SEA ISLE CITY – This year’s Sarah the Turtle Festival brought hundreds of families to Sea Isle City’s Excursion Park on June 23. The free annual event, hosted by the Sea Isle City Tourism Department, offered families an evening filled with enjoyable activities and a healthy dose of environmental-awareness.
Surrounding the perimeter of Excursion Park were numerous exhibits by a variety of environmental organizations, including The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, The Sea Isle City Environmental Commission and Sea Isle’s Beachcomber Guides. At the Wetlands Institute exhibit, festival-goers closely examined tanks filled with terrapin turtles in various sizes; and at the New Jersey Nature exhibit, the Burmese Pythons, snapping turtles and giant hissing cockroaches were a big hit with festival-goers, who were eager to hold these unique creatures and pose for family photos.
In addition to closely inspecting live reptiles and curious insects, kids also had their faces painted, created artwork with colored sand and met a collection of friendly mascots, including Lighthouse Pete from the Delaware River Port Authority and Scute the Terrapin Turtle from the Wetlands Institute.
Adding to the enjoyment of the festival were the event’s annual competitions, which consist of a Diaper Derby for babies and Turtle Races for older kids.
During the Diaper Derby, infants and toddlers up to age 2 were coaxed over the finish line by their loved ones, who tempted them with toys and other favorite treats. The winner of this charming competition was Annie DeFilippi, Sea Isle City, who was followed by Jason Jefferies, Newtown Square, PA, second place; and Shea Baker, Stone Harbor, third place.
After the Diaper Derby, children up to age 12 competed for Olympic-style medals during the festival’s Turtle Races, which had many children running for the finish line on the beach at JFK Boulevard. The winners of that event were Nicholas James, 2, Chalfont, PA; A.J. McClatchy, 3, Hatboro, PA; Gavin Wetzel, 4, Chalfont, PA; Aidan Morris, 5, Williston, VT; Joey McMahon, 6, Sea Isle City; Connor Wetzel, 7, Chalfont, PA; Conor Miller, 8, Royersford, PA; Chris Arizin, 9, Media PA; Ethan Anderson, 10, Honey Brook, PA; Delaney McNight, 11, Lancaster, PA; and Olivia Arizin, 12, Media, PA.
After the Diaper Derby and the Turtle Races, the evening’s live musical entertainment began at Excursion Park’s new Band Shell with a performance by The Turtlesinger. During her performance, singer Karen Buckley, who was assisted by her husband Charlie, sang a series of original environmental songs that focused on Terrapin Turtles and life in the wetlands. Using puppets and live turtles, including a 23-year old South American Red Foot Tortoise named Gracie, the Buckley’s show kept children smiling for the rest of the night.
For additional information about the many other family events taking place in Sea Isle City this summer, visit www.seaislecitynj.us or phone (609) 263-TOUR.
