ShadFest Brings Weekend Of Fun, Food And Tradition To Lambertville

LAMBERTVILLE, NJ — When it comes to river town traditions, few can rival ShaFest, Lambertville's epic celebration of fish, fun and family.

This weekend, the Greater Lambertville Chamber of Commerce stages the festival in the City of Lambertville to welcome the shad back home to its spawning grounds and to bring people together to celebrate the region.

Once a year in the spring, the shad make the harrowing journey northward from their home in the Atlantic Ocean to lay their eggs in the fresh waters of the Delaware River.

In celebration of that journey, the chamber has organized the festival for the past four decades featuring live music, vendors, visits to the Lewis Island Fishery and plenty of food and family-oriented fun.

“It’s a tradition and traditions are really important to maintain,” said event organizers. “Shad Fest is an opportunity to experience something unique, something that’s held on tradition and something to honor the Delaware River, which surrounds us all.”

The rain or shine festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day off Bridge Street and along the Lambertville waterfront.

Throughout the weekend, many of the local bars and restaurants will also be offering drink and menu specials, all centered around a Shad Fest theme.

ShadFest volunteers sell festival t-shirts at last year's event.

On Saurday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Shad Fest will bring 75 different vendors into town concentrated in three main areas - Home and Garden (North Union Street Parking Lot), Local’s Lane on Church Street featuring an area filled with treasures made by Lambertville area artists; and a Food Court/T-Shirt Sales (Wells Fargo Parking Lot).

“ShadFest features the area’s finest artists and crafters, great food, music and family entertainment,” said organizers. “You can bring children. You can bring friends. You can bring the whole family. You can spend a couple of hours or you can spend the whole day. There’s just a lot to see and do.”

Delicious eats of all kinds will be available at the ShadFest Food Court at the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot. On the menu will be everything from fried Oreos to taco salads, Hawaiian BBQ to fried
calamari and from gyros to fresh lemonade.

Throughout the weekend, ShadFest posters created by local artists will be on display at the First
Presbyterian Church. They will be sold during a live and silent auction on Sunday with proceeds benefiting scholarships for local students pursuing degrees in art.

While this year's public shad hauling demonstrations aren't taking place this year on Lewis Island due to a damaged pedestrian bridge, the public is invited to stop by at the end of Lambert Lane to learn more about the shad from the Lewis family.

The Lewis family has been fishing these waters since 1888, and holds the only remaining commercial license to catch shad with nets.

For the past 20 years, Steve Meserve and his family have run the Lewis Fishery, the last commercial shad operation on the Delaware River. He is the fourth generation to lead the Lambertville, New Jersey, business. Like his great-grandfather Captain Bill Lewis, who turned the former American Shad Fishery into the Lewis Fishery in 1888, Meserve is a proud steward of the river.

Throughout the weekend, local businesses will be joining in the fun by paying homage to the shad in their own fun and unique ways.

“You might find a Shadtini at some of the local bars or ShadFest discounts at the shops and store,” said event organizers.

“If you want to have a good time, come on down to ShadFest. There’s something for everyone. It’s also a great opportunity to explore Lambertville’s many shops and restaurants. Bring your bikes and ride along the trail. Visit some of the antique shops. Walk over the bridge. It’s a great place to explore and experience.”

For complete details on ShadFest, visit LambertvilleChamber.org.