Why Fishawack?

It isn't immediately obvious why the , the borough's downtown festival that takes place the second Saturday in June, is called what it is. What does "Fishawack" mean, anyway?

The answer goes way back in time.

Fishawack was the Lenni Lenape Indian name for the Passaic River, and Chatham was located at the river's narrowest part, which made it the "crossing of the Fishawack in the Valley of the Great Watchung," as John T. Cunningham put it in his book, "Chatham at the Crossing of the Fishawack."

Each year, the tribes forded the river in Chatham en route to their summer getaway at the Jersey shore, where they spent the summer in warmer climates, eating all the fish they could catch.

That history is behind the event's name. In 1971, the Chamber of Commerce hosted a sidewalk sale called Fishawack Day. One thing led to another and a governing body of volunteers, called Fishawack Inc., organized itself and turned the event into a large, biennial town-wide festival. Starting in 2010, the event has been held annually.

Booths line the streets during the festival, manned by local merchants, non-profit organizations, artists and artisans. There is entertainment, food and children's games and rides. As many as 10,000 people have come downtown for past Fishawack Festivals.

The theme for the 2012 Fishawack Festival is "Fishawack with Friends."

In 2011, was "Our Town." Chatham High School student Ria Iizuka kept that in mind with her that represented the occasion.

After 2010, the festival, which was historically held every other year, was altered to take place every year. Effective in 2011, Fishawack no longer held a contest for posters representing the festival's theme.