Lambertville Celebrates The Return Of The Shad This Weekend

LAMBERTVILLE, NJ — When it comes to river town traditions, few can rival Shad Fest, Lambertville's epic celebration of fish, fun and family.

Every April, the Lambertville Chamber of Commerce stages the festival in the City of Lambertville to welcome the shad back home to its spawning grounds and to bring people together to celebrate the area.

Once a year in the spring, the shad make the harrowing journey northward from their home in the Atlantic Ocean to lay their eggs in the fresh waters of the Delaware River.

In celebration of that journey, the chamber has organized the festival for the past four decades featuring live music, vendors, visits to the Lewis Island Fishery and plenty of food and family-oriented fun.

“It’s a tradition and traditions are really important to maintain,” said Eliane Talec, a member of the chamber’s executive board. “Shad Fest is an opportunity to experience something unique, something that’s held on tradition and something to honor the Delaware River, which surrounds us all.”

This year the rain or shine festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day off Bridge Street and along the Lambertville waterfront.

Shad Fest will bring 75 different vendors into town concentrated in three main areas - Home and Garden (North Union Street Parking Lot), Local’s Lane on Church Street featuring an area filled with treasures made by Lambertville area artists; and a children’s section with games, prizes, face painting and entertainment.

“Shad Fest features the area’s finest artists and crafters, great food, music and family entertainment,” said Talec. “You can bring children. You can bring friends. You can bring the whole family. You can spend a couple of hours or you can spend the whole day. There’s just a lot to see and do.”

Delicious eats of all kinds will be available at the Shad Fest Food Court at the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot. On the menu will be everything from fried Oreos to taco salads, Hawaiian BBQ to fried calamari and from gyros to fresh lemonade.

There will even be an opportunity at the festival to try some Shad or to take some home to cook.

“Some people like the taste of Shad and some people don’t, but this whole weekend is in honor of them,” said Talec.

Throughout the weekend, Shad Fest posters created by local artists will be on display at the First Presbyterian Church. They will be sold during a live and silent auction on Sunday with proceeds benefiting scholarships for local students pursuing degrees in art.

At the heart of the weekend festival are the free public Shad hauling demonstrations on Lewis Island located at the end of Lambert Lane.

Shad fishing on the Delaware. (Delaware River Basin Commission)

The Lewis family has been fishing these waters since 1888, and holds the only remaining commercial license to catch shad with nets. Once a year for Shad Fest they open up their fishery to the public offering a unique glimpse into the shad fishing story.

For the past 20 years, Steve Meserve and his family have run the Lewis Fishery, the last commercial shad operation on the Delaware River. He is the fourth generation to lead the Lambertville, New Jersey, business. Like his great-grandfather captain Bill Lewis, who turned the former American Shad Fishery into the Lewis Fishery in 1888, Meserve is a proud steward of the river.

Throughout the weekend, Talec said a lot of local businesses will be joining in the fun paying homage to the Shad in their own unique and fun ways.“You might find a Shadtini at some of the local bars or Shad Fest discounts at the shops and stores,” said Talec.

“If you want to have a good time, come on down to Shad Fest. There’s something for everyone. It’s also a great opportunity to explore Lambertville’s many shops and restaurants. Bring your bikes and ride along the trail. Visit some of the antique shops. Walk over the bridge. It’s a great place to explore and experience.”

For complete details on Shad Fest, visit LambertvilleChamber.org.