9-05-2024 8:33am

Bridgewater Commons Celebrates Chinese Culture at Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, September 14 to 22

Donnella Tilery Editor

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (September 5, 2024) — In what has been a beloved tradition at Bridgewater Commons over the last five years, the Center for Cultural & Creative Exchange (CCCE) will once again present the free Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional Chinese Folk celebration of light from September 14 to 22 in the mall’s Center Court and beyond.

The Festival will kick off at 3 p.m. on September 14 with a traditional live performance of music and dance from the CCCE, a non-profit organization founded in New Jersey with a mission to help preserve Chinese culture and heritage and to promote unity, harmony and respect for all demographic groups within the community. The performance will feature lion dances, Chinese Yoyo, Tibetan dance and more.

“We’ve been thrilled to partner with CCCE for several years on various festivals, including Lunar New Year, and I never fail to be amazed and educated by the performers,” said Tom Kovacic, Marketing and Business Development Director at Bridgewater Commons. “It’s a celebration of our growing and cherished Asian American community, and a unifying force for all of Central New Jersey.”

The centerpiece will be a display of 15 illuminated handmade Chinese lanterns in various forms from actual animals to mythical dragons rising up to 10 feet high throughout the first two levels of the center, illuminating walkways and providing a guide to Chinese culture

In addition, the mall and CCCE will host a Chinese Lantern Making Workshop in the Event space, located next to Vans on the Main Level, where families can create their own lanterns, which symbolize vitality, social status, and good luck. Workshops will be held on September 14, 15 and 22 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kits will cost $5, with proceeds to benefit the CCCE.

“Bridgewater Commons’ status as the shopping, dining and entertainment core of Central New Jersey was a major factor in our working together on this event five years ago,” said Li Ching Jung, Founder of the CCCE. “The extraordinary relationship we’ve developed with the team, and the team’s connection with the community is why we are still working together today. We’re excited to continue this tradition this year and going forward.”

Located along Interstate 287 at the intersections of Route 22 and Route 202/206, the

1.2 million-square-foot Bridgewater Commons is Somerset County’s largest shopping, dining and entertainment destination. The complex also includes The Village at Bridgewater Commons, a unique, open-air shopping district with more than 10 retailers and food and beverage locations including LOFT, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Shake Shack, and Starbucks.

About Bridgewater Commons
Located along the I-287 corridor at the intersection of Routes 22 and 202/206 in Bridgewater, New jersey, Bridgewater Commons is a more than 1.2 million-square-foot shopping center serving the Northern N.J. region. The cornerstone of its community’s commercial sector since 1988 and boasting an array of over 150 leading retailers, premiere restaurants and convenient service brands, Bridgewater Commons is home to anchor department stores Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s; iconic retailers including Apple, J. Crew, Lucky Brand Jeans, lululemon athletica, Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma; along with a collection of restaurants, eateries and entertainment venues such as Fogo de Chão, Seasons 52, The Cheesecake Factory, Redstone American Grill and AMC Dine-In Theatres, among many more. Further enhancing the property is The Village at Bridgewater Commons, a unique, open-air shopping district with over 10 retailers and food and beverage locations including White House Black Market, LOFT, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Shake Shack and Starbucks for visitors to explore and enjoy. Bridgewater Commons is an IREM® Certified Sustainable Property. For more information including a full store directory, operating hours, driving directions and more, please visit www.bridgewatercommons.com.

About Pacific Retail Capital Partners
Pacific Retail Capital Partners (PRCP) is one of the nation’s premier retail operating groups of large open- air and enclosed shopping centers, with more than $3.0 billion in assets under management across the United States. Based in Southern California, the company’s portfolio totals 24 properties encompassing over 20 million square feet. With a highly experienced team that has a proven track record of generating value its stakeholders, PRCP is dedicated to evolving real estate for the next generation by working with the communities it serves to design master plans that transform its assets into high-performing mixed-use destinations. The vertically-integrated company provides end-to-end sourcing, assessment, underwriting, valuing, developing, marketing, design and asset management services. To learn more visit pacificretail.com or follow on social media at: Facebook: @PacificRetailCapitalPartners and Instagram: @PacificRetail