Millville’s Fourth Fridays Spread To Third Fridays in Bridgeton
Fourth Friday founder Wade Loatman takes selfie with attendees during Fourth Friday at Buck Riverside Park in Millville on May 23, 2025. Photo courtesy of Wade Loatman.
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
MILLVILLE – The annual summer community celebration Fourth Friday, which started in Millville behind the efforts of local businessman Wade Loatman, has now spread to Bridgeton with their own version.
The next Bridgeton Third Friday, headed by community advocate Tavaius Wilson, will take place on June 20 at the Bridgeton Zoo from 5-8 p.m. Millville’s Fourth Friday was started as a free community event, created to bring families and the community out after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual summer celebration in Millville, with the help of the City of Millville and sponsors, has grown annually as a much-anticipated local festival. Loatman said that NJ4S is the event’s major sponsor this year, which was critical with the slowing of donations because of federal and other budget cuts.
“Millville director of parks and recreation Samantha Cruz is setting new standards to community and municipal relationships,” Loatman told Front Runner New Jersey, lauding the close relationship that has allowed the event—which runs from May to August—to blossom.
“She has the world looking [at Millville] after working closely with me and trusting our community—and kids deserve the best.”
Loatman said Internet and Til Tok stars have been able to connect with local teenagers and adults at the first event in May.
“Sturdy Youngin and Mizz brought out over 500 kids from one-year up to teenagers and adults, which most stepped up into community leader positions,” Loatman said. “The kids acted accordingly, and most adults helped with overseeing, making sure kids were safe.
“[They] went above and beyond performing their hit songs to dancing and taking over two hours to take time to take pics with every last kid in the park, not to mention they gave a youth a ride around town in their car to find out later the kid would tell them it’s his birthday and that was the best birthday ever.”
Loatman said the event has helped redefine local youth who are often mislabeled.
“To see some of the kids that have been labeled the worst kids on from Millville, Bridgeton, Vineland, Salem and other towns come together and get to be kids and have a successful, peaceful event was a blessing for our county, which has been plagued with youth gang violence and murders,” Loatman said. “It makes you want to ask, ‘Is it the kids that’s the problem?”
The Juneteenth flag will be raised at the June 27 event, providing a chance for Millville residents to celebrate the holiday where no other such program existed.
“Our city of Millville Juneteenth Boots in the Park will be led by music from DJ Will Milbourne and we will also have the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office helping out with our ‘Wear Orange Campaign’ for Gun Safety Awareness month.
“This is very important since we have youth as young as 12-year-old getting caught with guns. Wear your cowboy hats, boots and orange! Come enjoy our family event with Mr. Foamtastic filling streets with foam for the kids, a petting zoo, pony rides and plenty free food.”
Loatman said he was humbled to see Wilson take up the “Fridays” mantle and “carry it on in Bridgeton.”
“This will allow both cities to come together and enjoy two days a month of family fun,” Loatman said, noting that the celebration is about providing free activities for families to come together.”
Loatman said for additional information, potential sponsors can contact Cruz at 856-825-7000 in Millville and Wilson at 856-506-7430 in Bridgeton.
“There was truly ‘it takes a village’ energy upon the City of Millville Fourth Friday,” Loatman said. “I am proud of our city.”
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