A timeline car show at Somewhere in Time presents vintage vehicles from the 1920s onward.
By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
It wasn’t quite nostalgia that gripped Joann Perna when she looked at the photograph, as she was clearly not among the Downriver residents pictured in a 1927 photograph of Elizabeth Park. The inspiration, however, was the birth of Trenton’s Somewhere in Time community celebration.
Instead, she said it was “the whole atmosphere” of the scene as depicted in a photo at the Wayne County Parks and Recreation offices where Perna worked as an intern before becoming Assistant Director of Trenton Parks and Recreation.
“The whole essence of the event was to recapture that flavor of the early 1900s,” Perna said. “A leisurely Sunday afternoon.”
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, the 27th Annual Somewhere in Time celebration takes over Elizabeth Park, recreating as much as possible the spirit of community that Perna saw in a vintage photograph.
More than 7,000 friends and neighbors are expected to gather for old-time entertainment, a car show lined in chronological order for a rolling history of the area’s automotive roots, riverboat tours aboard the Diamond Belle, a bake sale, arts and crafts on display, children’s entertainment and a pie-eating contest at 3:30 p.m.
Contest participants won’t be the only people eating; for the third year the Somewhere in Time activities will share Elizabeth Park space with Taste of Trenton and Beyond, a city-sponsored showcase of local restaurants serving up an old-fashioned picnic in the park. The Taste kicks off at noon and concludes at 6 p.m. Perna said the Taste event was previously held at a different location near City Hall, but organizers merged the events to bring more of the community together.
“The whole premise is to enjoy a Sunday afternoon at Elizabeth Park,” Perna said. “Just a laid back day.”
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)