Celebrate the 4th of July Early @ Battleship New Jersey
CAMDEN, NJ – May 5 – Independence Week this year will begin with a bang as the 7th Annual Battleship Blast will take place on Saturday evening, June 27, aboard our nation’s largest and most decorated battleship. But this year, this unique event will include an overnight family encampment, a special surf and turf BBQ on the fantail, live music, entertainment, and, of course, the BEST view of the Fireworks over the Delaware River.
“We are so excited to share this unique evening with the people of the Delaware Valley,” said Patricia Egan Jones, Chair of the Battleship New Jersey’s Board of Trustees and Camden County Surrogate. “In past years, we held a private fundraiser that was very nice and important to raising funds the ship. However, this year, we will continue to offer special benefits to our partners, as well as have the many fans of the Battleship and fireworks come on board for a great time.”
“We open the Battleship’s decks to the public each New Year’s Eve for Midnight fireworks,” explained Jim Schuck, Acting President and CEO of the Battleship New Jersey. “We get about 2,000 people to view fireworks and another 220 people who spend the night in our encampment program. This is at midnight in the winter! Now imagine coming aboard the Battleship in early evening in the summer! It will be a great time!”
People who want to come aboard the Battleship to view the fireworks from the ship’s forecastle or pier will be greeted with live music, face painting, the Philly Phanatic, animals from the Philadelphia Zoo Wheels, the Philadelphia 76ers Dance team and more! There will also be food and bar service available. The Battleship’s Decks will open for fireworks viewing at 6 pm. A ticket to get onboard the ship’s deck is $10 per person. There are also Pier-only tickets available for $7. Tickets can be purchased online at www.battleshipnewjersey.org, or by calling 1-866-877-6262 ext. 107, or at the Battleship’s Tickets Office.
Guests can also enjoy a very nice BBQ, featuring lobster tail, filet mignon, teriyaki chicken, and an open bar on the ship’s fantail (tented rear deck). There will also be live music and a special viewing area of the fireworks at dusk. The BBQ begins at 5 pm and tickets per person are $175. To purchase BBQ tickets, call 1-866-877-6262 ext. 102.
Or for a full night of activity on the ship, families can spend the night on board as part of the Battleship’s award-winning Overnight Encampment program. Campers can enjoy dinner and breakfast served chow line –style at the crew’s galley, experience a guided tour of the ship, ride on the 4D flight simulator and sleep in the bunks that the crew of the USS New Jersey once did. PLUS, at dusk, experience the best view of the fireworks over the Delaware River. The price per person for the Blast Encampment is $60.95 per person. Overnights are available for families only.
Partnership opportunities are also available and include exposure to all guests who come aboard the Battleship for the Blast, inclusion on Battleship advertising and public relations efforts, BBQ tickets, fireworks tickets and more. To get a full list of partner benefits and opportunities, contact Jack Willard at j.willard@battleshipnewjersey.org or by call 1-866-877-6262 ext. 144.
The USS New Jersey, constructed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, was commissioned into the US Navy in May 1943, and participated in operations in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Beirut Crisis and the first Person Gulf War. Her 19 Battle Stars makes the New Jersey the most decorated battleship in our nation’s history. Over 55,000 naval veterans once referred to the USS New Jersey as home.
Today, the Battleship New Jersey is opened to the public as a floating museum on the Delaware River, along the Camden Waterfront. A signature attraction to veterans, patriots, students and families from around the world, the Battleship New Jersey has already undergone massive restoration efforts. She brings history to life for visitors during daily guided tours through the Iowa-class ship, one of the largest battleships ever built – seeing the Admiral’s quarters, the officers and crew’s mess, the crew’s quarters, the communications center and more, throughout the ship’s massive nine decks.
This past year, the Battleship added the new tour route, “City at Sea”, which allows guests to tour never seen areas before such as the Machine Shops, the Medical and Dental facilities, the Post Office, the WWII-Era Radio Room, the TV Studio and Control Room , and more. Further, the Battleship added an audio tour to her popular self-guided tour route. This newly names General Quarters Tour, allows guests to experience both the sights and sounds of the legendary 16-inch gun turrets, the bridge, the officers wardroom, the tomahawk missiles and much more. The new audio includes experiences by former crew members, sound effects and music.
Yet there is more to come. A new “Below Decks Tour” is planned for 2008. Guests will get to experience the engine rooms, dental and medical facilities, the plotting room and more.
The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial offers guided and self-guided tours daily, beginning at 9:30 am with the last tour departing at 5pm. Spend the night aboard the Battleship as part of the Overnight Encampment program. Guests experience dinner and lunch from the crew’s mess, a tour of the ship, a ride on the 4D flight simulator and the opportunity to sleep in the bunks that the crew of the USS New Jersey once did. Also, special group packages and event/meeting space are available. For more information, call 856-966-1652 or visit the Battleship at www.battleshipnewjersey.org.
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Fireworks in Princeton a photo by Lakewentworth
Fireworks in Princeton a photo by Lakewentworth 2
