Sea Isle City’s 2011 Baby Parade Kept a 95 Year Old Tradition Alive

SEA ISLE CITY – Sea Isle City’s 2011 Baby Parade took place on July 20 in front of countless spectators lining Sea Isle’s oceanfront Promenade. The annual parade, which has delighted residents and visitors since 1916, was first hosted by the Sea Isle City Women’s Civic Club, which is the resort’s longest-standing community organization. As is always the case, this year’s parade featured live music, floats, older children in costumes, and, of course, a collection of adorable babies.
In addition to the many youngsters who would be judged in the parade’s various divisions, the event also included the contestants of the 2011 Little Miss and Jr. Miss Sea Isle City Pageant, the members of the VFW Post 1963 Color Guard, local resident Jerry Raffa and his eye-catching 1957 Chevrolet Belair convertible (winner of the Mayor’s Trophy during the 2011 Fish Alley Festival), representatives from Sea Isle’s City Council, members of the Sea Isle Ambulance Corps and numerous other participants. Music was provided during the parade by The A.C. Fire Department Bag Pipers, the Ed Coles Entertainers, and The Stars and Stripes Trio.
After an enjoyable stroll along the Promenade, each of the parade’s contestants were announced to the large crowd gathered at the Promenade’s viewing area, which is part of Sea Isle’s new Entertainment Complex at JFK Boulevard. That is also where Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio and the employees of the Sea Isle City Tourism Department, organizers of the event, were waiting to distribute trophies and other prizes to the parade contestants who out-shined their peers.
In the Most Attractive Girl Division (ages 1-11 months), judges chose Harper Nelson, 3 months, Newtown Square, PA, as the first place winner. Nelson was followed by Mia Christina Morell, 6 months, Tinton Falls, NJ, second place, and Scarlette Steelman-Donoher, 6 months, Ocean View, third.
The Most Attractive Girl (1-2 Years) was Lea Strauss, 17 months, Swarthmore, PA. Other winners in that division were Sophia McGrory, 2, Sea Isle City, NJ, second place, and Zoe Super, 21 months, Cape May Court House, third.
Apparently, there were fewer boys than girls in town on the night of the parade, because only two baby boys were entered in this year’s “Most Attractive” divisions, which is unusual for this event. The 2011 Most Attractive Boy (1-11 months) was Austin Weber, 7 months, Atco, NJ, and the Most Attractive Boy (1-2 Years) was Casey Evans, 1, Kennett Square, PA.
In the Riding Division (Fancy/Comic/Original), the winners were Nora McQueen, 21 months, and her little brother James, 3 weeks, of Hatboro, PA, who captivated spectators as Princess and the Frog. Brooke Stango, 20 months, Sea Isle City, won second place as Baby Gaga, and Shane Spellacy, 18 months, Springfield, PA, won third place as a gondolier on the Grand Canal of Venice.
There were also many notable entrants in the Walking Division (Fancy/Comic/Original), including Trevor Volpe, 21 months, Sea Isle City, who won first prize as James Dean. Joining Volpe in the winner’s circle was Daniel Weber, 4, Atco, NJ, dressed as a Phillies Fan, second place; and sisters Lila, 4, and Sonne Muscatello, 5, third place, as “Fancy Pants.”
“We had many great looking children in this year’s parade,” said Mayor Desiderio afterwards. “This is always such a fun event!”
For additional information about other family-friendly events and activities taking place in Sea Isle City this summer, visit www.seaislecitynj.us.