Just because events are canceled due to the pandemic, doesn't mean Sea Isle isn't in the holiday spirit.
By MADDY VITALE
Sea Isle City is ramping up its festive atmosphere with holiday decorations that include lamp posts wrapped with green garland, wreaths with red bows and the always favorite Excursion Park Christmas tree.
And those are just some of the decorations that deck out the shore town to create whimsy and nostalgia for residents and visitors alike.
Toy soldiers stand guard at the entrance to City Hall. Twinkling lights on some of the displays add to the cheery atmosphere.
Soon, colorful, giant Christmas ball ornaments will adorn the lawn at the Sea Isle City Welcome Center, signaling to all those entering town on John F. Kennedy Boulevard that this is a place that fancies this time of year as much as the summer season.
“As is the reason every year, Sea Isle likes to put its best foot forward during the holiday season,” said Public Information Officer Katherine Custer. “The Christmas atmosphere of the season lifts everyone’s spirits.”
Wreaths adorned with red bows line the John F. Kennedy Boulevard entryway into town.
Custer emphasized that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the downtown creates a perfect holiday escape.
“I would say this year is especially important and we could all use some holiday cheer,” she said. She also noted that the decorations are another way to make the business district more inviting to holiday shoppers. There are two teams that create the magical landscape each year: Rileigh’s Outdoor Décor, of Allentown, Pa., and the city’s Public Works Department. On Wednesday, workers from Rileigh’s were busy putting finishing touches on the decorations. They installed the snowflakes to the Season’s Greetings sign earlier in the day near City Hall. The lamp posts throughout the downtown were completed.
Rileigh's employees Jason Solark, in the bucket truck, gets direction from senior installer Michael Moyer Jr. on a display.
Workers straightened some bows by Excursion Park on some of the lamp posts and added some touches to some displays.
Michael Moyer Jr., senior installer for Rileigh’s, said the crew enjoys coming to Sea Isle to decorate the town each year.
“The people in Sea Isle are so friendly. They really seem to like the decorations,” Moyer said. “Every year, we come down and I get to talk to some people in the town, and an absurd amount of people come up to take pictures of the tree.”
Moments later, a woman walked up and took pictures of the tree with her cellphone.
“Everyone here is so happy," Moyer said. "We like that we are doing work for people who really appreciate the decorations.”
The Excursion Park Christmas tree is popular among residents and visitors.
