Hundreds turn out for annual Wall Family Night

Hundreds of people turned up last Thursday and Friday for the popular annual Firecracker Kids’ Race and Wall Family Night.

The festivities kicked off at 6:30 p.m. last Thursday with the 15th annual Firecracker Kids’ Race for children ages 4 through 12. After the race, children and adults walked the grounds of the complex and enjoyed an array of activities including clowns, hayrides, games of skill, moonbounce, dog agility exhibition, musical entertainment, food vendors and the fireworks display at dusk.

The holiday continued on Friday, July 4 with the 19th annual Firecracker Five Race at the Wall Township Municipal Complex. These races were open to all ages beginning with the 1-Mile Fun Run, followed by the 3.5-Mile Leisure Walk, the 5-Mile Race Walk and the 5 Mile Run.

“Overall, we were very happy and pleased with Wall Township’s Family Night and Firecracker 5 Races,” said Wall Township recreation coordinator Ed Grill. “The fireworks were a big hit this year, as well as the turnout of runners who competed in all the races.”

Mr. Grill also said the recreation department implemented a couple of new venues this year which were all well received by the public. The new venues included a Wiffle Ball Tournament and Finals, 80 foot obstacle course and an Italian food stand.

Committeeman Jeff Foster, who attended the event, said all who attended had a great time, especially the kids.

“It’s great for community unity,” Committeeman Foster stated.

“It was a great night,” said Committeeman Clint Hoffman, adding that he especially enjoyed the fireworks display.

“You walk away saying, ‘That was pretty cool,’” he said.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make it bigger and better next year,” Committeeman Hoffman further stated. “We’re really going to try to expand upon it.”

The committeeman said the Wall Township event will be more like a Brielle Day, complete with rides and vendors over the course of several days.

Committeeman Hoffman said Family Night used to be held over the course of a few days. “We’re going to try to get back to some of that,” he said, adding, “It’s our goal.”

Another huge part of Family Night is the annual Kids’ Race, in which 100 children participated, according to race organizer and township resident Fred Rummel.

Over 400 runners took part in the Firecracker Five Race this year, said Mr. Rummel, which included mostly area residents, but, people from as far away as Arizona and North Carolina ran, as well. Mr. Rummel has coordinated the race all 19 years it has been around.

“It went very well,” Mr. Rummel said of the races. There were 100 runners in the Kids’ Race and 412 runners in the other races, he said. He was also glad to say that all the runners who started the race, finished the race.

“We got a little lucky with the cloud cover,” even though it was quite humid, said Mr. Rummel. “If there was a sun blazing, it could get ugly here.”

“The success of this entire event was due to a team effort,” said Mr. Grill. “The police department, fire department, first aid members the public works department, Kathy Martone in the recreation department, and race Director Fred Rummel all worked together to make sure this event was fun and most of all safe. Also having the full support from Wall Township Administrator Joseph Verruni and his staff, the township committee and Director of Community Services Bill Schroeter, is what really makes planning and putting these kinds of events together fun and enjoyable.”

Mr. Rummel also said the event could not have been the success it is every year if it was not for the assistance of all the volunteers.

“It’s the perfect example of what a cooperative effort means,” Mr. Rummel stated.