Residents enjoy fun and games at Hopatcong Days

Visitors turned out in droves for the seventh annual Hopatcong Days, Saturday, July 12.
With numbers of people going into the hundreds, the day began with a parade that ran from Hudson Maxim to Modick Park and featured local scouts, the fire department, Seniors of the Year JoAnne Curtin and Bill Bulger, and Riley Dixon, winner of the Miss Hopatcong Pageant.

After the parade ended in Modick Park at the Maxim Glen Monument, Mayor Sylvia Petrillo welcomed the crowd to the event and thanked the many organizations that helped organized the three-day event.
The day was filled with a variety of activities, including a hot dog eating contest and a baking contest. And children got to enjoy face painting, an inflatable water slide and a rock climbing wall.
“My favorite thing to do has been the rock climbing wall,” said young Xander Syto of Hopatcong.
There also were plenty of food vendors along with live music. The Hopatcong High School marching band ran a dunk tank where residents could dunk members of the marching band. The activity was used as a fundraiser for the band.
Local businesses and craftspeople also were on hand, promoting themselves and showcasing their crafts. Byron Jim Peters, known as the Wood Wizard, was a particular favorite with a large display of carved objects such as toy cars, crosses and animals.
“I’ve come here for the last seven years,” said Mikel Murray of Hopatcong, owner of local Facebook family events page, TFSH: The Fun Starts Here, as she walked along the rows of booths browsing. “It keeps getting better and better. We look forward to this every year,”
“I’ve loved it so far,” said Beth Longo of Hopatcong as she walked alongside Murray “We enjoyed the parade very much,” added lifelong resident Jackie Ullmann as she sat with her husband and doh.
Mike Kleinwaks of Hopatcong, who is one of the Founding Members of the Armed Forces Relief Committee, one of the local booths set up at Hopatcong Days was happy with the turnout.
“The day’s been good so far. It’s warm, but not raining. It’s a good turnout.”