By: Gavin Schweiger, Follow South Jersey Assistant Editor
BRIDGETON, NJ — The Bridgeton Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) and affiliates hosted its first holiday market in Pocket Park before the annual Bridgeton holiday parade on Saturday, December 13.
Free hot chocolate, candy and face painting were some of the amenities offered at the market along with vendors, food trucks, and music heard all the way down East Commerce Street.
The UEZ, led by Stephanie Gonzalez, partnered with Keeping Young Minds Occupied (KYMO) and Games on the Go among other organizations to put on the market and the parade. The parade itself featured characters such as the Grinch, classic cars, and other floats done by local organizations, businesses and schools.
For people like Adam Braziel, the event was a good way to infuse some fun into the community.
“A lot of times you don’t see none of the smiles going on,” Braziel said. “So therefore, I feel like this is a blessing.”
For others, like Yesenia Granados, the parade was a way for the city to bring people out.
“I think it’s really nice for a small town, like, for them to come together and do things for, like family members,” Granados said.
Granados did note that she hoped that next time there will be more small businesses representing themselves in the parade.
“It was more like fire department, the police department,” Granados said.
People lined the streets to watch the floats and cars go by, listen to music and get sweet treats either given out or thrown from the vehicles.
Gonzalez wants the holiday parade to be a mainstay every year, making it a way for the community to support businesses and the city.
“For the most part, we want to make sure that everyone feels included and we could come together in unity,” Gonzalez said.
See highlights of the market and parade in the video below.
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