10 Feb
First Annual SMR Mayapple Festival, May 22nd
The public is invited to the First Annual South Mountain Reservation Mayapple Festival sponsored by the South Mountain Conservancy and Essex County Department of Parks. The event will feature a range of activities for children and adults throughout the day at Summit Field as well as an ultra-marathon starting from the Locust Grove Picnic area. The festival will be held as follows:
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2010
Time: 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Ultra-Marathon, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Festival
Place: Essex County South Mountain Reservation, Crest Drive, Maplewood, NJ
The festival begins at the crack of dawn at 6 a.m. when runners take to the trails in the 2010 Mayapple Ultras. Some sixty ultra-marathon trail runners from a half-dozen states will tackle 50 kilometer (31 miles), or 100 kilometer (62 miles), events on a 21-mile loop that starts and finishes at Locust Grove in Millburn. For more information on the route, go to
Most other festival events will take place during the day at the south end of Summit Field, accessible from Bramhall Terrace and the dog park where there is parking. These locations are off Crest Drive, which is accessible from South Orange Avenue. These include: Exhibit of nature-oriented art by eight local artists; two dance performances by the Orange Performance Ensemble from the Orange Middle School and High School; a nature exhibit by the Essex County Environmental Center; creative writing workshop, and four hikes.
Schedule of Activities
(All events are at or start at the south end of the Summit Field picnic area, unless otherwise noted.):
6:00 a.m. Ultra-marathons start, Locust Grove Picnic Area
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Art Exhibit, silent auction, nature exhibits, displays about Conservancy volunteer activities
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Hike: Washington Rock by a different route: Hikers will walk at a moderate pace on some seldom used trails to and from Washington Rock. A tour of the sites and monuments will be given. Dave Hogenauer will lead this hike.
11:30 a.m.-12 Noon, Orange Performance Ensemble, New Jersey’s entrant into the NJ State Teen Art Festival
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Hike: Quick Stroll to the Falls: A medium-paced stroll to Hemlock Falls will use part of the newly extended Red Dot Trail and a new section of the Lenape Trail. Meet at the south end of the Summit Field picnic area. Lou Nocito will lead this hike.
1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Orange Performance Ensemble
1:00-4:00 p.m., Ultimate Frisbee Exhibition Game, Mayapple Hill picnic area
1:30 to 3 p.m., Hike: Origins of the Park Historical Tour: Hikers will travel to Bramhall Terrace, which overlooks New York City, and see areas related to the founding of the park in 1895 and some old, abandoned mines where Maplewood residents of the early 1800s hoped to find copper. Dave Hogenauer will lead this hike.
2 to 3:30 p.m., Creative Writing Workshop, Join Judith Lindbergh, novelist and director of The Writers Circle, on a nature-focused writing workshop. Bring notebooks, pencils, even crayons and let your senses open wide. Participants will take a slow walk over easy trails to allow for the best observation and imagination. The workshop is appropriate for all ages. An adult must accompany children under 12. There is a limit of 20 participants.
2 to 3 p.m., Hike: The Wildflower and Forest Preserve: Join Tricia Zimic for a tour of the new trails in the nearby 14-acre preserve. Meet at the south end of the Summit Field picnic area. Lou Nocito will lead this hike.
Check the Conservancy’s website at www.somocon.org the morning of May 22nd in case the event is postponed until June 5th due to inclement weather
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The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 20 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Essex County’s largest park, the South Mountain Reservation has recently been expanded to 2,110 acres covering Millburn, West Orange, and Maplewood.
The South Mountain Conservancy is a volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserve, protect, and enhance the South Mountain Reservation through education and public service. Founded in March 2000, it works in concert with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. Find out about its activities and volunteer programs for individuals and community groups and brand new map.