Eating, Drinking and Cooking in South Jersey This Weekend: Peachy Fun!

If it’s August, then it must be time for Jersey peaches – and for festivals to celebrate them!

Saturday is most certainly a peach day, with three festivals going on in South Jersey. The annual Peach Festival at Dutch Neck Village in Bridgeton runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and all they ask for is a $3 parking fee. In Mount Laurel, it’s the Peach Festival at the Mount Laurel Meetinghouse on Moorestown-Mount Laurel Road and Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road (whew – that’s a mouthful). There is a $5 charge (only $3 for kids ages 4 and up), and things get started at 4:30 p.m.

And then there’s the Just Peachy Salsa Peach Party being thrown at the Collingswood Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is a joint venture between the Food Bank of South Jersey and Campbell’s and will not only feature peach salsa made from Jersey peaches but local chefs cooking with peaches. And of course, the event helps support local food banks.

Want to start your Friday on a crabby note? Make Friday a Crabulous Crab Day at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor. The fun starts at 10 a.m., and will include a crab cooking demonstration and crab races.

Friday is also the beginning of the Camden County 4-H Fair at Miller Farms in Berlin. Admission is free, and the fair runs through Sunday.

Ribs, crabs and patties…oh yeah! Ribs, crabs and patties…oh yeah! That’s the special food chant for this Saturday. Practice it in the privacy of your home…or not.

Why are we chanting this? Oh – so glad you asked!

The ‘ribs’ part represents the Salem Barbecue Festival taking place on Market Street in Salem from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s no longer a competition, but its still very much a celebration of the ‘cue. The ‘crabs’ part is for the annual Crabfest at Lacey United Methodist Church on Lacey Road in Forked River. Crabs will be served from noon to 4 p.m. And as for the ‘patties’, it’s a Jamaica 50 celebration at Landis Park in Vineland from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Jamaica is celebrating 50 years of independence, and expect to see parties all over the country (this one as well as in Jamaica)!

On Sunday, it’s the annual Atlantic City Puerto Rican Parade, which will have ethnic fare available along with the singing, dancing and revelry.
Atlantic City.

Looking into next week, you have the Salem County Fair and the Atlantic County 4-H Fair taking place.

And if you care to venture out of South Jersey this weekend…

Burger Mania! It’s a burger celebration and competition this Saturday at Mercer County Park. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is free to attend. Sliders will be sold for $1 a piece.

Here’s your cooking class schedule for the weekend:

Friday: Date Night: Special Occasion at Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s in Atlantic City and Date Night: Surf and Turf at Sur La Table in Marlton.

Saturday: Homemade Ricotta and Mozzarella Workshop at Sur La Table, and Champagne Cocktail Party and Steak, Roast and Chop Workshop at Viking Cooking School.

Sunday: Asian Invasion and Elegant Summer Dinner Party at Viking Cooking School.

And…for next week, check out Sur La Table for a World’s Best Food: Kids & Teens cooking camp for kids ages 8 to 17, as well as a Kitchen Wizards cooking camp in Margate.