Gloucester Township Day postponed indefinitely: Mayor weighs in
The Brief
The decades-old Gloucester Township Day celebration has been posted indefinitely for 2025.
The news comes after hundreds of teens and young adults created chaos during last year's event and posted social media threats ahead of this year's event.
Gloucester Township's mayor has addressed the decision to postpone Township Day.
GLOUCESTER TWP., N.J. - Officials in Gloucester Township made the disappointing announcement Tuesday afternoon that the town's popular 40-year-old summer carnival planned for June 7th has been postponed indefinitely due to credible online threats.
The threats came after the 2024 event where hundreds of rowdy teens took over Veteran's Park and hundreds of officers responded.
What we know
Officials say the safety and well-being of its residents, families, and visitors remain their top priority.
Threats of firearms and chaos were among some of the social media posts threatening a decades-old community tradition in Gloucester Township.
As of Tuesday night, that popular event is officially off.
"In light of the experience of last year's Gloucester Township Day and our readership and analysis, we cannot provide a venue to allow this type of behavior to repeat itself this year," said Chief David Harkins of the Gloucester Township Police.
The Gloucester Township Police Chief announced the disappointing news that the town's popular 40-year-old summer carnival planned for June 7 has been postponed indefinitely due to credible online threats.
The threats followed last year's event, where hundreds of rowdy teens took over Veteran's Park, prompting a response from hundreds of officers.
More than a dozen teens were charged with disorderly conduct during the melee.
"A group of hundreds of unruly and unparented juveniles disrupted that nice gathering, turning it into chaos," said David Mayer, Mayor of Gloucester Township.
Officials say they didn't want to postpone the event, but after seeing threats discussing gunfire and causing terror, they felt they had no choice.
"What happened after that posting is both alarming, as one post was circulated around the internet 20,000 times by what appears to be juveniles expressing their excitement about showing up and once again causing disruption and chaos," Mayer explained.
The event is also a major fundraiser for a township scholarship program for high school students going to college, meaning some kids won't receive that money this year.
"Last year we raised approximately $30,000 for Gloucester Township Day, so you can imagine that represents a substantial majority of the money we raise," Mayer noted.
What's next
New legislation in New Jersey that would enhance fines disorderly conduct and create new penalties for inciting public brawls is awaiting Governor Murphy's signature.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Paul Moriarty (D) of Gloucester.
Township officials say if signed into law they may reconsider their decision.
The Source
The information in this story is from the Gloucester Township police and mayor.
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