The long-awaited Grand Opening Festival for A Sculpture Trail at Laurelwood Arboretum is scheduled for the weekend of September 18 and 19 at 725 Pines Lake Drive West in Wayne, NJ. The festival marks the official opening of A Sculpture Trail. The multiyear project, which will showcase 15 unique works of art, is sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum. The Grand Opening Festival is an important fundraising event for the organization.
A Family, Fun & Food celebration with live music is planned for Saturday, September 18 from 11 am to 3 pm. Food trucks will serve “Jersey Rollz” tasty tacos, eggrolls, chicken and more, “Sweet Ice Queen” ice cream, and “Glazed and Confused” specialty donuts. Visitors can tour the sculptures with an audio tour accessed on their smart phones. This family-centered event will also feature
- A Storytime & Dance Partywith Jolie Della Valle, local resident and author of Georgie and the Ants in the Pants. Shows: 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
- Live performances throughout the day by Meadow Perry, the Bubble Magician. An actress and a performer, Perry does incredible tricks using bubbles of all sizes and shapes
- Dick Rainer, Performer and Juggler
- Kids’ art projects
All-inclusive tickets are $10 for children under 5, $15 for children 5-12 and $25 for children over 12 and adults. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. To register, go to laurelwoodarboretum.org/sculpture-trail/grand-opening/
Tours, Tunes, Brews & BBQ, an adults-only celebration, is planned for Sunday, September 19 from 4 pm to 7 pm. Curator and docent-led tours will be offered from 4 pm to 5 pm, followed by a barbecue and dessert reception prepared by Master Chef, Craig Chomsky of Craig’s Kitchen, along with seasonal brews and wines. Live music will be provided by singer and guitarist Grant Swift. Tickets for this event are $125 per person. Pre-registration is required at laurelwoodarboretum.org/sculpture-trail/grand-opening/
Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum is a non-profit conservancy whose mission is to preserve and manage the 30-acre arboretum in partnership with Wayne Township. To get involved, send an email to info@laurelwoodarboretum.org or call 973-831-5675.