Call it Taylor Ham or call it Pork Roll, but never call me late for this classic New Jersey treat – smothered with gooey, oozy cheese and an egg on a  roll.

Norwescap is proud to host the 5th Annual Pork Roll Palooza, in partnership with the Phillipsburg Downtown Association, on Saturday, October 8, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Shappell Park (and surrounding streets). All the action will take place in the heart of downtown Phillipsburg, where several thousand guests are expected to gather over the course of the day to enjoy all things Pork Roll…and then some!

It’s going to be a family-friendly day with over a dozen food vendors, local businesses, crafters and artists; live music including The Wonton Soups and The Lucky Seven; local brews and other refreshments; games, prizes, and more! Admission is FREE. Just don’t forget to bring your appetite!

Norwescap CEO Mark Valli, below, with the mascot from the Trenton Thunder baseball team.

“Jersey’s Best,” an online magazine, clearly understands why pork roll is the greatest meat. It’s the key ingredient in a NJ breakfast sandwich, and who doesn’t love breakfast? It’s the perfect blend of salty, savory, and crispy goodness – definitely a breakfast for Jersey champions. Therefore, pork roll is New Jersey’s cereal!

Although this is the 5th Annual Pork Roll Palooza in Phillipsburg, Norwescap is officially managing the event for the first time this year. Norwescap has long been involved with the festival, and has in the past raised funds at the event to support its Food Bank. In 2021, the Phillipsburg Downtown Association invited Norwescap to become more involved with the event as an official partner. The Phillipsburg Downtown Association continues to work hand-in-hand with Norwescap as a lead sponsor of the event. Said Helen Zamora-Bustos, Norwescap’s Community Development Coordinator, “We are grateful to the Phillipsburg Downtown Association for its ongoing partnership and support of Pork Roll Palooza and all of our community development work throughout the Phillipsburg area. We are working together to make Phillipsburg stronger and to attract more visitors to this beautiful town on the river’s edge.”

Norwescap is a comprehensive, non-profit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for low-income individuals, families and communities by providing programs, strategies and services in Education, Employment, Financial Empowerment, Health and Nutrition, Volunteerism and Civic Engagement, and Housing and Community Development.

The Phillipsburg Downtown Association is a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to benefit the public and the business community, particularly, but not solely, in and around Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

Any area business owners or companies interested in becoming a PRP vendor or sponsor can visit the event website, www.porkrollpalooza.org, for details and registration forms. Vendor fees are $275 for for-profit food vendors and $75 for non-food vendors. Sponsorship levels begin at $300, though Norwescap welcomes donations of all sizes to support the Festival. All proceeds will benefit Norwescap’s work to support families and communities in Phillipsburg and throughout northwestern New Jersey.

For those driving to town, there are multiple private and public parking lots within walking distance of Shappell Park, along with on-street metered parking close by.

The best way to stay up to date on Pork Roll Palooza happenings is on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PorkRollPaloozaNJ. This is a rain or shine event.

For more information about Norwescap and its many services, visit www.norwescap.org
Phillipsburg Downtown Association: www.phillipsburgdowntown.com

Originally established in 1965, Norwescap has evolved into a comprehensive nonprofit organization providing services to nearly 35,000 individuals annually in Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, Somerset and Sussex counties. The organization offers a broad array of services that support and empower people with low to moderate income, helping them move away from the crisis of poverty and towards a future where they can thrive. Norwescap’s programs address immediate needs and build strategies for long term success, focusing on education, employment, financial empowerment, health and nutrition, housing and community development, and volunteerism and civic engagement.