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A former farming community turned antiques haven Chester, NJ is home to a fantastic day of art, music and family fun. It's the kind of event that normally fills me with cynicism when attempted in a bigger city. Like one day could somehow bring back the feeling of warmth and home to a cold environment. But Chester already has that warmth and this day was not a way to conjure it, rather to celebrate it.
This is a free, day-long event filled not only with art, crafts and antiques but all kinds of music from some of New Jersey's finest musicians and bands. Another difference between this and other such festivals is these bands are virtually unknown outside of their circle of admirers. And that's pretty much the idea. To use the festival as a way to give exposure to those who need it and not use some big name artists to draw people in to buy this or that.
Cleverly, organizers have found a way to set up five stages throughout the very small downtown area. None of which really overshadowed another. Except for a couple of moments when the louder bands on the largest of the stages on Perry Street got a bit much for the music students in the nearby family area. But this brief discomfort was minor compared to the shear brilliance of the day.
On the other hand, my own timing really sucked. I left later in teh mornign than I wanted and could only stay for a few short hours. The chunk of time I was there seemed to fall perfectly into a void where I missed all of my friends who were playing. That's not to say I didn't discover some great new music, and I did run into a few friends like Rik Mercaldi of The Swan Vestas, Carmen Sclafani of Wiser Time and Jared of WRSU radio during my wanderings.
WRSU had a rocking set of performers a little off the beaten path. Well, that is to say they were a few blocks up Main Street in a park gazebo. Having it placed even just this short distance away sheltered it from the quieter moments down the road. Families lazed in the sun or played softball while some of the loudest bands of the fest echoed across the grass and off the distant porta johns and houses.
The small size of the town center came in handy as I strolled back and forth and back again checking out the sights and sounds. I eventually grew hungry and spotted this small, somewhat empty sandwich shop called Gill & Gallagher's. It looked just laidback enough for my mood. I walked in and was a bit overwhelmed by the massive chalkboard menu of specialty sandwiches.
I asked the guy behind the counter, "What would you recommend to someone who's never eaten here before." He told me about the Grilled Vodka sandwich (chicken, melted mozzarella and vodka sauce on a baguette) and I got a root beer, sans ice. It seems they were out of ice on this day. I teased them that they must have forgotten the recipe for ice among all of these fancy sandwiches. We had a good laugh and the sandwich was delicious. But I do believe I ordered the last of their chicken for the day. Sorry folks.
I sat quietly outside and enjoyed my lunch before walking Main Street once more. The kitsch and crafts drew tons of people thru the course of the day and the music added a bounce to their step. I'm glad to have spent even just a few hours among the baby strollers and smiling faces. It's days like today that prove a festival does not have to be rowdy to be fun. Spending a summer day snapping pictures of a quaint town while music follows you can be enough of a party.
This is only the second year of the Black River Music and Art Fest and judging from the turnout, it should go on for many years to come. Check out more about Black River Music and Art Fest, the town Chester and the bands on their website.
See Also:
 Black River Music and Art Fest
Bands & Musicians that Played
Photo Gallery
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