Whether you call it Taylor Ham or Pork Roll, there will be a seat at the table for you
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
East Rutherford NJ, in less than a month, New Jersey will crown its first new governor in nearly a decade—and she’s doing things a little differently. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill is set to be sworn in on January 20, 2026, and the celebration that follows is poised to be the most “Jersey” event in history.
Forget the stuffy ballrooms of Trenton; Sherrill is heading to the Meadowlands. The new governor will celebrate her historic win with a black-tie inaugural ball held right on top of the ice rink at American Dream mall.
A Night on the Ice (Literally)
The event is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees to the East Rutherford mega-mall—the second-largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States. To accommodate the gala, the mall’s massive indoor ice rink will be covered to create a unique, high-glamour dance floor.
The Details:
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When: The evening of January 20, 2026.
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Where: The Rink at American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ.
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The Cost: $350 per person.
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The Cause: Proceeds benefit Mission to Deliver NJ, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on Sherrill’s key policy priorities for the state.
Pork Roll or Taylor Ham? Both Are on the Menu
In a nod to the state’s famous (and fierce) culinary divide, organizers have confirmed that food and entertainment will represent all 21 New Jersey counties.
Most importantly, guests won’t have to argue over breakfast: both names for the state’s iconic breakfast meat will be served. Whether you call it Taylor Ham or Pork Roll, there will be a seat at the table for you.
Breaking 235 Years of Tradition
The choice of venue isn’t the only way Sherrill is shaking things up. Earlier that day, she will be inaugurated at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark.
This marks a significant departure from 235 years of tradition, where governors have historically been sworn in at the state capital in Trenton. As only the second woman to ever serve as New Jersey’s governor, Sherrill—a former Navy pilot and congresswoman—seems intent on signaling a “new era” for the Garden State alongside Lieutenant Governor-elect Dale Caldwell.
Why American Dream?
The decision to party at a shopping mall hasn’t come without a few raised eyebrows. Critics have pointed to American Dream’s complex financial history and environmental impact on the Meadowlands.
However, the Sherrill transition team views the venue as a symbol of modern New Jersey: a bold, massive, and diverse destination that brings people together from across the region.
“A non-traditional inauguration, followed by a black-tie ball at a megamall, signals a break from convention that feels unmistakably New Jersey,” observers note.
How to Attend
Want to be part of Jersey history? Tickets are currently available for the black-tie affair.
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Who: Open to the public (registration required).
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Attire: Black-tie.
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Tickets: Buy tickets here
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the Xanadu Mall is a symbol for New Jersey incompetence and corruption ,how appropriate
blue laws are toast