A clamshell pitching AND skeeball tournament? A massive celebration of our beloved Jersey Tomatoes? And even a blowout block party to cap off the summer? This week is full of events hosted in the spirit of and in tribute to our shore culture. Check out some of the must-see action here.
Rich Reinhart Jr. Clamshell Pitching Tournament
Friday, August 29th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Windsor Avenue Beach, Cape May
As summer draws to a close, mark your calendars for a fun Cape May tradition—the Rich Reinhart Junior Clamshell Pitching Tournament. The longest-running contest of its kind in the region, the Clamshell Pitching Tournament is set for Friday, August 29, at 11 on Windsor Beach (across from Congress Hall).
The tournament is open to boys and girls in two age groups—under 10 and 10–17. The tournament is free, shells are provided, and there are trophies for all winners and runners-up. And there’s free instruction from the pros, so participants don’t even need pitching experience! Named in memory of Rich Reinhart (the former president and founder of the International Clamshell Pitching Club of Cape May), the tournament is now carried on by Rich’s daughter, Stephanie Stephens.
For additional information, contact The City of Cape May at (609) 884-9565.
Wine and Romance – The Evocative Images of Viktor Shvaiko and Thomas Stiltz
Friday-Sunday, August 29th to 31st
Where: Ocean Galleries – 9618 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
Two exceptional artists come together for a Labor Day exhibition at Ocean Galleries that is sure to please. Born in Altai, Viktor Shvaiko grew up surrounded by the beauty of the wilderness. His natural inclination for fine arts and his strong urge to share his vision of nature drove him to find a way into the Novoaltaisk Artistic School. Today, his enticing mix of beauty and mystery has drawn the interest and admiration of collectors from around the world.
Thomas Stiltz received a B.A. in Fine Art and M.A. in Photography from the University of Delaware. After a highly successful career in photography and graphic design, Stiltz began his career as a painter in the mid-1990s. Stiltz uses an old world technique of applying many layers of glazed oil paint, which gives color intensity and depth. His optimistic art creates and invents wonderful visions that strive to express the pleasures of sight, taste, sound, smell, and touch.
Guests will have the chance to meet Shvaiko and Stiltz during receptions throughout the weekend.
West Cape May Tomato Festival
Saturday, August 30th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Wilbraham Park – Perry St, West Cape May
West Cape May celebrates the Jersey Tomato with the annual Tomato Festival! Join food, craft, antique dealers and local businesses in Wilbraham Park from 9-5. The festival will feature live music all day as well as special tomato-related events. Tomato t-shirts, tomato pottery, tomato stained glass, tomato soup, tomato salad and even fried green tomatoes… Buy the freshest Jersey tomatoes to take home!
Wilbraham Park is mostly shaded and located at the intersections of Broadway, West Perry and Sunset in beautiful West Cape May. The West Cape May Jersey Tomato Festival benefits the Borough Shade Tree and Environmental Committees and contributes to the beautification and upkeep of the borough’s tree canopy. For more information call Diane Flanegan at (609) 884-9325.
Summer Send-Off Craft Show
Saturday-Sunday, August 30th & 31st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Promenade along Beach Avenue, Cape May
Browse the selection and finds from hundreds of vendors!
‘Hands on History’ Weekend
Saturday-Sunday, August 30th & 31st from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Historic Cold Spring Village – 720 Shore Rd, Cape May
Children will be given a ‘Pastport’ at the start of their Village trip, which can be stamped at the buildings they visit after completing a take-home craft or activity, like writing with a quill pen, carding wool or making a pinch pot. Pastports can be redeemed at the Country Store for a free treat! The Family Activity Area will feature children’s dress-up clothes, historic games, and take-home crafts including corn husk dolls. Other family-friendly activities include nursery rhymes with Mother Goose, a seek and find, and live entertainment from traditional musician Mary Roth. This jam-packed family-fun weekend event is sponsored by PNC.
For more information on events, membership, volunteering, or booking private affairs, please call (609) 898-2300, ext. 10, or visit the Village website at www.hcsv.org.
World Championship Skeeball Tournament
Saturday, August 30th from 6 to 10 p.m.
Where: Ed’s Funcade – 3700 Boardwalk, Wildwood
Ed’s Funcade presents a World Championship Skeeball Tournament. It will be free to enter. The first place winner will receive $1,000 and Ed’s “Boardwalk Cup.” Qualifying rounds will be held from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.; finals to follow. For more info, call (609) 729-3223 or visit http://www.EdsFuncade.com.
26th Annual Whitesboro Reunion Festival
Saturday-Sunday, August 30th & 31st
Where: Martin Luther King Center -207 W Main Street, Whitesboro
Family, friends and visitors from near and far are invited to the 26th Annual Whitesboro Reunion Festival! This event features contests (Bike Decorating, Watercolor (painting), Hula Hoop, and a BEST Macaroni & Cheese) as well as a Monster Obstacle Course, food, craft & retail Vendors, live entertainment, a talent showcase, and a keynote speaker. Hours for the festival are Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Concert Under the Stars featuring Beatlemania
Saturday, August 30th from 8 to 10 p.m.
Where: Lou Booth Amphitheater – Second & Ocean Aves, North Wildwood
Flashback to historic moments of space exploration, protests in the streets, the raging war in Vietnam, “Flower Power,” and “Peace and Love.” Recall the lives and deaths of Martin Luther King Jr., John and Robert Kennedy, and the politics of Richard M. Nixon, as Beatlemania Now meticulously performs incredible note-for-note renditions of Beatles’ classics from throughout their entire career, including songs the Beatles’ themselves never performed outside the recording studios.
Summer Concert featuring The Rockets
Saturday, August 30th from 8 to 10 p.m.
Where: Excursion Park – JFK Blvd & Pleasure Ave, Sea Isle City
Don’t forget to bring your beach chairs and blankets!
Jazz Brunch
Sunday, August 31st from 10:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Carriage House Café & Tearoom – 1048 Washington St, Cape May
Discover the joy of live jazz over brunch in Cape May’s version of this tradition, made popular in great American jazz cities such as New York, Chicago and New Orleans, with music from The Great American Songbook, featuring Mary Lou Newnam, saxophone, clarinet and flute, and Jon Pruitt, on piano, and linger over a classic Sunday morning brunch buffet. Both of these popular local musicians have long, successful jazz careers and perform regularly at The Merion Inn, 106 Decatur St., in Cape May.
Plenty of free parking is available on the estate grounds. Advance reservations are suggested. Limit 50. Admission is $25 and includes brunch and music. Jazz Brunch at the Estate is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.
Wildwood Block Party & Music Festival
Sunday, August 31st starting at noon
Where: Fox Park -Ocean Ave between Burk & Montgomery Aves, Wildwood
Add free family fun and music to your Labor Day Weekend Festivities with the 10th Annual Wildwood Block Party and Music Festival Aug. 31.
The end-of-summer celebration will take place from noon – midnight at Fox Park, located on Ocean Avenue directly across from the Wildwoods Convention Center. The festivities will include 12 hours of continuous entertainment, games, crafts, food, merchandise vendors, free live music and much more!
Admission to the Wildwood Block Party and Music Festival is free! For additional information about the festival, please call 609-522-2444 or visit www.WildwoodNJ.org.
OCNJ Labor Day Race
Monday, September 1st from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Where: 23rd Street Beach, Ocean City
Hit the ground running at this 5 Mile Run & 1 Mile Run/Walk on Labor Day morning! Come out and run with us then head to your Labor Day Bar-b-que. For more information, call (609) 398-6900 or email Lrumer@ocnj.us.
Roar to the Shore Motorcycle Rally
Thursday-Sunday, September 4th to 7th
Where: Wildwoods Convention Center – 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood
‘Second Season’ in the Wildwoods kicks off this year in Sept. after Labor Day with the Roar to the Shore Motorcycle Rally, one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the northeast. Hours are 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. Enjoy motorcycle vendors, food and merchandise, live entertainment and more activities surrounding the Wildwoods Convention Center and at Oak and Atlantic Avenues.
For more information about these, and other community events, see the Herald’s online calendar.
Be sure to visit DoTheShore.com for more information about dining, shopping, activities, entertainment happenings and nightlife.