Memorial Day Weekend promises a variety of activities

Get set for the season with Memorial Weekend
Friday, May 22-Monday, May 25
Wildwood International Kite Festival and Championships, Beach at Rio Grande Avenue, Friday, 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., SkyFestivals.com.
Saturday, May 23
Bayberry twigs Antique Show, Avalon, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 967-3066.
Opening Reception, 7-10 p.m., Spring Exhibition, Peter McPhee Fine Arts, 9416 Second Ave., Stone Harbor, 368-8288.
Xtreme Bikers Assoc., Bike to the Shore, 75-mile trek from Philadelphia to Avalon, to benefit The San Miguel School of Camden, kick off at 8 a.m., ends with a post-ride barbeque featuring folk rock band. Contact Michael Day, michael.day@teamxba.org, or teamxba.org for more information.
Tri for Our Veterans, Sea Isle City Triathlon, 7:15 a.m., JFK Blvd and the Promenade, 610-574-5974, piranhasports.com
Crafts and Antiques for Memorial Day, Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, country crafts, folk art, custom-designed jewelry, antiques, free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., MAC, 884-5404.
Plant Sale, Garden Club of Cape May, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Rotary Park, Lafayette Street, 884-8516.
Indoor Sidewalk Sale, food court and auction, Townsends Inlet Civic Center, 138 85 th St., 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 263-3002, Townsends Inlet Civic Center, 138 85th St., Sea Isle City, $30 vendor table, 263-3002.
Lower Township Beach Clean Up Project, 10 a.m. from north end of Villas to Douglass Memorial Park, North Cape May. Come out and participate in the event, Founding Fathers, 231-7810.
Saturday, May 23-Sunday, May 24
Boardwalk Craft Show, Wildwood, all homemade products, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 522-0198 or 522-0378.
Sunday, May 24
Antiques at Memorial Day, Cape May, MAC, 884-5404.
Barks on the Boards, Dog walk fundraiser, Ocean City Humane Society, register 11 a.m., Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace and boardwalk, walk 12:30 pm., 399.2018 or hsoc.petfinder.org.
Photo of “water and wings” photographs by Tina Giaimo and hand tinted blockprints by Janet Payne on exhibit through May 26, Mad Batter Restaurant, 19 Jackson St., Cape May. Meet the Artists reception 3 p.m.-4:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served, 884-5970.
Nature Walks, 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Cape May Point State Park, meet at the Park office, 884-2159.
Skate Jam, Sea Isle City Skateboard Park, 59th and Central avenues, 2 p.m., 263-8463. (Rain date: May 25.)
Strathmere Ensemble Concert, 4 p.m., United Methodist Church, Park Road andJFK Blvd., $10.
Sunday, May 24-Monday, May 25
Comedy Magician Bob Sheets, Robert Shackleton Playhouse, Sunday 3 p.m. and Monday 11 a.m., comedy, audience participation, and “mind-blowing” magic, $25 adults, 1/2 price for kids, 884-1341, capemaystage.com
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, Avalon, 967-3066.
Cape May City Memorial Day Service, Columbia Avenue, 9 a.m., city officials, veterans organizations, rifle team, bugler, U.S. Coast Guard Training Center and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
At noon, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 08-02 will conduct their Memorial Day Ceremony on the beach.
The Auxiliary decorates a small boat with the national ensign and flowers donated by florists and tows it to sea while a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City drops a wreath in memory of all those who served in our country’s wars.
For more information, 884-7181 or Cape May Civic Affairs 884-9565.
Sea Isle City Memorial Day ceremony begins with 9 a.m. mass at St. Joseph’s Parish, Landis Avenue and 43rd Street.
Veterans gather outside the church to process in together. Following Mass at 10 a.m., commemoration at Veterans Park, JFK Blvd. and Landis Avenue, Mayor Desiderio, VFW member Russel Briggs, singer, VFW Color Guard, Boy Scout Troop #76. Matt McCulley, “Tri for Our Veterans” race organizer, will be honored.
A wreath ceremony will take place on the beach. Lifeguards will lead a boat filled with flowers out to sea.
The community is invited to the VFW Post 1963 building, JFK Boulevard and Cini Avenue, for the day’s final celebration. Call 609-263-2113 x 245.
Sea Isle City VFW Post 1963 has raised over $1,700 and purchased 80 American flags and poles for Memorial Day. The flags were donated to the city, and will be displayed along Landis Avenue during the 2009 summer season.
“It’s part of our mission,” said Quarter Master Frank Hiligass. “Veteran organizations promote patriotism, and what better way than to display the American Flag?”
Memorial Day Parade, Middle Township, 10-11 a.m., begins at Memorial Field on Pacific Avenue, ends at American Legion Building with ceremony. Participants welcome, call Tammy 465-8743.
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, noon, 96th Street, Stone Harbor.
North Wildwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5941 will be honoring our deceased American veterans at two services on Memorial Day.
The first service is at 9:30 a.m. at Hereford Lighthouse Memorial, First and Central avenues to honor those VFW Post 5941 members that have passed away since last Memorial Day. Their names will be read and taps will be played.
The second service is at 10 a.m. at North Wildwood’s Veterans Momument to honor all our deceased veterans from every war.
Kids and Critters live animal show, 11 a.m., Cape May Point State Park, free, donations welcome, Nature Walk, 9 a.m., 884-2159.
Memorial Day Service, 11 a.m., Veteran’s Memorial Park, Fifth and Wesley Avenue, Ocean City.
Memorial Day Ceremony, Wildwood, will be at 11 a.m., American Legion Post #184, Roberts and Atlantic avenues. It will be a joint ceremony with the American Legion, the Wildwood and North Wildwood VFW Posts, the Vietnam Veteran’s of America, the Wildwood Beach Patrol, Boy Scout Troop #75, and the Wildwood Police Explorers.
The keynote speakers will be retired Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Pierson Sr, Freeholder Ralph Sheets, and Mayors and Committeeman from the island.
Cape May County Memorial Day Service, Cape May County Veterans’ Cemetery, 2 p.m., the United States Coast Guard will provide the ceremonial detail and representatives from Cape May County Veterans’ organizations will also participate in the program.
For additional information, contact the Veterans’ Bureau at 886-2762.