Sunshine, music, and plenty of pork roll brought visitors to Trenton Thunder Ballpark on Sat. for RiverFest 2025 — a combined celebration of the Delaware River and New Jersey’s fall traditions.
This year marked the first time Mercer County’s Trenton River Days and the Trenton Thunder’s RiverFest joined forces, creating one expansive event that stretched across the stadium and its back parking lot. County Executive Dan Benson welcomed visitors alongside Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and The Watershed Institute Executive Director Jim Waltman, praising the collaboration and the Delaware River’s enduring importance to the region.
A Festival on the Riverfront
Festivalgoers found activities spread inside and outside the ballpark. Families enjoyed the chance to try canoeing with volunteers from TCNJ and The Watershed Institute, and there were fly-fishing demonstrations with the Ernest Schwiebert Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and hands-on environmental exhibits from The Watershed Institute, Mercer County Park Commission, Abbot Marshlands, the City of Trenton, and many more. Boat rides along the Delaware River gave attendees a chance to experience the city’s waterfront from the river.
Inside the stadium, food vendors served up creative takes on Trenton’s signature Case’s Pork Roll, paired with seasonal craft beer selections. Local bands, including Modern Mojo and Dueling Pianos, provided live music throughout the day.
Spotlight on the Delaware
Organizers emphasized the Delaware River’s past and future role in shaping Trenton. “The river has been the lifeblood of our community since the very beginning,” Benson said, recalling its history as a resource for the Lenape people, early settlers, and today’s 14 million residents who rely on it for drinking water.
Waltman noted that The Watershed Institute staffed multiple educational tables to highlight river ecology and water quality. He urged residents to see the river as both a recreational asset and a critical source of habitat and clean water.
Ninth Annual Pork Roll Eating Championship
The afternoon culminated with the Ninth Annual Trenton Thunder World Famous Case’s Pork Roll Eating Championship, sanctioned by Major League Eating. The high-energy contest drew elite competitive eaters including James Webb of Sydney, Australia, and reigning champion Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, Massachusetts.After 10 grueling minutes, the contest came down to fractions of a sandwich. Esper held onto his title and edged out Webb consuming 45 pork roll sandwiches to Webb’s 44.5. Contest organizers described it as one of the closest competitions they had ever witnessed.
“I had a real slow start,” Esper admitted afterward, thankful that he was able to catch up and hold onto his title. Joey Chestnut holds the world record for pork roll sandwiches at 61.5 he set the record in 2019.The championship awarded $4,000 in total prizes, with $2,000 going to Esper for the first place finish.
Community Spirit
The free, family-friendly event drew visitors of all ages from across the county. Aishani Kapoor, 9, from Lawrence Twp. won and Stony Brook Elementary 4th grader Aashrita Nayak took second place in the Youth art contest and won a gift certificate, tickets to a Thunder game, and the opportunity to throw out the first pitch in the 2026 Trenton Thunder season. The combination of outdoor fun, environmental education, and Trenton’s own culinary claim to fame offered a chance to celebrate Trenton and the Delaware River.
