A fantastic ‘SubFest’ was organized by the Montgomery News to celebrate the new USS New Jersey (SSN 796), a Virginia Class Fast Attack Submarine currently under construction and scheduled to join the fleet in 2023.

The event took place on cool and windy June 18th 2022

Plenty of food and drinks were available, local vendors had tables to display their wares, and two bands entertained the crowd. Our committee were given a table to set up and talk about our role, while the visiting crew members joined us and sold USS New Jersey sweatshirts, t-shirts, ball caps, coins and more as souvenirs. The profit from the crew’s sales go towards their MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) fund.

Several local, including town mayor Devra Keenan, gave people a chance to dunk them if they could hit the target with a thrown ball. Kudos to Devra and every other brave soul for doing this as it wasn’t the warmest day and the dunkings must have been freezing cold!

The main attraction of the day was the second band performing on stage – ‘Slippery When Wet’ – considered the best Bon Jovi tribute band in the country! Their performance was outstanding and the crowd really enjoyed the music. To view a video of their performance of It’s My Life (and more) click here

During a break in the music crew members were asked up on stage and introduced to the crowd by Norman Silverstein! Norman was the power behind this whole event and the committee is grateful to him for everything he did to make this a reality!

Local media in addition to The Montgomery Press were in evidence and our own Chairman Stephen Hutton was interviewed to get our committee’s explanation of what we’re doing and why…

A few more videos of the event can be viewed here

A festival to show support for our newest US Navy warship named after the great state of NEW JERSEY! The USS New Jersey (SSN 796)

A music and food festival featuring the Bon Jovi tribute band “Slippery When Wet” who will be performing on stage this coming June 18th at the Princeton Airport, on Route 206 south (a little north of Princeton) in Montgomery, NJ

Tickets are available online or on the day (though tickets are going fast) https://subfestnj.com/

There will be several vendors showing their wares, multiple food trucks, alcohol (for the adults) provided by The Tiger’s Tale, and ice cream for all ages!

Additionally there will be a climbing wall, a mechanical shark (think mechanical bull but a shark), and a dunking tank where we hope to dunk some local sports coaches, teachers, or anyone else we can ‘rope in’ before the day.

A local band will warm the crowd up before the main band plays.

Most important – for us – there will be several members of the new fast attack Virginia-class submarine USS New Jersey (SSN-796) present to meet and greet attendees. If you wonder what life is like aboard a US Navy submarine, what they eat, what they do with their time, why they chose the navy…. then this is the place to be.

Please stop by the committee’s booth to say hello when you first enter the event.

This promises to be a huge event dedicated to our brave men and women of the US Navy’s submarine force and to the USS NEW JERSEY (SSN 796)

Join us to meet and celebrate crew members of the new Virginia-class submarine THE USS NEW JERSEY!

She’s currently wrapping up construction and will be joining the fleet next year. Meanwhile we’re bringing her crew to her namesake state to join the Jersey family and get to know us while we get to know her!

So join us for a fun filled day of music, food, and patriotic celebration!

http://www.subfestnj.com

http://www.subfestnj.com