Thousands come out for Bergen Point Fall Festival

Thousands packed Broadway at Bayonne’s annual Bergen Point Fall Festival on Saturday, October 14. Local shops, vendors, bars, art galleries, and restaurants were all alive for the fall celebration. Art-laden utility boxes along Broadway were recently unveiled, with colorful paintings replacing the old gray painted surface that was prone to vandalism. Festival goers took photographs with the boxes. “They’re really pretty,” said Brianna Vasquez, 42, posing for a photo with the box. “Weird, I never noticed the [utility box] until they painted it.”
Mona Lisa Pizza cordoned off part of the street for outdoor diners, while kids played on various inflatable rides, had their faces painted, and fed llamas and goats at a petting zoo.
“The llama can talk,” said Colin, 4. “I fed him and he said thank you with his ears.”
“This gets bigger and better every year,” said Bergen Point Councilman Tommy Cotter, riding an electric scooter with his grandson in his lap. He’s still recovering from a recent injury, but was taking it easy at the festival with his extended family, grandkids included. “This is part of what makes Bergen Point such a great place. People are coming from all over. It’s packed.”
Vendor tables offered a diversity of goods, from magazines, books, and art supplies to fresh vegetables and baked goods. Festivals usually connote games, but Bergen Point is equally a great market.