By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
It seems that Sea Isle City is turning out to be
the
place to go this summer for star players and other celebrities from the Philly sports scene.
After major events in Sea Isle involving the Eagles and Flyers in June and early July, now comes word that the Phillies are coming to town on Aug. 20 for a family-friendly celebration called the “Phillies Shimmy Down The Shore.” It is scheduled from 6-9:30 p.m. in Excursion Park.
There will be prize giveaways, surprise guests and much more, Sea Isle’s Recreation Office said Friday while promoting the event.
As part of the event, fans are encouraged to bring their beach chairs to watch the Phillies play the Atlanta Braves live on the big screen at Excursion Park at 7:20 p.m.
The Phillies Shimmy Down The Shore is the first event of its kind in Sea Isle and builds on the momentum that started earlier in the summer with the Eagles and Flyers.
“This will be the first type of community outreach by the Phillies at this level,” Sea Isle spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
Custer noted that details are still being worked out on who will represent the Phillies at the event, including whether the ultra-popular Philly Phanatic will make an appearance.
“More fun to come,” she said, teasing the event.
Gritty hams it up for a photo-op with Flyers fans Ryan Hughes and his children, Owen and Lennan, during the Flyers Community Caravan in Sea Isle on July 10.
Sea Isle is becoming a home-away-from-home of sorts for Philadelphia sports this summer – with the Eagles, Flyers and now Phillies staging major events.
“First of all, there are a lot of Philadelphia sports fans who live in and visit Sea Isle City. We are a perfect fit for people who want to celebrate the Philadelphia sports teams while visiting the beach,” Custer said.
Reflecting the Philly sports mania, hockey fans filled Excursion Park on July 10 for the annual Flyers Community Caravan festival featuring former players Bernie Parent, Bob Kelly, Brian Propp and others as well as the googly-eyed, 7-foot-tall furry orange team mascot, Gritty.
To start the summer season, hundreds of fans packed O’Donnell’s Pour House and its sister property, the Ocean Drive bar, on June 26 for a fundraiser headlined by newly retired Eagles All-Pro and Pro-Bowl center Jason Kelce, defensive end Brandon Graham and other players to benefit autism awareness.
Kelce and his wife, Kylie, bought a summer vacation home in Sea Isle in 2022 and are frequently seen around town – adding to Sea Isle’s reputation as a seashore getaway for Philly sports stars and luminaries.
Jason Kelce fist-bumps with a fan while making his way through the crowd at the Eagles autism awareness fundraiser in Sea Isle on June 26.
