By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
One of the highlights of 9-year-old Ivy Farrell’s Easter weekend was meeting a buck-toothed creature with floppy ears, fuzzy feet, a stylish top hat and a pink and purple outfit.
“He was really fluffy,” Ivy exclaimed of the super-friendly Easter Bunny.
The Easter Bunny was part of an array of children’s entertainment Saturday during Sea Isle City’s annual Spring Fling Family Fun Day, a kickoff to the holiday weekend that drew hundreds of kids, parents and grandparents to Excursion Park.
Families enjoyed an afternoon of free, kid-friendly activities such as face-painting, sack races, a jelly bean counting contest, crafts and a Dress to Impress Easter Stroll.
Ivy Farrell and her sisters, Josie, 6, and Maya, 4, were among the children who had a chance to meet the Easter Bunny and pose for photos at the Band Shell at Excursion Park. The Easter Bunny kept the kids entertained by dancing on the Band Shell stage.
“That was fun,” Ivy said after having her photo taken with the Easter Bunny.
Ivy said there were other things she wanted to do at the Spring Fling festival, including playing games, getting her face painted and competing in the sack races.
Ivy’s mother, Sara Farrell, explained that the Spring Fling was definitely the high point for her family’s Easter weekend in Sea Isle. The Farrells live in Hatboro, Pa., and are enjoying a holiday getaway at the shore with Sara’s parents, Joe and Betty Jane Raysinger, who own a Sea Isle home.
“We want to do everything we can before the kids head back to school on Monday,” Sara said.
Easter weekend is traditionally a popular time for second homeowners and visitors to head to Sea Isle. As a result, the city’s Recreation Office created the Spring Fling festival to give residents and visitors some family-friendly entertainment for the holiday.
“Easter weekend is always busy in Sea Isle City, so this is a perfect opportunity to host Easter events for all of our residents and property owners,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
“The Tourism Office works very hard to put together a plan to appeal to all age groups of children. The kids are going home with candy in their pockets and smiles on their faces,” Custer added.
One kid who had a big smile on her face was 4-year-old Emma Keane. Emma had a chance to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse and received a big hug from Minnie.
Pint-sized Emma told her mom, Courtney Keane, that she wished Minnie Mouse a happy Easter. Emma’s 2-year-old brother, Michael, was also at the festival having fun.
“I think all of this is great. We came here to do all of these things,” Courtney Keane said of the festival’s family-friendly activities.
The Keane family lives in Rutherford, N.J., and has a summer vacation home in Sea Isle. During the summer, the Keanes enjoy Sea Isle’s lineup of free movies, concerts and other entertainment in Excursion Park, Courtney said.
The Spring Fling festival made for an ideal weekend day at the shore. Temperatures climbed near the 60s under mostly sunny skies.
Looking at the hundreds of people enjoying themselves in Excursion Park, Custer characterized the Spring Fling as a big success.
“It’s a great turnout,” Custer said.
