HOPEWELL, NJ — Hopewell-area residents can trade an ordinary evening stroll or bicycle ride for a trip beneath the Harvest Moon.
The nonprofit Lawrence Hopewell Trail will hold its annual Full Moon Ride and Walk on Saturday, September 26, at the Rosedale Lake section of Mercer Meadows in Hopewell Township. Check-in opens at 7 p.m., with the first group of cyclists setting out at 7:30 p.m.
The event offers a rare opportunity to explore the park after sunset, with music and decorative lighting placed along the route. Cyclists will follow a mostly flat, six-mile route across paved and packed-gravel paths, while walkers can take a roughly one-mile trip along Stony Brook.
"The Full Moon Ride & Walk is one of the most magical nights of the year," David Sandahl, chair of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail board, said. "Whether you're cycling or enjoying a moonlit stroll, this event brings our community together while supporting the LHT."
Before their moonlit outing, guests can bring a picnic, decorate their bicycles or listen to a DJ. Food vendors will be available, and, weather permitting, participants can gather around a campfire for s'mores afterward.
The walk is open to all ages, giving families with younger children a way to participate. Cyclists riding their own bicycles must be at least 12, and participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Front bicycle lights are required because moonlight will not fully illuminate wooded portions of the trail.
The event gives Hopewell residents a different way to enjoy a familiar county park while supporting the nonprofit that helps maintain and expand the 20-mile trail. It also provides an outdoor community activity for walkers who may not want to complete the bicycle route.
Regular registration costs $30 for adults and $25 for youths. Day-of registration rises to $35 and $30, respectively. The event entrance is on Federal City Road, between Blackwell and Old Mill roads.
The rain date is Sunday, September 27, although only the bicycle ride would be held if weather forces the change.
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