A Winter Festival in Lambertville, NJ
63The Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival
Every year the twin river towns of Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, Pennsylvania, host a mid-winter festival of food, fun, games and other good stuff. Today's parade marked the opening of the annual event. Come with me and through the magic of Hubpages we can watch the parade together.
The twin towns of Lambertville, New Jersey and New Hope, Pennsylvania face each other across the Delaware River connected by two bridges and centuries of people crossing them. The river also serves as the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. A principal commercial street runs over a bridge through both towns. Not surprisingly it is called "Bridge Street."( Liquor and gas are cheaper in New Jersey. Cigarettes are cheaper in Pennsylvania,which means the residents of both towns cross the bridge a lot.) Today's parade started on Bridge Street in New Hope, crossed the bridge, and proceeded up Bridge Street in Lambertvile. It was a beautiful morning--crisp, chilly and people came from miles around. It was just great. Here are a few photos I took along with a few irreverent comments.
Here they come...I love a parade!
Isn't this fun? The New Hope Police lead the way over the bridge--lights flashing. Way in the distance on the bridge you can see the marching bands and we could hear them.
The stone building on the left is the old Lambertville Railroad Station, now a fancy restaurant and small hotel. The railroad is long-gone. The restored building is very elegant. Here are some photos to give you and idea.
Bridge Street is a wonderful combination of past and present and has great charm. It's a perfect place for a parade.
Whats a Parade Without Kids and Floats?
And String Bands
Hearing these guys play " Wait till the Sun Shines, Nellie" made me feel like I was at the Mummers Parade on New Years Day in Philadelphia. It was glorious--we were all clapping and strutting too.
And More String Bands
- The Mummers Parade
A bit about the Philadelphia Mummers-- origins and history for those who want to know
And Strutting in the Street
A Good Time Was Had By All
And then it was over,leaving in its wake a feeling of good cheer and neighborliness. The mayor kissed babies. Merchants opened up their stores. Friends,neighbors and complete strangers smiled and chatted on the street. I walked around town and enjoyed the day. Somehow it is comforting to remember that along with McDonalds, suburbia, environmental pollution, nukes and nut-jobs, this too is America.
To take a little stroll around Lambertville,check out the video below.
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Thanks Iðunn--lets hear it for small town America....or small town anywhere for that matter. I'm having a little week-end burn out on serious stuff. Hey--I like your new pic. What happened to the socks;-)
I love the socks, they will doubtlessly return with all the grace of a plunging frozen sparrow, some day. I like to change the pics off and on, because I get bored. Sometimes I put in just some art or another.
Yeah, pol is exciting and fun and social justice is important but there have to be breaks for lighter things, too, as you so aptly noticed. I opened your hub and it was like taking a deep relaxing breath of fresh air. Good stuff. :)
Will await the return of the socks:-) Hmmmmm you give me an idea--maybe I'll change my pic too--to something ooooooh I dunno--something befitting a crackpot political pundit and dime store mystic --robiethewise dontcha know:-)
you do seem wise :) I like seeing you and I'm glad I got to see you first and you look both wise and kind, I quite like your profile choice.
but yeah, changing the profile pics around is fun and you might like to play in them. I know I do.
Aw shucks<I'm turning red> thanks for the kind words. Maybe I'll just stay "me" for a little while--until I can find a good cartoon of the Mona Lisa or somethingLOL. I'm too busy learning the details of hubbing to go surfing for awhile anyway.
Looks very, very charming - thank you! (We have a Xmas parade here in Oakland, but it's not quite the same - it's more like a small parade in a big city, instead of a big parade in a small town, if you know what I mean...)
yup--big city is good too. I'm an ex New Yorker and a NYC neighborhood is like a small town.
This is so cute, I don't know how I missed it. :) I have been to New Hope - it is charming. We ate at a restaurant overlooking the river. Wow, that was ages ago! Anyway, thanks for sharing this! I love the pic of the dog in the window.
Sooo glad you visited, Amy--both New Hope and this hub. Thr dog belongs to a friend of mina and he's a real sweetie. I call him my "god-dog"LOL. The Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival is always so much fun. You should come sometime:-)
Robie,
Doesn't everybody love parades? I came from a semi-small town and we had our city parade every year.. It was something that one just couldn't miss, it was called the Camellia Festival. Yes, isn't small town America just wonderful? I have never been to New Hope, Pa or New Jersey for that matter, but I just bet some things are the same where ever you may wander! lol
yes doghouse--small towns are the same everyywhere and I love them--I really do. After decades as a city girl, it's nice to be part of one. Thanks for stopping by.
The the photography here! It really captures the heart of the parade.
Glad you liked the pix-- I took them my very own self:-)
absolutely looovee lambertville. It really is hip, right?
hip and cool and also just a really beautiful little town on the banks of the Delaware. Thanks for commenting:-)
Thank you. Great pictures and video. I grew up in New Hope and use to hang out in my Grandfathers hardware store on mainstreet. It brings back memories to see Lambertville.
Hi Frenchy-- bet that hardware store was Criers which was a wonderful place:-) Thanks for reading and commenting.
Iðunn 4 years ago
this is a wonderful hub and a grand break from the tedium of politics. my small town is much like this, only... smaller. :p Lovely pics, good links and info. :)