Pop! Pop! Pop!
It has been a “poppin’ up” good time in Pitman during the summer.
The Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce started Pop-Up Park events years back as a way to bring together residents and the local business community through a series of family-friendly activities.
This year was no different.
From the end of June through mid-August, there were pop-up events held in Ballard Park every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. “to bring visitors to the uptown to shop and dine,” said Vanessa James, who became chamber president in 2018 and has been coordinating the pop-ups since that time. “It’s a fun community event.”
Dozens of people attended each week, whether they came for fresh produce, live music, yard games, sidewalk chalk for the kids, and other cool summertime activities.
Some were able to catch some “superheroes” (i.e. costumed characters) racing each other on the lawn or they were able to see their favorite princesses. The characters held meet-and-greets with the kids for photos.
Sometimes local police officers or firefighters stopped by with their trucks.
The pop-up did not have to end the night at 8 p.m. As Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce alludes to on their Uptown Pitman website Shop. Eat. Stroll. Stay.
Some folks had dinner at a Pitman restaurant after shopping along Broadway.
Local businesses were invited to get involved, James said.
“This year Thyme Pitman, a local catering company, had special menus each week,” she said. “We also have Visalli’s Farm Market with Jersey produce. Sometimes Hallowed Grounds Coffee, Pitman’s mobile coffee business, attended. Over the Top Party Planning provides characters. We have local musicians provide music. Other businesses and local organizations are invited to participate.”
The Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce has other events planned throughout the rest of this year, such as sidewalk sales, Broadway theater performances, craft fairs, Restaurant Week, townwide yard sales, food truck festivals, small business weekends, Girls Night Out, and Christmas events.
Next year, look for the dates for annual events such as more Broadway theater and sidewalk sales, Fourth Friday events, the Shamrock Shoppe Hop, the Easter egg hunt, and the July 4 parade and fireworks.
For the full calendar of events, visit www.facebook.com/uptownpitmanNJ.
The Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce meets on the first Monday of every month at Borough Hall at 7 p.m. Chamber members then have check-ins on the first Monday of the month at 10 a.m.; the location is provided a week prior on the chamber’s Facebook page.
