These Asburian dead-heads came to town with the Zombie mob in 2014, but it could have been yesterday. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
Once again the City of Asbury Park hosted an October Zombie walk. We don’t know how many came, because we didn’t go. They always look the same: “deja vu all over again.” The City does it because they are desperate to keep the tourist flame alive long after Labor Day. They have events going on each weekend.
It is predictably mostly an attempt to get people to show up in grotesque costumes where no one seems happy. In fact it’s hard to find anyone at the Zombie walk who is smiling or laughing. The mantra is to look evil and disgusting. What a marvelous theme for a place that some see as a center for NJ art, music, and cuisine.
Someone complained yesterday that Blogfinger should not have posted Jean’s photo of the Harvest Festival in OG because it is the same boring thing over and over again.
OG Harvest Festival in 2016. Should we close down our downtown to sell trinkets, T shirts and hot dogs? Paul Goldfinger photo ©
But this criticism misses the point which is that a town’s event schedule should primarily take into consideration those who actually live in the town.
Having events that are designed to create commercial goals rather than to further the cultural and community spirits of the towns themselves is to fail those who make their homes here , raise their families, pay taxes and seek loftier ideals. The goal should be events that enrich the townspeople and then become traditions worth looking forward to.
For example, a town farmers’ market is satisfying because local growers share their goods with the local citizens. Helping to feed ones’ neighbors and to meet the growers is a rich experience to share.
Will A. Park be considered an amazing place in the future or will it be known as a monied playground for hipsters?
And will the Grove be known as a historic village where music, culture, family, religion and community take center stage? Or will it be seen as a grid-locked mish-mash lacking focus, as is seen in so many shore towns.
SAM COOKE AT THE COPA:
