Shad hauling demo, using the old method of seining, off Lewis Island in Lambertville, April 2000. Photo courtesy the Shad Fest |
Shad Festival
The Shad Festival in Lambertville has been held
annually since 1981 to herald the return of spawning shad up the
Delaware River. The shad's return was unthinkable during the 1970s
because of the river's pollution. Following environmental laws, and
other state and local initiatives, the shad returned, indicating
that both the local ecology and economy could thrive again.
For one April weekend, Lambertville is a city gone
mad about shad. Residents and visitors sing about it, draw it, look
at it, and eat lots of it during the celebration. The festival's
Shad Queen in 2000 was decked out in her finest rubber fish boots,
fishnet stockings, and a crown adorned with miniature rubber fish
that dangled from hooks.
During the festival, local chefs show off their
skills. Visitors can sample fine "firehouse" cuisine, provided by
Lambertville's volunteer fire company. An
al fresco shad
dinner is served next to the river, prepared by the Delaware Valley
Boat Association, and the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce
that sponsors the festival. All styles of music are performed from
jazz, country, rock to Caribbean. About 100 invited artists and
craft persons line the streets offering paintings, photography,
jewelry, woodworking, sculpture, and other work.
The festival provides an opportunity to watch New
Jersey's only commercial shad fishery in action as Fred Lewis and
his crew continue the generations-old family tradition of shad
hauling. The Riverkeepers, a local nonprofit organization dedicated
to a clean Delaware River, provides information on how people can
keep rivers clean.
Documentation includes newspaper clippings, a video
documentary, and a T-shirt.
Originally submitted by: Rush D. Holt, Representative (12th District).
More Local Legacies... |
|
|
The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.
Learn More About It... |
|
|
|