of Highland Park’s signature events, and features something for everyone. Admission to all activities is free.
It has crafters, vendors, artists, music, food, games, and inflatable rides. Additional highlights include special offers from local merchants, such as Highland Spark that is offering discounts on its renowned handcrafted jewelry, as well as a display from the Highland Park Historical Society outside of its new home at 212 Raritan Avenue (see below letter from the Historical Society).
The Highland Park Historical Society has had bits and spurts of active and inactive periods over the years. In December 2014, after a period of inactivity, the society came back to life thanks to Jean Kolva, long time Highland Park resident and Historical Society member, who has written two books about the town. The impetus for this resurgence was to find a place for both the Historical Society’s and Ms. Kolva’s extensive collections of Highland Park-related antiques and memorabilia, which, until now, had been stored in Ms. Kolva’s home. Historical Society members were motivated to find a place where the interesting historical artifacts could be displayed for public view, catalogued, and possibly used for research purposes.
“Highland Park has a rich history, and the Historical Society can be a useful resource for anyone who is interested in learning about it,” said Ghislaine Darden, the society’s president. After many months of searching for a suitable space, the Historical Society found just the right spot – 212 Raritan Ave. If that address sounds familiar, that’s because it is also the office of Highland Park Main Street, with whom they will share the space. “We really appreciate Main Street opening their doors to us, literally,” Ms. Darden said, “We think the two organizations are a natural partnership.” The Society officially moved in on April 17 but there are still many boxes to unpack and items to inventory. Currently, Historical Society members are focused on preparing a table for the annual Highland Park Street Fair on Sunday, May 1, where the volunteers will be displaying hope to display items from the newly re-discovered collection. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Historical Society, visit www.hphistory.org for more information.