While the annual town Festival of NA Day is always a joy to take part in. However,  this year’s celebration of the  125th anniversary of the founding of the town was certainly special. Many attended the event with enthusiasm and town spirit. As is tradition, local shops, businesses, and citizens all came together in town to celebrate what makes North Arlington great: The sense of community.

The day started off with an introduction by Mayor Pronti, who spoke regarding not only the town’s 125th anniversary, but also of the efforts taken to provide a safe environment to celebrate in. Special attention was brought towards the stage, which was decorated by a youth recreation arts program whose members drew and crafted images of what the town missed over the past year, including various holidays and festivities.

Soon afterwards, the stage was taken by students of North Arlington performing their own stunning choice of songs, as well as an impressive number performed by the Art of Dance, a nearby dance and choreography studio. Late into the day, the event was wrapped up by Total Soul— a New York band that sang their hearts out and mesmerized the crowd with their vocals.

Throughout the day, however, hundreds of citizens also went through local booths and attractions; I personally was able to snag a bag of fresh zeppoles and a slice of pizza that tasted phenomenal. Additionally, there were bouncy castles, face painting, and a wide variety of clothes, decorations, and accessories. It was a great way to  learn about nearby shops and organizations!

Congratulations are in order to Mayor Pronti and the town of North Arlington for hosting such an enjoyable celebration!