Northwest Jersey’s Largest Street Festival is Back!

National Act Smithereens Headline This Year’s Washington Event

The Festival in the Borough, which was cancelled last year due to COVID restrictions, is back in action this year and features national recording artists, The Smithereens (pictured above).

This year’s festival, the largest street and music event in Northwest Jersey, is slated for Saturday Sept. 18. It is truly a townwide event with three stages of music and 18 musical acts throughout the day and into the night in the Downtown district along Route 57.

Presented by the Washington Business Improvement District, the 16th annual Festival in the Borough’s line-up includes an array of music styles, from rock to jazz, soul and blues, to acoustic.

In addition to The Smithereens, well known throughout the U.S., international act Kara Grainger from Australia will also grace the stage.

The annual Festival in the Borough is a family-friendly free event with vendors, crafters, kids activities, food and three stages of music that annually attracts thousands of visitors.

Founded in New Jersey in 1980, The Smithereens, a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, have been creating electrifying, original rock’n’roll for 40 years. Jim Babjak (guitar,) Dennis Diken (drums,) and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together in Carteret and lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio, hailed from Scotch Plains. Marshall Crenshaw, a renowned performer in his own right, admirably fills the void with the loss of DiNizio.

The Smithereens’ take no prisoners sound, reflecting their Garden State roots, has resonated with fans worldwide over the course of 17 albums and 2500+ live shows. Their most recent release, COVERS, features 22 of the band’s favorite songs first recorded by other artists.

Aussie soul slinger Kara Grainger, meanwhile, is known for her groove-rooted sound & mean slide guitar. Her sultry vocals melt hearts & minds. Combining tasteful blues and slide guitar, soulful vocals and a heartfelt approach to songwriting, Grainger’s unique sound is uplifting and inspiring.Her latest CD project, “Living With Your Ghost” was produced by New Orleans based Anders Osborne. The album is a composite of Grainger’s style, featuring a mix of blues, folk, some personal introspective songs, funk, and some good ole Rock ‘n Roll!

There are many other notable acts scheduled, as well.

The Katie Henry Band, based out of Sussex County, is definitely on the move, having recently returned from its second hugely successful California tour. Henry’s debut album, “High Road”, was nominated for Best New Artist Debut Album at the 2019 Blues Blast Music Awards. The CD also debuted at #12 on the Roots Reports Top 50 Contemporary Blues Albums. Bobby Harden brings his soul sound to the festival, country rockers Kinderhook, and New York-based French Cookin’ checks in with jazz. The Big Easy Easton Brass Band (pictured at bottom kicks off the musical entertainment at 11:30 a.m.

Among the other bands set to play are Southbound, Don Kincaid & The Wait, JerZgirls, Flexible Flyers, and a host of acoustic performers including Diana Dove, Steve Kirchuk, Winterlong, TC Carpenter and Avoiding Foreclosure.

The 3 stages are: Main Stage, Route 57 parking lot in the center of Downtown, Scotty’s Stage on Belvidere Avenue, and Broad Street Stage by Gaia’s Gifts. There is some seating available; attendees may want to bring lawn chairs. No coolers.

The Broad Street stage starts things off at 10 a.m. with a Qigong demonstration (and audience participation) with Stan Cohen followed by the Fantasha Belly Dancers at 11.

Pre-festival events are planned for Friday night Sept. 17 with The Emulators in the Downtown Pocket Park from 6-8 p.m. and then starting at 9, Warped Speed at William’s Irish Tavern. William’s will also host a post-festival party on Saturday night with Kelly & Pete and Scotty’s Stadium Club will feature a DJ.

Sponsors this year include Visions Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, Rossi Auto Group, Smith Motors, Hunterdon Healthcare, New Jersey American Water, Elizabethtown Gas, WRNJ, WXPN, Swift Print Solutions, Quarter Mile Photography, DM Solutions, David Santini, CPA, Shembre & Gannon, Broscious, Fischer & Zaiter, and Hairmazing, along with additional support from Good Impressions, John Dorsch Electric, Frank Blanche Signs, and Kennedy Event Services. Funding has also been made possible, in part, by the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Division, and grants from the Warren County and Washington Borough Clean Communities. The beer garden is hosted by the Washington Borough Fire Department.