Following the Great Nor’easter of 1962, community leaders in Sea Isle City organized Skimmer Festival Weekend to remind travelers that the island resort had indeed rebounded from that terrible storm.
Today, Skimmer Weekend is one of Sea Isle’s largest and most-popular events, attracting tens of thousands of people in search of delicious food, great shopping, live music and a variety of free family activities.
This year, Skimmer Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 16-17.
On Saturday, the festival will kick-off in traditional style with the annual Skimmer Seaside Market along Sea Isle’s oceanfront Promenade, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market will feature nearly 400 vendors, who will be selling everything from household items and fishing equipment to children’s books and handmade crafts.
When shoppers get hungry, they can stop by the Skimmer Food Court in front of Excursion Park, located at JFK Blvd. and Pleasure Ave., where there will be a large selection of local delicacies and traditional festival-fare.
Meanwhile, inside Excursion Park, there will be live music by The Good Tymes Band and free family activities, including a giant obstacle course, a moon bounce, face-painters and a family photo booth. There will also be a Sand Art station, where children can create souvenirs for a small fee.
Also on Saturday, there will be a Sand Sculpting Demonstration on the beach at JFK Boulevard beginning at 9 a.m., led by Sand Pounders Professional Sculptors. Afterwards, while the artists from Sand Pounders are creating a giant sculpture for all to enjoy, everyone is invited to compete in the festival’s annual Sand Sculpting Competition.
The competition will be followed by an award ceremony at noon, at which time trophies will be distributed to the best amateur sand creations.
There will be more free music at 8 p.m. on Saturday night, when The Rockets perform at the Excursion Park Band Shell.
Skimmer Weekend will continue on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 17, with an Antique Auto Show along the Promenade between 29th St. and JFK Blvd., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
While history-buffs and auto-enthusiasts are enjoying the scores of vehicles entered in the Auto Show, the Snake Brothers Band will fill the air with blue grass music on the Promenade at JFK Boulevard.
Also on Sunday, Free Guided Historical Trolley Tours will be offered every half-hour in front of Excursion Park, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tours will be led by members of the Sea Isle City Historical Society, who will point-out many notable landmarks and explain how the town has grown over the years.
At 1 p.m. on Sunday, Mayor Leonard Desiderio will present trophies to the winners of the Antique Auto Show. Afterwards, each of the vehicles entered in the show will parade through town, bringing this year’s festival to a spectacular close.
For additional information about Skimmer Festival Weekend, phone 609-263-TOUR or visit www.seaislecitynj.us.