Back in 1938, Martians touched down in West Windsor Township and invaded the planet.
Well, not really. But that IS what was depicted in Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” radio play that shook America. On the evening of October 30, 1938, Welles and his crew broadcast to the nation’s airwaves a science-fiction story of aliens from Mars touching down in the sleepy West Windsor neighborhood of Grovers Mill (at the intersection of Clarksville and Cranbury Roads) and then going on to conquer much of the rest of the United States before being killed by a virus.
But rather than fear the Martians, why not celebrate them in West Windsor’s first-ever Martian Weekend?
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance has teamed up with a number of area organizations to create a full weekend of out-of-this-world events from Friday, October 24 to Sunday, October 26.
The bike ride
The WWBPA and Historical Society of West Windsor will co-host a 9-mile Martian bike ride on Oct. 26, leaving from the Martian-themed Grovers Mill Coffee House and Roastery (Princeton-Hightstown Road and Southfield Road) and stopping at the Martian sculpture by the Arts Council, the “landing site” on Cranbury Road and the War of the Worlds monument in Van Nest Park.
We will gather at 10:15 am, but please arrive as early as 9:30 am if you want to turn your helmet into something more Martian-like. We will provide some items but feel free to do your own decorating.
Grovers Mill Coffee House is generously donating free coffee to all riders.
The ride is free, but you must pre-register here.
More information about all the weekend’s events is here.
Is your group or business interested in participating in Martian Weekend? Reach out to us at [email protected] or the Historical Society at [email protected].