The free event opens the community’s historic downtown business district to wineries, craft breweries, and live music, dance, and comedy from 5 to 9 p.m. September 23.
By Matt Skoufalos | September 23, 2016
Sippin’ Soiree art. Credit: Falco Media Services.
On Friday evening, Haddon Heights welcomes the start of autumn with the Sippin’ Soiree, a local showcase of craft beer, regional wine, and area performers.
Sponsored by the Haddon Heights in Progress (HIP) business group, Friday’s event complements the borough’s Station Avenue eateries with offerings from five wineries, six breweries, and eight food trucks.
Four hours of entertainment, including comedy, live music, and bellydance, will alternate among three stages in front of PNC Bank, Gradwell House Studio, and Ropeadope Records.
The event will feature food trucks and a beer garden along East Atlantic Avenue, pop-up vendors on the Station Avenue sidewalk, and free tastings from Jersey wineries. For $10, patrons 21 and older get a stemless, 15-ounce glass and one $5 beer ticket. Additional tickets are $5; wine is free to taste and sold by the bottle.
The event is a fall kick-off for the Haddon Heights community, but also showcases its historic downtown for guests.
Haddon Heights Sippin’ Soiree glass. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
“The more we do these events, we attract more people from outside of Haddon Heights,” said HIP organizer Joe Gentile.
“I want people to come out and enjoy the end of summer and the beginning of autumn on Station Avenue,” he said.
Those who attended last December’s Sippin’ on Station wine tasting—for which the roads were not closed to vehicle traffic—should expect “a more walkable, enjoyable event,” Gentile said.
For increased accessibility, the Sippin’ Soiree will shut down the roadway in the 500 block of Station Avenue at 3:30 p.m. and the 100 and 200 blocks of East Atlantic Avenue at 4:30 p.m. Both will reopen at 9 p.m.
“There’s total walkability,” Gentile said. “Streets will be closed. Lines will be shortened from our experience at Rhythm and Brews and our last Sippin’ on Station.”
Music coordinator Fabian Brown, who assembled the acts for the April 2016 Rhythm and Brews festival, described the entertainment as a showcase of dance, comedy, and “a range of original music mixed with deep grooves and jams.” The event organizers share “a passion for bringing all the important elements that make the community come together,” Brown said.
Louis Marks in the Ropeadope store in Haddon Heights. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Ropeadope Records CEO Louis Marks hopes the festival will be an opportunity for him to give neighbors an audio tour of his label’s catalogue.
Marks has promised a debut of unreleased material from trumpeter David Weiss of The Cookers, Yasmine Kyd of Paris DJs, and saxophonist Michael Blake, as well as giveaways.
“Stop in and listen to records,” Marks said. “Come down and hear material and talk music. There will be some Ropeadope artists showing up.”
Serpent Sutra Bellydance will complement musical acts Gypsymother, Commiserators, The Wayside Shakeup, Jeremiah Stone, Dog Paws, Sam Caruso, and Fresh Cut Orchestra, as well as comedians Rudy Reel, Tim Raymus, and Ron Kelly of Humor Hound Comedy.
New Jersey-grown grapes at Auburn Road Winery. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Wineries
- Amalthea Cellars
- DiMatteo’s Vineyards
- Sharrott Winery
- Southwind Vineyard
- Summit City Farms and Winery
Breweries
- Lunacy Brewing Company – IPA
- Saint Benjamin Brewing Company – Wit or Witout Belgian White Ale, Inca India-style Cream Ale
- Spellbound Brewing – IPA, Pale Ale
- Tonewood Brewing – Double IPA, Dunkel
- Tuckahoe Brewing Co. – Reeds Bay IPA, Dennis Creek Pale Ale, Marshallville Wit
- Victory Beer – Vital IPA, Festbier, Summer Love
Tonewood Brewery Tanks. Credit: Tricia Burrough.
Food trucks
- Charlie’s Crepes
- Cooper River Lunch & Munch
- Dump-N-Roll
- Hotdogman
- Mr. Softee
- Not Your Mama’s Tacos
- Oink and Moo BBQ
- Sweet Pea Ice Cream
Commiserators. Credit: Commiserators.
Entertainment
Gradwell House Studio Stage
5 p.m. – Commiserators
6:45 p.m. – Serpent Sutra
7 p.m. – Comedy
7:15 p.m. – Gypsymother
PNC Bank Stage
5 p.m. – Sam Caruso
6:15 p.m. – Jeremiah Stone
7:30 p.m. – Comedy
7:45 p.m. – Serpent Sutra
8 p.m. – Dog Paws
Ropeadope Records Stage
5 p.m. – Fresh Cut Orchestra
6:45 p.m. – Comedy
7 p.m. – Serpent Sutra
7:30 p.m. – The Wayside Shakeup
