WILDWOOD – The Spring 2013 warm-up will soon begin, and the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority (GWTIDA) has plenty of great events planned for the season.
“The tourism season is more than just the Summer in the Wildwoods,” said executive director of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority (GWTIDA) John Siciliano. “We start rolling right after the New Year with a full schedule of events in the Wildwoods Convention Center and continue with island-wide and Convention Center events and festivals through December. This spring is no exception, and we are open and ready for business,” he added.
During the St. Patty’s Day Celebration on March 16, the streets of North Wildwood will be jam-packed with people dressed to the ‘T’ in green attire and vendors of all varieties. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place at noon and will proceed north on Atlantic Ave. to Olde New Jersey Ave. Also, March 16 and 17 it’s the St. Patrick’s Day Block Party on Pacific Avenue between Spencer and Lincoln Avenues from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday featuring free live entertainment, vendors, games, a face painter and balloon artists all inside a large heated tent. Later in the month of March, the Wildwoods Convention Center will host the Ocean Drive Marathon and Health & Fitness Expo on March 23 and March 24, featuring vendors with the latest runner’s gear, accessories and reading materials as they prepare for the Marathon on March 24.
On March 24, the Wildwoods Convention Center will also host the Spring Bridal Fair where brides to be will have the opportunity to meet with wedding professionals and vendors, see a bridal fashion show and the chance to win an all-inclusive 5-day, 4-night honeymoon at The Royal Resort, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico courtesy of Berman Travel. The bridal fair is free to attend and will feature more than 100 vendors. On March 26, the Piccadilly Circus comes to town! This show will feature agile acrobats, motorcycle madness, comedic circus clowns, Cossack riders and much more. This hot new show unveils the best in human agility, strength and beauty, combined with the finest in animal nobility. Show times are 4:30 – 6 p.m. and 7:30 – 9 p.m. From March 28 – March 30, the War at the Shore Youth Wrestling Tournament takes place in the Wildwoods Convention Center. This annual event features the region’s top youth wrestlers competing in National Folkstyle Wrestling.
The Easter festivities begin in the Wildwoods on March 30 with two Easter egg hunts: the Elks Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the beach at 19th Ave. in North Wildwood and the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Easter Egg Hung on the beach at Lincoln Ave. in Wildwood. Both start at noon. On Easter March 31, Ed’s Funcade Easter Egg Hunt will take place on the boardwalk at 23rd Ave. in North Wildwood starting at 12:30 p.m. Children 12 and under are eligible to participate in all the Easter egg hunts and participation is free. Morey’s Piers also opens on March 31 and will host an opening day celebration for the whole family starting at 11 a.m.
April kicks off with the Special Olympics NJ Basketball Finals on April 6 and April 7. This is a multi-day event where more than 1,000 Special Olympic athletes from New Jersey will compete in basketball competitions. April also features a weekend of cheerleading competitions at the Wildwoods Convention Center. On April 13, the ECC Cheer Shore Show Down takes place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on April 14, the “Beast of the East” Cheerleading Competition returns to the Wildwoods Convention Center from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
From April 19 – April 21 the Annual Spring Motorcycle Rally will take place at the intersection of Oak and Atlantic Avenues in Wildwood from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily with vendors of all sorts. On April 21, the Ride the Wave Motorcycle Run, starting in Camden and ending in the Wildwoods will benefit the families of fallen public safety workers. Also on April 20, the Wildwoods Convention Center will host the Cummins School of Irish Dance who will present ‘Feis at the Beach’ Irish dance competitions. Doors open at 9 a.m. with competitions from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. which will include more than 1,000 dancers of all ages and expertise levels who will be choreographed to music, and prizes will be awarded in several categories. This event is free.
The Sensational 60’s Spring Concert Weekend kicks off April 26 with a dance party featuring the Sensational Soul Cruisers at the Wildwoods Convention Center from 7 – 11 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. A free street fair will take place April 27 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Fox Park featuring classic cars, food and craft vendors, a Doo Wop Bus Tour, live entertainment and more. The highlight of the weekend is a concert in the Wildwoods Convention Center’s Oceanfront Arena on Saturday night at 7 p.m. featuring Tommy James and the Shondells, Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, and The Happenings. Tickets start at $49.50 and are on sale at TicketMaster.com or 800-745-3000.
From May 2 – May 5, the Wildwoods Convention Center hosts the “Tournament of Bands Indoor Championships.” This all-chapter championship contest hosts bands from all over the east coast competing to win the title. The Spring Boardwalk Classic Car Show takes place May 10 and May 11 on the Wildwoods boardwalk from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. May 12, Morey’s Piers honors Mother’s Day with a celebration for the entire family. Moms get some extra TLC on the piers and get to ride the rides for free!
The Wildwoods Restaurant Showcase will feature a sampling of some of the Wildwoods’ finest restaurants and specialty shops. All proceeds benefit the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Foundation and scholarships for area high school seniors. This event will take place on May 15 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Bolero Resort and Conference Center, 3320 Atlantic Ave. Wildwood, NJ.
Morey’s Piers Beach Jam Spring Fling will take place from May 17 through May 19 at Schellenger Ave. and the Boardwalk where Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from around the country camp on the beach. This is an enjoyable time and experience for those Scouts! On May 24 through May 27, the 28th Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival, the largest kite festival in North America, takes place on the beach at Rio Grande Ave. and inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. This event is free to spectators. Also from May 24 – May 26, the United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs will hold the New Jersey State Gymnastic Competitions at the Wildwoods Convention Center. Competitions will take place on May 24, May 25 and May 26 from 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices will be $12 for adults, $6 for children.
Be sure to visit the Wildwoods website at http://www.WildwoodsNJ.com for more information and details about upcoming events and additional information about the Wildwoods, or call 800-992-9732.
Below is a partial list of the Wildwoods’ Spring 2013 events:*
March 9-10 – Mid-Atlantic National Cheerleading Championship
March 16 – St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in North Wildwood
March 16-17 – Wildwood St. Patrick’s Day Block Party
March 23-24 – Ocean Drive Marathon and Health & Fitness Expo
March 24 – Spring Bridal Fair
March 26 – Piccadilly Circus
March 28-30 – War at the Jersey Shore Youth Wrestling
March 30 – Elks Annual Easter Egg Hunt
March 30 – Greater Wildwood Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt
March 31 – Morey’s Piers Easter Opening Day Celebration
March 31 – Ed’s Funcade Easter Sunday Egg Hunt
April 6-7 – Special Olympics NJ Basketball Finals
April 13 – ECC Cheer Shore Showdown
April 14 – “Beast of the East” Cheerleading Competition
April 19-21 – Spring Motorcycle Rally
April 20 – Feis at the Beach – Irish Dance Competitions
April 26-27 – Sensational 60’s Spring Concert Weekend featuring Tommy James & The Shondells, Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night) and The Happenings
May 2-5 – Tournament of Bands Indoor Championships
May 10-11 – Spring Boardwalk Classic Car Show
May 11-12 – Jersey Shore Masters Basketball Tournament
May 12 – Morey’s Piers Mother’s Day Celebration
May 15 – Wildwood Restaurant Showcase
May 17-19 – Morey’s Piers Beach Jam Spring Fling
May 18 – Captain Kidd Pirate Day
May 18 – JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
May 24 – Unlocking of the Ocean Ceremony
May 24-26 – State Gymnastics Competition
May 24-27 – 28th Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival
May 25 – River Adventure Cardboard Boat Race
May 25-26 – Boardwalk SID Craft Show
May 27 – Wildwoods’ Memorial Day Services and Ceremonies
May 29-31 – Morey’s Piers Annual Education Extravaganza
May 31 – Music in the Parks
*Please note that the information and dates above are subject to change.
Villas – Yep, here come those mask mandates again starting in, of course, a blue state. If there isn't a virus yet for the mask, they will find one before November 5th.
