By MADDY VITALE
The Ludlam hotel, bar and restaurant complex in Sea Isle City is hosting its second annual Winter Village festival over the Thanksgiving weekend to give visitors and residents tons of family-friendly fun in one location.
From ice-skating to listening to live entertainment to buying gifts from the Shopping Village Tent, or just sitting outside at a fire pit toasting S’mores, there will be plenty to do for all ages. And, of course, Santa will be visiting throughout the weekend.
“Our goal is to create family-friendly events for locals, second homeowners and visitors to enjoy,” Amy Glancey, co-owner of the Ludlam property with her husband, Chris Glancey, said Tuesday. “We love the holiday season. In the offseason, we miss the energy. So, we love the energy this event brings to town.”
Last year’s event drew thousands of visitors to the Ludlam complex, located at the corner of JFK Boulevard and Landis Avenue. Glancey said she expects the same this year.
The festival will run Friday, Nov. 24, and Saturday, Nov. 25. The CP Rankin Ice Skating Rink will be open Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost to skate is $5, which includes skate rental.
Glancey said that the two-day extravaganza is not only great for families, but is also important for local businesses, especially small shops in town.
“I think offseason events are critical for seasonal small businesses in town,” she said. “It is great to go to the town you love and have your home in, or your second home, and support local businesses.”
Festivalgoers will be able to shop for holiday gifts out of the elements courtesy of a heated tent, sponsored by 1st Bank of Sea Isle City.
Located adjacent to the ice rink, the vendors will have crafts, soaps, fine art, accessories and more to choose from, as well as food.
“This year we have expanded our Shopping Village to the property next door,” Glancey noted. “We will have a tent on the property to protect the shoppers from the elements. It will be decorated as well.”
She said she and her husband Chris are appreciative of the city for allowing them to use a parking lot adjacent to their property to put up the Shopping Village vendor tent.
There will be 20-plus vendors, including three food vendors.
“One is our hometown favorite, Mike’s Seafood. Mike (Monichetti) will bring crab balls and soup and gift cards to sell,” Glancey said.
To top off all of the activities, there will be an array of entertainment for all ages.
Favorite musicians will perform in the lounge. On Friday, Jim Bannach and Matt Quinton will be the headliners. On Saturday, Matt Quinton and Kingsley will perform in the lounge.
There is also a new attraction – a heated tent specifically for family entertainment. On Friday, families will get to enjoy a DJ.
Then on Saturday, a Celtic Christmas Show will be the main attraction with The Celtic Christmas Band and The Celtic Flame School of Irish Dance.
The Dueling Pianos will perform from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the family tent on Saturday.
“Last year, we just had the music and entertainment in the lounge, Glancey said. “We really wanted to expand it to families with a heated family tent.”
Another new attraction will be a host of games for children inside the Boy Scouts Troop No. 76 tent.
“Kids can enjoy playing a Christmas tree ring toss and a snowball toss and everybody will receive little prizes,” Glancey said.
She said she and her husband are grateful for the support from the community, especially from CP Rankin Roofing Experts, which is sponsoring the ice-skating rink for a second year in a row, and 1st Bank of Sea Isle City for showing generosity in sponsoring the vendor tent.
“We’re excited for the event,” Glancey said. “It is a great event to really kick off the holiday spirit.”
Check out the full lineup of entertainment and events at www.ludlambar.com/winter-village-event.
