Nor'easter 'Ambience' Shuffles AddamsFest Locations

WESTFIELD, NJ - Ambience is how AddamsFest organizers are describing the wet and windy weather expected to slam New Jersey Friday night into Saturday, and they are putting the word out that the weekend of macabre events will go on as scheduled. There will, however, be a slight location change to ensure visitors aren't too water-logged.

"Based on the forecast and the time we need to mobilize our AddamsFest resources, we have made the decision to move Saturday’s outdoor events into the Westfield Armory so that the fun can go on, rain or shine," organizers wrote on their Facebook page.

Events relocated to the Westfield Armory:

• Opening Ceremony: 10:30 a.m.
• The Addams Family Fun Zone: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Chill on Quimby: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Charlie’s Ale Garden (now aka Charlie's Ale Hall): 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The armory is located at 500 Rahway Ave.

Indoors as planned:

• Morticia’s Movies (Rialto Theater)
• Gomez’s Lecture Series (Westfield Memorial Library)
• Charles Addams Art Exhibit (The James Ward Mansion)
• Westfield High School Charles Addams Cartoon Contest Exhibit (Town Hall Community Room)
• Paranormal Investigations at the Reeve House (The Historic Reeve House)

Relocated to Woofgang Bakery and Grooming:

• Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest 3 p.m.

The town-wide celebration began early this month with events like The Addams Family House on display at Mindowaskin Lake, The Wicked Windows of Westfield decorations in Downtown store fronts, the Haunt Your House home decorating contest and the Westfield High School Charles Addams Cartoon Contest, and the Charles Addams art exhibit which runs through Oct. 30.

"This festival has generated an amazing amount of enthusiasm from the community," Mayor Shelley Brindle said.

The main event kicks off on Friday, Oct. 26, with Morticia and Gomez’s Masquerade Ball at The James Ward Mansion. After walking the purple carpet, guests will feast on Charles Addams-inspired gourmet fare, sip smoldering libations and dance the night away in the Mansion.

On Saturday, Oct. 27, the festival will officially get underway with the opening ceremony at the Westfield Armory, located at 500 Rahway Ave., at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will include remarks from Brindle and the presentation of the Skeleton Key to the City. Winners of the Westfield High School’s Charles Addams Cartoon Contest will also be announced.

The festival attempts to offer something for everyone including family activities, art exhibit, films, beer garden, trunk-or-treat and a masquerade ball. Following the opening ceremony, the festival will be in full swing with the following activities:

Westfield High School Charles Addams Cartoon Contest Exhibit

Westfield Town Hall 425 East Broad Street and Westfield Memorial Library, 550 East Broad Street

• Celebrating Charles Addams’ success as a Westfield High School alumnus, current WHS students will create an “Addamseque” cartoon inspired by a variety of themes, including his 1929 WHS Weathervane yearbook entry, which read, “He much amazed us.” And he still does! Judges include Esquire Magazine Cartoon Editor Bob Mankoff and representatives from the New Yorker and University of Pennsylvania School of Design (Addams’ alma mater). Winners will be chosen during the festival and participants’ work will be displayed online and at the Westfield Memorial Library and Town Hall.

Charles Addams Art Exhibit

James Ward Mansion, 169 East Broad Street

• The crown jewel of the AddamsFest is sure to be the Charles Addams Art Exhibit, graciously on loan to the Town of Westfield from the collection of the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation. Featuring 40 handpicked original drawings, cartoons and personal photographs, the collection features classic Addams Family pieces while brimming with hints of Westfield and highlighting Addams’ love of New York City. The exhibit will feature the unveiling of the newly emancipated Charles Addams skeleton artwork. Affectionately named “Dudley,” this life-size Addams original, drawn during his Westfield childhood, spent almost a hundred years on the second floor of a barn on East Dudley Avenue. Current homeowners Jennifer and Samuel Khichi are lending it on a long-term basis to the Town, generously sharing this valuable piece of history with the community.

The Addams Family Fun Zone

Sat. Oct. 27, 11 a.m. through 2 p.m., Westfield Armory 500 Rahway Ave.

• Sponsored by the Westfield Educators Association, families will get ooky and spooky in Mindowaskin Park as they participate in a variety of activities including face painting, magicians, character visits and a Monster Mash Dance party they will never forget.

The Life of Charles Addams by Addams Enthusiast, Ron MacCloskey

Saturday, Oct. 27 at 11:30 a.m., Westfield Memorial Library, 550 East Broad Street

• A lifetime fan of Addams, Ron MacCloskey has spent his life bringing the world of Charles Addams to light, including founding the Westfield Foundation’s Charles Addams Scholarship, which supports students majoring in art. Ron also had the Westfield childhood home of Addams declared a historic landmark. During the lecture, Ron will discuss the life of Charles Addams, including how his Addams Family characters evolved from a cartoon, to a TV show, and then a film and Broadway Musical a musical.

The Chas Addams Workshop by New Yorker Cartoonist Felipe Galindo

Sunday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m., Westfield Memorial Library, 550 East Broad Street

• This family-oriented workshop will talk about Chas Addams from a cartoonist’s point of view. New Yorker cartoonist Felipe Galindo (aka Feggo) will share stories and anecdotes about Westfield’s famous artist, how Addams influenced other cartoonists worldwide, and why his peculiar sense of humor made his characters a household name. Feggo will also lead a hands-on cartoon activity showing the audience how to draw their own cartoons.

The Chas Addams Tour, hosted by the Westfield Historical Society

Saturday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m.

• A walking tour of Addams’ childhood home, school and the homes and locations that inspired his work guided by the Westfield Historical Society.

Morticia’s Movies, Rialto Movie Theater

250 East Broad Street
The Addams Family/The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Various times, Sponsored by Havens Savings Bank

• Featured in several of Addams’ cartoons, the Rialto is an essential component to both his hometown experience as well as AddamsFest. Beginning with a “Movie with the Mayor,” Mayor Shelley Brindle will join a new generation of fans at an early showing of The Addams Family movie on Saturday afternoon. Later in the evening, The Rialto will bring another Halloween favorite to Westfield with two showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Sure to draw audiences from neighboring towns, as well as Brad and Janet Fans locally, this just might prove to be a new Westfield tradition. Morticia’s Movies will once again feature The Addams Family movie on Sunday.

“Chill” on Quimby and Elm Streets

Saturday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. through 5 p.m., Sponsored by Columbia Bank, Westfield Armory 500 Rahway Ave.

• Inspired by Charles Addams’ high school nickname, “Chil,” Quimby and Elm Street will do just that. Come for a relaxing outdoor respite from the weekend’s activities, listen to live music, play a game of giant chess, enjoy the street performers, witness an incredible pumpkin carving demonstration and dine al fresco on local fare from Westfield’s restaurants.

Charlie’s Ale Hall

Saturday Oct. 27, 5 p.m. through 11 p.m.
Westfield Armory 500 Rahway Ave., Sponsored by Harvest Restaurant Group

• Friends and neighbors will gather under the stars to enjoy a special Addams Ale as Quimby and Elm Streets are transformed into a gathering place where memories are made as music fills the streets and local restaurants highlight their festival specialties.

Paranormal Investigations at the Reeve House

The Historic Reeve House, 314 Mountain Avenue
Saturday, Oct. 27, three events: 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.. Arrive 15 minutes before start for check-in.

• Are there ghosts in Westfield? The 1870 Historic Reeve House was occupied for more than 100 years before the Reeve brothers donated it to the Westfield Historical Society in 1985. Are any of their spirits still residing there? Walk through the house with New Jersey Paranormal experts to find out.

The Optimist Club of Westfield’s Annual Halloween Parade and Costume Contest

Sunday, Oct. 28, South Avenue Train Station Parking Lot, 327 South Avenue
Festivities begin at 1:30 p.m.
Parade begins at 2 p.m.
Hosted by The Optimist Club of Westfield and the Downtown Westfield Corporation

• A timeless Westfield tradition with an AddamsFest twist! The Westfield Optimist Club’s Halloween Parade draws thousands of participants annually. This year the parade will welcome visitors to the South Side of town and feature even more prizes and fun! The Downtown Westfield Corporation will distribute prizes for a variety of Halloween and Charles Addams-themed categories.

Pugsley’s Trunk or Treat

Sunday, Oct. 28
2:30 p.m. through 4 p.m.
South Avenue Train Station Parking Lot
327 South Avenue

• The party is just getting started when the Halloween Parade ends. The South Avenue train station becomes Halloween trick or treating central with the NEW Pugsley’s Trunk or Treat. Prizes will be distributed for best car decorations and an allergy-free zone will be available for trick or treaters with allergies.

Besides the community events planned a bevy of businesses downtown are offering seriously spooky promotions for the event. The complete list can be found here.

With so many moving pieces and a shifting weather forecast, Brindle asked that everyone do their best to go with the flow.

"Please remember that this is a festival put on by an entire army of volunteers, the likes of which we’ve never done before. It truly is for the community, by the community," Brindle said. "There will be glitches, unforeseen challenges, and maybe a long line or two. Please be patient and keep your sense of humor."

That isn't to say there won't be a time to complain.

"We’ll be asking for constructive feedback from the community after the event is over and once the organizers have had a chance to recover," Brindle said.

Sunday still looks clear and so organizers said the Halloween Parade, Costume Contest and Trunk or Treat remain scheduled as originally planned. If that should change, they will make an announcement on www.addamsfest.com, and attendees are encouraged to follow along on Facebook for updates.

(Photos courtesy of Addamsfest)

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