It's Charter Day!

"It's Charter Day weekend!"

That's what one of the locals said on Friday night, with thousands in the community getting ready to attend what's the biggest celebration, funfest and local get-together of the year.

is scheduled to run from 11 a.m., with an official opening of ceremonies at noon, until 10 p.m. at night.

The Basking Ridge Patch will be there covering the event. Look for us in the Patch t-shirts. And the first 100 people who sign up for the Patch newsletter will receive a free Patch t-shirt, too.

Amusements will be at the Oak Street School field from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art and history demonstrations are scheduled to be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., including the annual student art and photography show and competition at Westminster Hall at the

And of course there will be history exhibits at the Brick Academy, 15 W. Oak St. After all, this is a party for the 252nd anniversary of the founding of the Township of Bernardston.

Scheduled demonstrations on the main stage are:

12:20 p.m. — Tree House
12:40 p.m. — Family Entertainment
1:00 p.m. — Morris Martial Arts
1:20 p.m. — Gotta Dance
1:40 p.m. — Hickory Tree Chorus
2:00 p.m. — Downtown Fitness
2:20 p.m. — Bella’s Burger Shack
Slider Eat Off
2:40 p.m. — Somerset Hills YMCA
3:20 p.m. — RHS Fencing Team
3:40 p.m. —  Troubadour, Bill Ward
4:00 p.m. — Open Mic (sign up at stage!)

The annual Battle of the Bands, at the Henry Street stage, is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m., with judging to be held afterward.

The bands on tap are:

1:05 p.m. — Brookside
1:40 p.m. — Twist of Rhyme
2:15 p.m. — Fish Head
2:50 p.m. — Ambience
3:25 p.m. — The Instrumentalist
4:00 p.m. — Tomorrow at One
4:35 p.m. — Alex Wilke & Peter Woo

The band Hoi Polloi is scheduled to provide live music from 7 to 10 p.m., often spurring dancing in the street.

Food now scheduled for all day and night

For those who get hungry, restaurants and other food providers are scheduled to be on hand for all day, with some remaining through the night.