Sunny skies sprinkled with clouds, and warm temperatures greeted attendees to the Borough of Brielle’s 39th annual Brielle Day Sept. 10 at Green Acres Park at South Street and Union Lane.
The free, family oriented event attracted several thousand attendees, many of whom were runners in and spectators of the annual Brielle Hill and Dale 10K which was run prior to the event.
“It’s a wonderful day. It allows the volunteer and civic organizations of Brielle to get together and make some money. There’s more food and fun than any other place in the world on that day – there’s a tremendous amount of community spirit,” said Brielle Mayor Tucker Nicol. “It’s probably the original ‘Town Day’ in Monmouth County. It’s been going on close to 40 years.”
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The event featured close to 150 vendors; churches such as The Church in Brielle, and Shiloh Baptist Church, Manasquan; Spring Lake-Brielle Rotary Club; Brielle Brownies and Boy Scouts; Brielle Fire Department Station 99; The Woman’s Club of Brielle; The Riverview Seniors, Brielle; and other groups.
“We enjoy it, and we’re happy to do it, and I hope it’ll be a lovely, sunny day and everyone will enjoy it,” said Woman’s Club President Sally Brown on Thursday.
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The club has been in charge of the vendors taking part in Brielle Day the past 39 years, and vendors this year came from approximately 15 states. No duplicate food vendors were permitted, so a buffet of foods was offered such as roast beef sandwiches, hot dogs, funnel cakes, butterfly potatoes, cotton candy, meatball subs and other tasty items.
The variety of merchandise ranged from furniture to pottery, to jewelry to food. Sports memorabilia, quilts, doll clothes, bird houses, stained glass, miniature bonsai trees – it was all available during the event.
Brielle Fire Department Station 99 contributed to the event via a stand with beer and roast beef sandwiches. The Woman’s Club’s contribution to Brielle Day was a tea garden that offered sandwiches, ice tea, hot tea and cookies.
“I’m very happy to do this. Every dollar that we earn goes to charity – 100 percent goes back to charity, and there are 19 charities we support. Vendor rentals are $75-a-space, and it all goes to charity,” said Woman’s Club member and Brielle Day chair, Elaine Flannery.
Profits from the club’s tea garden and a 50/50 they held support scholarships for Brielle students attending Manasquan High School.
“The Woman’s Club gives a tremendous amount of money back to the town via scholarships; other money raised goes to the civic organizations that take part,” said Mayor Nicol.
Club members were kept busy during Brielle Day selling 50/50 tickets, discussing potential membership with women, and catering to diners at their tea garden. Brown and Flannery were unable to converse during the event, but club member Marcia Search, Brielle, had done her duty, and spoke briefly while she walked the grounds with her family.
“It’s always a wonderful, sunny day at Brielle Day. I’ve been her since 6 a.m., directing crafters into spaces – I feel like it’s 6 o’clock at night,” said Search.
Enjoying the sunny weather, and browsing the vendor booths with her children was Maribeth Woodford, Brielle.
“We’ve been coming here for five years. We like it. The kids enjoy it – we played the dart game, and we won 10 free, live goldfish,” said Woodford.
Activities for children included sand art, a dart game, and a hoop shoot, but vendors commanded most of the attention at Brielle Day.
Karen Killian, Toms River, owner of 2 Friends, was pleased with the outcome of Brielle Day by early afternoon.
“I come her every year – it’s my fourth year, and it’s always a good day. It’s picking up – they generally have a good crowd,” said Killian.
Awaiting customers inside their booth – filled with enormous paintings and jewelry – were Laurence Harbor residents, artist Miroslaw Chelchowski, and his wife, Lucy, who creates jewelry of beads, amber and shells.
“I’ve been coming here for years. It’s nice today. I never complain – slow, but little by little it will pick up,” said Miroslaw.
A few vendors at Brielle Day were veterans such as Santa Claus artisan Maria-Nella Loschi Sevilla, Brick, who received a prime spot for her booth filled with Santas.
“I’ve come here since 1987. I did very well until two years ago – I’ve cut down the prices. I’ve had people who’ve collected my work for 25 years,” said Loschi.
A veteran at the event – but not a vendor – was Rachel Freeman, Brick, who accompanied her family and was joined by a friend.
“I’ve come here since I was little – I have fun here. My grandmother’s in The Woman’s Club of Brielle,” said Freeman.
Returning to Brielle Day after a hiatus was Holli Willis, Middletown, a vendor who offered tastefully painted metal mailboxes, and other items.
“The last time I did this was 10 years ago, and just did bird houses,” said Willis. “I came back because it was a fantastic show. I got a great spot – they gave me a beautiful spot.”
As the afternoon wore on, attendees wandered in the vendor area, took part in kiddy activities such as wheel of fortune set up by Brielle Brownie Troop 951 or free rides on a fire truck, and grown-ups enjoyed beer, and roast beef sandwiches while listening to free live music in Brielle Fire Department’s beer garden.
