22nd Annual Holmdel Earth Day Festival Planned for April 26

Springtime is just around the corner, and with it comes the return of a popular annual event to celebrate the environment, now and throughout the year! The 22nd Annual Holmdel Earth Day Festival, sponsored by Citizens for Informed Land Use and the Holmdel Environmental Commission, will take place on April 26, 2020, held on the beautiful grounds of Bayonet Farm in the heart of Holmdel, NJ.  The festival is free and runs from 12 to 5 pm, rain or shine, with all performances held inside the picturesque barns.

The Holmdel Earth Day Festival features a fabulous schedule of events, including professional shows, guided tours of the historic farmhouse and property, nature crafts for children, a petting zoo, and a student poster contest. There will also be live musical entertainment by talented bands and folk singers and an array of exhibits and information from many outstanding local environmental organizations.

In the Grey Star Barn, kids are sure to swarm around the presentation of “What’s the Buzz with Bees?” by Angela Juffey of the Central Jersey Beekeepers Association, teaching about the importance of the little dynamos. Then cartoons and comedy will take center stage as youngsters get the chance to giggle and draw with Doodle Dude, otherwise known as the fun and creative artist Art Kaney. Later on, meet and mingle with the cute and curious creatures of “Mammal Mania,” presented by Eyes of the Wild, and learn about their traits and habitats.

Adult attendees will enjoy locally popular rock bands and folk musicians performing at the Red Barn Theater throughout the afternoon. Exhibits under the Big Top tent will offer advice on how to “go green” from your own backyard to the planet beyond. Tours of the Bayonet Farm home, the gracious Laura Harding House, will evoke an earlier era when this interesting gentlewoman farmer and philanthropist hosted movie stars of the day. Family-friendly walking tours of the surrounding idyllic property will also be offered.

For those who would like to join a hike along Holmdel’s scenic greenway that morning prior to the festival, park your car at the trailhead lot at the Holmdel Park Ramanessin Section on Roberts Road, opposite the Arboretum. The hike commences at 10 am and arrives at Bayonet Farm in time for the festival. Parking is also available at the farm.

Of course, all this activity tends to work up an appetite! The Red Barn Deli will be serving delicious sandwiches, hot dogs, freshly baked treats, hot coffee, and more. Proceeds from deli purchases go towards supporting future festivals.

Admission, parking, shows, crafts, and tours for the Holmdel Earth Day Festival are all free, although donations to help support the event are always welcome! There is a nominal charge for the petting zoo. Tickets for the guided tours are limited. Visit the Welcome Center table when you arrive at Bayonet Farm for tour tickets, festival programs, raffles, and other free items to start your day.

Be sure to mark the date to welcome spring and celebrate Earth Day with family, friends, and neighbors at the 22^nd Annual Holmdel Earth Day Festival! Bayonet Farm is located at 41 Middletown Road in Holmdel. For more information, call 732-203-0733.

(Author’s note: The 2019 Holmdel Earth Day Festival was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic after this article appeared.)