By Donald Wittkowski
Some people thought that the 7 p.m. start time for Sea Isle City’s summer concert and entertainment series this year was too early.
When the outdoor shows at Excursion Park formerly got started at 8 p.m. in previous years, some thought that was too late.
So, after spending a bit of time debating the issue, city officials and the business community have compromised.
The shows will start at 7:30 p.m. next summer.
“Let’s be hopeful it will make everyone happy,” said Christopher Glancey, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization, which represents the local businesses.
The debate over whether to start the shows at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. came before City Council during its meeting Tuesday. After a brief discussion, Council President Mary Tighe announced a compromise to have the shows get underway at 7:30 p.m. next summer.
Tighe said 7:30 p.m. will give families a little more time to get off the beach, take a shower and grab something to eat before heading to the shows. After the shows, there will still be enough time for families to do some shopping before the stores close for the night, she noted.
The Chamber of Commerce sponsors a lineup of free, family-friendly entertainment at the band shell at Excursion Park during summer nights. The city also provides free shows and special events for the summer crowds.
The band shell, as known as the amphitheater, opened in 2011 and serves as the city’s entertainment hub. Concerts, dance parties, movies and open mic nights are among the outdoor shows staged there during the summer.
Glancey said for the first six years, the entertainment at Excursion Park would get underway at 8 p.m. But the city changed the start time to 7 p.m. this past summer in hopes that after the shows wrapped up, families would mingle downtown and spend their money in the shops and restaurants.
However, Glancey said the opposite happened. Merchants located near Excursion Park told the Chamber of Commerce that they had more businesses when the shows started at 8 p.m., he said.
Armed with that information, the Chamber lobbied to have the former 8 p.m. start time reinstated by the city.
Councilman J.B. Feeley said the city’s Tourism Commission, which promotes and markets Sea Isle, had received complaints that the 7 p.m. start time was too early and also wanted the shows to get underway later.
“I don’t know what the perfect time is,” Feeley said during Council’s meeting on Dec. 12.
When the compromise time of 7:30 p.m. was announced during Tuesday’s Council meeting, Feeley said he thought it was fair.
