The township has announced the indefinite postponement of the 2025 Gloucester Township Day celebration on June 7, citing social media threats that encourage violence at the event and last year’s hostile and disorderly crowd.
During a press conference at the Gloucester Township Municipal Building on April 8, Mayor David R. Mayer, Police Chief David Harkins and members of the Gloucester Township Day Scholarship Committee addressed the difficult decision by citing an increased risk to public safety.
The Veterans Park event is now postponed indefinitely.
Gloucester Township Day, a long-standing tradition that brings the community together while raising scholarship funds for local high-school seniors, has been a staple for many years. But officials stressed that recent safety concerns couldn’t be ignored.
“Gloucester Township Day is a beloved event that fosters community spirit and celebrates our town,” said Mayer. “However, the safety of our residents, families and visitors is our top priority. Given the concerning nature of the threats circulating online and the incidents at last year’s event, we must take all precautions.”
Last year’s festival was marred by chaos when attendees in a crowd of more than 500 young people began fighting just after 8 p.m. and continued for more than two hours, police said. Almost 200 officers responded to the melee and police charged 10 juveniles and one adult with disorderly conduct. Only one of those arrested was a township resident.
As for social media threats, the township police department became aware of threatening comments following a March 9 Instagram post about the event, according to Harkins. The post was widely shared across other platforms and included threats of violent behavior.
“Our department takes all threats seriously, and unfortunately, the nature of these posts raised significant concern,” Harkins explained. “Given the disruptive and violent behavior we witnessed at the conclusion of the 2024 event, we could not in good conscience move forward with the 2025 celebration without fully addressing these safety risks.”
The postponement was met with support from local leaders and community members, many of whom expressed disappointment but acknowledged the importance of prioritizing safety.
“The scholarship committee has always been dedicated to making Gloucester Township Day a safe and enjoyable event,” noted committee member Richard Hollingshead. “While postponing the event is disappointing, we believe it is the right call given the current circumstances. We remain committed to finding solutions that allow us to celebrate our community while ensuring the safety of all attendees.”
While a new date has yet to be announced, officials are exploring options for the event’s safe return, keeping in mind the spirit of the tradition. Police are also reviewing security measures and monitoring online activity.
The scholarship program funded by the event will continue, ensuring that local high-school students still benefit from the initiative.
For more information, visit www.glotwp.com or follow the township’s official social media channels.
