International Fesitval, Saturday, May 22, 2 pm — Traffic, Drop-off, Parking
We’re expecting over 250 people at Saturday afternoon’s Montessori House International Festival. The Festival starts at 2 p.m. and will continue until 5:30 p.m.
Thanks to our International Festival Committee and all the volunteers who have already spent much time preparing for this weekend’s festivities. And thanks for all the really hard work (and great results!) that are yet to come.
The Festival will take place as follows:
- Check-in at the Check-In Counter with Ms. Maria.
- Montessori House students receive a Festival Passport.
- Tour the world, taste the food, try the crafts at our 12 country booths.
- Everyone gathers at the World Stage to hear and see music and dance performances from around the world.
- Note, the country booths will close during the performances.
- As our one dozen country booths reopen, resume your round-the-world tour, tastings and crafts.
The Montessori House International Festival is a family event. Parents must accompany and supervise their children at all times. At many of our country booths, children will need parent assistance to participate in the activities. And, if you have any food concerns (allergies, etc.), only parents can supervise what their children eat.
As an all-volunteer effort, we must limit the International Festival only to the immediate family of Montessori House students enrolled for 2009-10 or 2010-11, and only to those families who provided an RSVP by last week. Please do not bring friends or extended family, for we may not have space to admit them.
Parking at the school will be limited, so please read on for instructions on traffic, drop-off and parking.
Traffic, Drop-off and Parking
The Festival will take place in and around The Montessori House playground. We have limited parking available at the school, and much of this will be occupied by Festival presenters and performers. Here are some rules and suggestions for drop-off and parking:
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All traffic through the parking lot will be one-way: enter only on River Edge and exit only on Knickerbocker. Only exit to the right (north) on Knickerbocker, no left turn exit permitted. We will post a Stop sign at the walkway to the school entrance; please proceed slowly and with utmost caution through the parking lot (we expect to have over 100 young children in the area, and sometimes they escape!)
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Once you enter from River Edge, we will have a designated area where you may drop off members of your family with their food contribution. Please, young children must be dropped off with an adult companion, never alone and unaccompanied.
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Deliver your food contribution to tables just east of the playground (by the Stepping Stones play area); volunteers will be ready with labels and instructions.
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After drop-off, the driver should continue through the parking lot to the Knickerbocker exit.
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Exit to the right (north) on Knickerbocker. No parking is permitted on Knickerbocker. Your best bet for street parking is to proceed to the light and turn right on River Edge:
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You may park on River Edge after you’ve driven past the school parking lot entrance. Please be mindful of bus stops, driveways, etc. and be attentive to posted parking rules.
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You may park on the side streets off River Edge. Again, be mindful of driveways, fire hydrants, posted parking rules, etc.
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When you leave the Festival, we recommend that your entire party walk to your car. If you cross River Edge, please do so carefully, at the traffic light. If you choose to pick-up your party in the parking lot, be warned: many people will be cleaning and packing and traffic through the lot will be very slow.
The weather forecast for Saturday is great. We look forward to a wonderful time with you, your family and all your Montessori House friends!