Heights Fest Successful Despite Freak Storm

The first ever , a “hometown homecoming” meant to bring the neighborhood together to celebrate its roots, kicked off at Mt. Carmel Field on Saturday afternoon.

But a freak storm with high winds and pouring rain tested the patience of organizers Jim Skidmore and Mickey Mangarelli, overturning most of the tents and damaging or destroying some of the vendor products.

“Our committee members immediately went from tent to tent to make sure all the people were safe and to help where they could. After the storm had passed, we had an emergency Heights Fest meeting and assessed our situation and the damage,” said Mangarelli in an email. “The food vendors and beverage garden were OK and ready to go. The stage amplification and sound board had sustained some water damage and Dave Tsien, who had been in charge of the bands, music, stage and entertainment, was able to work with our sound company to get their equipment and PA system back online.”

Mangarelli said attendees had come from all around the country and the Heights Fest committee did not want let them down. So, the event continued despite the damage.

“The famous Rampant Lions Pipe and Drum Corp started playing to bring a good feeling and excitement over the crowd to announce that all is not lost and we are back on,” he explained.

When people started walking back in, Mangarelli said the organizers got the music going, and the food vendors and beverage garden continued normal operation.

Despite the storm, Mangarelli said there was a huge turnout, with about 500 people at the event throughout the night. He believes the event’s Facebook page, which had information following the storm and encouraged people to still come, helped a lot.

The storm didn’t stop the 15 acts and eight bands from performing either.

“No acts were cancelled but the storm definitely caused some trimming of time. This was handled in a professional manner from our Committee Chair and fellow Governor Livingston Alumni, Dave Tsien,” Mangarelli said. “Defcon Sauces lost all the electrical equipment to water damage and came back with a scaled down set-up and show. Mid Atlantic Waterproofing was able to make a sale after coming back and were extremely happy.”

Even the fireworks display went off, just a little off schedule.

The agreed time was 9:30 p.m. and then Garden State Fireworks waited for our word to set the fireworks off because, due to the storm and the bands schedule rearrangements, we had to hold off until certain bands could finish most of their set,” he said.

The last two bands played after the fireworks.

Mangarelli said he thinks the Heights Fest committee did a fantastic job handling damage from the storm and executing a successful event.

“It was originally intended to be a fund-raising opportunity for a reunion of friends from Berkeley Heights and to meet new friends who are from Berkeley Heights now,” Mangarelli said. “I have personally witnessed and heard of this happening and people had a really great time. There was such a tremendous, positive response on Facebook, especially on our Heights Fest Facebook page, that we are sitting down again to discuss the next one.”

Mangarelli did not have the total amount raised as of publication time. However, proceeds will be donated to the Mt. Carmel Society, Relay for Life and The American Cancer Society.