2013 Harborfest Celebration Delighted Thousands

SEA ISLE CITY – Fresh seafood, a vendors market, a tempting chowder competition and a raw clam eating contest highlighted Sea Isle City’s annual Harborfest celebration on Oct. 5. Hosted by the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization in cooperation with the City of Sea Isle City, Harborfest 2013 delighted thousands of people of all ages.
The excitement began at 9:30 a.m. with the 2nd Annual Harborfest 5K Run & Walk, which took place along Sea Isle City’s oceanfront Promenade. The event benefitted the Saint Augustine Prep School’s wrestling program. The winner of the 5K Run was Josh Heird, 33, of Louisville, Kentucky. Heird was followed by Mark Heere, 31, of Elkins Park, PA, second place, and Paul Testa, 58, of Millville, NJ, third place.
Later in the morning, other Harborfest activities began at the resort’s Marina Park, located along 42nd Place and the Bay (adjacent to Fish Alley), where festival-goers enjoyed scores of craft and merchandise vendors, delicious seafood and other delicacies, and live music by The Daisy Jug Band. There were also free children’s activities, including face painters, balloon-artists, and the chance to play washboards and other unique instruments with the Daisy Jug Band.
The Harborfest Chowder Competition began at lunchtime – which was great news for the 150 hungry festival-goers who sampled the competition’s nine chowders, each submitted by a different local eatery. After tasting all of the chowders, each participant cast a vote for their favorite entry to determine this year’s “Chowder Champion.” Ultimately, DeNunzio’s Brick Oven Pizza and Grille, located on the Promenade at 36th Street, was declared the competition’s winner, which came with a trophy and bragging rights. Basilico’s Restaurant, 27 43rd Street, received second place honors, and Casino Steaks and Pizzeria, 40th and Landis Avenue, came in third place. The following restaurants received honorable mention: The Lobster Loft, The Bracca Café, Hank’s Sauce, The Deauville Inn, LaFontana Coast and Valarie’s Place.
Harborfest also featured a Blessing of the Fleet, which was led by Deacon Liam O’Clisham of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, accompanied by bag-pipers from the Atlantic City Fire Department Pipe Band. After leading a large crowd of spectators in prayer, O’Clisham used Holy Water to bless the City’s commercial and public docks and all boats present.
Later in the day, the festival’s exciting Raw Clam Eating Contest took place, featuring ten strong-stomached contestants. After rapidly consuming dozens of clams in three elimination rounds, Mike Tyrell, of Upper Township, NJ, Steph Chiofalio, of Vineland, NJ, and Jack McGarr, of Cape May Court House, advanced to the final level of competition. Urged-on by the cheers of hundreds of spectators, the three finalists each rushed to eat two dozen more clams. By the time the last shell was emptied, it was Tyrrell who ultimately won the event’s first place trophy and a $150 gift certificate to the Lobster Loft Restaurant. McGarr walked home with the second place trophy and a $100 gift certificate, and Chiofalio received the third place trophy and a $50 gift certificate.
“It was a great day,” said event organizer Barbara Steele, of the Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization. “We had perfect weather, terrific vendors, awesome seafood, and great music at this year’s Harborfest. The local restaurant owners who submitted entries in the chowder contest – and the many people who sampled the chowder – were all very happy to participate. And, as always, the clam eating contest was a huge success. Everyone really enjoys watching the contestants eat so many raw clams.”
To learn about other events taking place in Sea Isle City, visit www.seaislecitynj.us or phone (609) 263-8687. To contact the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization, phone (609) 263-9090 or visit www.seaislechamber.com.