By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Yikes, is summer over already?
But don’t worry, big crowds are expected to be back in Sea Isle City for the resort’s Fall Family Festival on Sept. 16-17.
For more than 30 years, Sea Isle has proved that it can draw thousands of visitors to town after Labor Day with its popular weekend festival featuring an array of vendors, live music, free amusement rides, an outdoor food court and an antique car show.
For the weekend at least, the family-friendly festival destroys the age-old stereotype of the “quiet” off-season at the shore.
“This will help Sea Isle kick off our fall season. It shows that there is still plenty to do in Sea Isle,” said Chris Oney, the city’s tourism representative.
The festival’s opening day will include more than 100 vendors pitching their tents along the Promenade to transform the oceanfront walkway into a giant outdoor pedestrian shopping mall and crafts market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
“We will have well over 100 vendors. There will be clothing, jewelry, records, house decor, yard signs, books, toys – a little bit of everything,” Oney said while giving a sampling of all the things that will be on sale.
The festival also includes live music and free amusement rides in Excursion Park. Face-painting, balloon twisters, a photo booth and other kid-friendly activities will be included to keep the children entertained from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Not to be overlooked is the festival’s food court in Excursion Park, where a tempting selection of local delicacies and traditional fare will be on sale Saturday by 10 vendors.
On the festival’s second day, the action will shift to an antique auto show featuring more than 100 vintage cars and trucks lining the Promenade on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“It gets people to come back for a second day or to stay the night,” Oney said of the auto show’s importance for the festival.
Oney noted that the auto show will be celebrating its 20th anniversary and is held in memory of Gerard A. Desiderio, the late Sea Isle community leader and brother of Mayor Leonard Desiderio
At 1 p.m. Sunday, trophies will be presented to the winners of the auto show. Then, the vintage cars and trucks will hit the streets at 1:30 p.m. to parade through town, bringing the festival to a close.
Also on Sunday, the city’s Environmental Commission will announce the winners of its annual Beautification Awards contest. A ceremony will be held at noon on the Promenade at John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
Each year, the Environmental Commission recognizes local property owners who have shown improvement in the overall appearance of their homes or businesses, display attractive architecture and landscaping, or have maintained an eye-catching exterior. The winning properties were nominated by residents and visitors earlier this summer.
For more information about the Fall Family Festival, go to visitsicnj.com and click on “All Upcoming Events.”
