Denville Days will still light up the July sky this weekend, but the extreme heat bearing down on Morris County has forced organizers to rework the festival’s opening day.
The Township of Denville announced that the Friday, July 3 daytime events, scheduled from 12 to 5 p.m., are canceled because of the heat forecast. The three-day Denville Days celebration at Gardner Field will now kick off Friday night with the Joey Bella event under the big tent.
To keep guests cool and safe, the town secured a refrigerated truck from Diamond Spring Brewing to keep cold drinking water on hand, plus four large misting fans for the big tent.
Several Friday activities are moving rather than disappearing. The car show shifts to July 4 with fewer cars, train rides move to July 5, and the Girl Scout relay races also move to July 5. Canoe races and some craft activities may be rescheduled. Other attractions, including food vendors, the interactive bubble show, face painting, balloon twisting, and the dunk tank, are canceled. The Denville String Band and Tennessee Honey Band are postponed to a later date, and the pie baking contest is off.
Organized by the Denville Semiquincentennial Committee appointed by Mayor Tom Andes, Denville Days runs July 3 through July 5 at Gardner Field as part of the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The town notes the schedule is still subject to change, so families should check for updates before heading out. The weekend still closes with the community’s traditional fireworks display.
