A stilt walker is part of the entertainment at the 2023 Skimmer Festival. (Photos courtesy of Sea Isle City)
Sea Isle City’s Division of Tourism will host Skimmer Festival Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16, with family-friendly activities planned on both days.
On Saturday, June 15, the festival will begin with a huge Seaside Vendors Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. along the Promenade north and south of JFK Boulevard.
An array of crafts, fashion apparel, artwork and other items will be sold. Simultaneously, the Skimmer Food Court on JFK Boulevard will delight festivalgoers with a variety of tempting food and drinks.
In addition to shopping and eating, families can also enjoy free amusement rides at Excursion Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
There will also be other free activities at Excursion Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including face painters, a photo booth, an art bar, balloon artists and live music.
On Sunday, June 16 (Father’s Day), the Skimmer Antique Auto Show will attract scores of classic vehicles to the Promenade north of JFK Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Classic car owners who would like to participate in the show can find registration information on the Skimmer Festival Antique Auto Show calendar listing at www.VISITSICNJ.com.
Vintage cars and trucks will line the Promenade on Father's Day.
Also on Sunday, The Snake Brothers Band will perform under the Gazebo on the Promenade at JFK Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Afterwards, Mayor Leonard Desiderio will honor the winners of the Antique Auto Show during an awards ceremony at 1 p.m. in front of the Gazebo.
Then, at approximately 1:30 p.m. the vintage cars and trucks will participate in an Antique Auto Parade. The parade will leave the Promenade at 44th Street, travel south on Pleasure Avenue to 93rd Street, then continue north on Landis Avenue from 93rd Street to JFK Boulevard.
Skimmer Festival, which derives its name from the straw hats that Victorian gentlemen often wore during the summer, first took place following the infamous Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962.
The festival was created because community leaders wanted to let everyone know that Sea Isle City was open for business following the storm.
For more information about this year’s Skimmer Festival Weekend, call 609-263-8687, go to www.VISITSICNJ.com or stop by the Sea Isle City Welcome Center at 300 JFK Boulevard.
