The 29th annual Essex Day community festival Sunday showed no signs of being the last, with more than 200 vendors peddling everything from chocolate hazelnut smoothies to John Deere tractors to spray paint for hair.
Local officials recalled how two years ago they thought the event had reached its end. They struggled to revive the event, and compared its rebirth to the community?s economic revitalization and efforts against crime.
“When we have tough times, we roll up our sleeves,” said U.S. Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, D-District 2.
“It didn?t just happen. It happened because the community came together and because our elected officials were involved at the federal, state and local level.”
Event planners said they expected to top last year?s turnout of 18,000 at Sunday?s festival, which attracted several officials on the campaign trail including Gov. Robert Ehrlich.
