08/28/2026
Feature Friday!
Pennsville Septemberfest 2026 - A conversation with Septemberfest Committee Chairperson Ann Lake.
Two weeks from tomorrow, one of Pennsville's most cherished traditions will take place. Since 1977, the annual Septemberfest at Riverview Beach Park has created so many lasting memories for our residents and visitors from other communities. Discover Pennsville recently conducted an interview with Septemberfest Committee Chairperson Ann Lake, and she talked about all the preparation that goes into this event and its history and the personal meaning it has to her.
Q: How excited are you and your committee about the 2026 Pennsville Septemberfest?
A: We are very excited. It feels like we’ve been talking about September 12th for a long time, and now suddenly it’s right around the corner!
We’ve had some challenging weather the past few years, and unfortunately that has affected Septemberfest in a lot of ways. We’ve had to end the day early because of storms, postpone fireworks, and deal with the financial impact that comes along with that.
So this year, in addition to planning a great day for the community, we’ve really focused on making Septemberfest stronger and more financially sustainable for the future. We’ve tried some new fundraising ideas, looked closely at our expenses, and at the same time worked hard to preserve the traditions that people love about Septemberfest.
I think our committee has done a great job. There are so many people working behind the scenes on their individual parts of the event, and it’s exciting to finally see all of those pieces coming together. And after the weather we’ve had the last few years, I think the entire committee is ready for a beautiful Septemberfest day!
Q: Are there any new attractions or happenings taking place this year that the public should know about?
A: One of the things I’m most excited about this year is our parade. For the past few years we’ve had two high school marching bands, and this year we’ll have five high school marching bands joining us. We really wanted to bring more of that hometown, community feel to the parade, and I think the bands are going to add a lot to it.
Another big change this year is our Septemberfest 50/50. In the past, we’ve held several smaller 50/50 drawings throughout Septemberfest day. This year we’re doing one larger drawing, and we’ve been distributing tickets in advance throughout the community. The winner does not have to be present, and the response has been incredible. We’ve already distributed close to 1,000 tickets, and it’s still August!
Of course, we’ll still have all of the Septemberfest traditions people look forward to, including the parade, rides, food and craft vendors, exhibitors, entertainment at the bandstand, the art contest, barbecue and fireworks to end the night.
Septemberfest is also more than just that one day. We participate in other community events and hold fundraisers throughout the year. We take part in the annual Cruise Night organized by the Road Knights, and Andrea O’Brien helps coordinate Septemberfest’s participation in that event.
We also hold the annual Septemberfest Tennis Tournament, coordinated by longtime committee member Dan Lamont. Dan is a Pennsville High School history teacher and tennis coach who gives a tremendous amount of his own time to the community, including volunteering to give tennis lessons to kids at the park during the summer. We’re especially proud to honor Dan this year as our 2026 Septemberfest Parade Marshal. It’s a small way for us to recognize someone who has given so much of his time to Pennsville and Septemberfest.
After Septemberfest, we’re also looking forward to our new Pocketbook Bingo fundraiser, which we hope will become another successful event for us.
Q: How much preparation goes into an event like this and are you still seeking volunteers?
A: I don’t think I fully appreciated how much preparation goes into Septemberfest until I became chairperson! There are so many pieces that have to come together, and most of the work happens behind the scenes for months before the actual day.
We’re fortunate to have committee members who really take ownership of different areas. Lori Silver, Kathleen Schellinger and Kathleen Galante coordinate our vendors, Jennifer Rowand handles Miss Septemberfest, Casey Slusher coordinates the rides, and Angela Zane handles the fireworks. Lynn Cafaro is involved in so much of our fundraising, including our new 50/50 and Pocketbook Bingo. Carla Barnhart, our previous chairperson, continues to coordinate the art contest and helps with our bandstand entertainment.
Brad Olcott and Nancy Sommers at the Recreation Department are also a huge part of everything that has to happen in the park.
Beth Blohm joined the committee this year and stepped right into the very important role of treasurer. With both a new chairperson and a new treasurer this year, there was certainly a lot for us to learn, and she has done a tremendous job jumping in and helping wherever she’s needed.
And those are just some of the people who make it happen. There are other committee members, township employees, community organizations, sponsors and volunteers doing things most people will never see. Septemberfest really is a team effort.
At this point, with Septemberfest so close, we’re not really looking to add new committee members to the planning process for this year, but we can always use extra hands on Septemberfest day. If someone is interested in joining us for next year, we’d love to hear from them. With the 50th anniversary coming up, it’s a great time to get involved.
Q: Next year Septemberfest will be celebrating 50 years. How can people reach out to you to offer ideas and participation to make next year’s event truly special?
A: We’re already talking about it! Fifty years is a huge milestone, and I would really love for the community to be part of deciding how we celebrate it.
Septemberfest grew out of Pennsville’s Bicentennial celebration at Riverview Beach Park in 1976. That event was so successful that the community decided to hold another festival the following year. The first Septemberfest was held in 1977, and it became the annual Pennsville tradition we know today.
We already have some ideas we’re excited about. One we’d really like to explore is inviting former Miss Septemberfest winners from throughout the years to come back and be part of the 50th celebration, whether that’s participating in the parade, joining us at Septemberfest, or both. I think it would be really special to have different generations of Miss Septemberfest represented together.
We’d also love to hear from longtime residents. If you have photographs, old programs, memorabilia, stories or memories from Septemberfests through the years, we’d love to hear from you. And, of course, we’re looking for people with ideas who would like to get involved and help us plan the celebration.
People can contact us through the Pennsville Septemberfest page or by email at [email protected]. Once this year’s Septemberfest is behind us, we’ll really start focusing on 2027, and we’d love to have the community be part of it.
Q: How much does this event personally mean to you and what are some of your favorite memories?
A: Septemberfest has always been one of those traditions that just feels like Pennsville to me. It’s a day when you see people you haven’t seen in a while, families come back year after year, and kids who grew up going to Septemberfest eventually bring their own children.
There’s also a family connection that makes being chairperson especially meaningful to me. The chairman of the very first Septemberfest committee in 1977 was my uncle, Jack Lake. I was only 10 years old at that first Septemberfest, so it’s pretty special to me that almost 50 years later, I’m now serving as chairperson of the same event.
Growing up, Septemberfest always seemed to mark the beginning of a new school year. It was right after Labor Day, school was starting, and suddenly everyone was back together again. I remember walking through the park, seeing friends you might not have seen all summer, and the football players proudly walking around in their newly issued jerseys. It was just part of growing up in Pennsville.
Then when I got to high school, I was in the marching band, so I experienced Septemberfest from the other side of the parade. And I definitely remember how hot it was marching in full uniform, jacket, hat and everything!
I’ve also always loved the fireworks at the end of the night. We’ve had to be very conscious of expenses this year, but the fireworks were one thing the committee felt strongly about preserving. Ending Septemberfest with fireworks over the river is part of what makes the day special.
I think that’s what Septemberfest means to me more than any one memory. I’ve experienced it as a child walking through the park with my friends, as a teenager marching in the parade, and now as the chairperson helping to plan it. It’s pretty special to be part of a tradition that has meant so much to Pennsville for almost 50 years.
