Late summer is always an unusually busy time here in Hoboken + Jersey City (if you don’t believe us, see our list of 200+ things happening this weekend alone). Some of our favorite annual happenings fall in September, and this upcoming weekend marks yet another tradition. On Saturday, September 14th, from 12PM – 6PM, Journal Square is celebrating its 5th annual Bergen Square Day Festival. Bergen Square is one of the oldest town squares in the country and underwent some pretty big changes earlier this summer as part of a City-sanctioned revitalization project. Happening at the intersection of Bergen Avenue and Academy Street, Bergen Square Day includes all of the family-friendly fun you’d expect from this bustling Jersey City community. Read on to learn more about the Bergen Square Day Festival, happening Saturday in Journal Square, Jersey City.
Photo Credit: @bergensquareday
From Dutch to Most Diverse
This festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of one of the first urban squares established in the US. Bergen Square was founded in 1660 when Dutch colonists established the Village of Bergen. It reached from what is now Vroom Street on the south to Newkirk Street on the north and from Tuers Avenue on the east to Van Reypen Street on the west.
Read More: 50+ New Jersey Festivals For Your Fall 2024 Bucket List
This claim upon Lenni Lenape land as the foundation of what was then New Netherlands was built with a tall log stockade around it. Today’s Bergen Avenue was the road that ran through the walled square’s center. Defensive gates and block houses sat at each end of the public square. Peter Stuyvesant ordered the tightly guarded construction during the violent Dutch response to the Peach Tree War of 1655.
Photo Credit: @bergensquareday
A well in the middle of the square served as the region’s first waterworks. A single octagonal log structure was the church, school, and court of law. The Bergen Square development was soon followed by a second Dutch settlement at Communipaw. The two colonial outposts were joined by Jersey City’s first road, which followed the present line of Communipaw Avenue up to what is now Summit Avenue and up to Academy Street. Academy Street got its name because of the schoolhouse that was built at that spot. Jersey City’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Public School #11 now sits where that building once sat. It is the oldest continuous school site in the US and the first free school + public school building in New Jersey and Jersey City.
Today, this dense urban neighborhood is one of the most diverse areas in one of the country’s most ethnically and racially diverse cities. The unique history and celebrated diversity of the area make it the center of many Jersey City activities.
Earlier this summer, the City of Jersey City completed its Bergen Square revitalization project, which transformed “its previous paved and concrete surfaces into a green, inviting public square replete with trees, seating, lawn surfaces, and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and street crossings,” per TapInto. The City officially cut the ribbon on the 360-year-old block in July 2024, intending to return to its original form: an epicenter for community, culture, and human interaction.
Photo Credit: @bergensquareday
Making History into a Party
Bergen Square Day Festival organizers — The Journal Square Community Association and the Museum of Jersey City History, together with the Journal Square Special Improvement District and Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs — are making history into a party with scrumptious offerings by Jersey City’s delicious food vendors, craft activities, dance performances, live music, and guided history tours.
The event kicks off at 12PM at the intersection of Bergen Avenue and Academy Street and runs until 6PM. Plenty of kids’ activities and community organizations will be on-site, making it a family-friendly celebration for all. You can find the whole itinerary here.
See More: The Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree Kicks Off on 9/14
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Meal Delivery Service Feast & Fettle Launches in Hudson County
This article is sponsored by Feast & Fettle.
There’s nothing like a delicious dinner at the end of a long day, and a new meal prep delivery service is changing that — which just launched in Hoboken + Jersey City, and Hudson County as a whole. Feast & Fettle officially launched in Hudson County, delivering fresh, chef-prepared meals straight to Hoboken, Jersey City, and beyond. With a rotating menu and locally sourced ingredients, Feast & Fettle keeps true to its name (and we’re loving it so far). Keep reading to learn more about this North Jersey meal prep service and how you can snag an exclusive offer below.
The Details
Feast & Fettle is a food delivery service with a rotating menu of chef-prepared meals. Every dish is made from scratch using fresh, locally sourced ingredients — and delivered to your door with no chopping, mixing, or sautéeing required.
The menu pretty much caters to every craving and dietary preference. From seared steaks and pasta dishes to vegan bowls and fresh seafood, Feast & Fettle has something for everyone (all of it good and good for you). Some of our favorites include the chicken pot pie, fettuccine with broccoli and cauliflower alfredo, roasted vegetables, and quinoa salad with vegan pesto. And, all meals are delivered FRESH (never frozen).
In addition to dinner entrees and sides, there's also a selection of breakfast, lunch, kids' items, and juices. Like we said: something for everyone.
How it Works
Feast & Fettle isn’t your average meal delivery service — and as of this week, it’s officially available to Hudson County residents. Members personalize their plans based on how many people are in the household and how many meals they want covered. Delivery is on your time, too. Once you choose your meal items for the week, you select the drop-off day. There’s no grocery shopping or cooking, or stressing out over what to make — just fresh food delivered like a gift once a week.
Feast & Fettle is a no-commitment meal delivery service, meaning you pay when you order and can cancel at any time.
Don’t forget, you can get 20% off your first week of meals with code HG20 until 2/14/25.
Feast & Fettle is now delivering to Bergen, Morris, Essex, and Passaic Counties as well as newly-launched Hudson County. For more info or to become a member, visit the site.
