SEA ISLE CITY, NJ – Sea Isle City’s Division of Tourism will host the resort’s 2014 Skimmer Festival Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15. Skimmer is Sea Isle’s largest summer festival, featuring two-days of family-friendly activities and entertainment. Founded in 1962, the festival derives its name from the recognizable straw hats (also known as boater hats) that Victorian-era gentlemen often wore during the summer months.
On Saturday, Skimmer Festival will begin with a Seaside Market along Sea Isle’s oceanfront Promenade, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The market will feature nearly 400 vendors selling everything from household items and fishing equipment to children’s toys and artisan crafts. Also on Saturday, the popular Skimmer Food Court will be open in front of Excursion Park, located at JFK Boulevard and Pleasure Avenue, where a tempting selection of local delicacies and traditional festival-fare will be on sale. Meanwhile, inside Excursion Park, festival-goers will enjoy live music by Just in Time and a variety of free family activities, including a photo booth, a giant obstacle course, a moon bounce, face-painters, “Waxy Hands” and more. There will also be a “Sand Art” station, where children can create souvenirs for a small fee.
The festival’s annual Sand Sculpting Demonstration will take place on the JFK Boulevard Beach beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, led by Sand Pounders Professional Sculptors. Afterwards, while artists from Sand Pounders are creating a one-of-a-kind sculpture for all to enjoy, the public will be invited to compete in a Sand Sculpting Competition that will be followed by an award ceremony at 12 noon, at which time trophies will be distributed to the best amateur sand creations.
On Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., The Chatterband will perform a free concert at the Excursion Park Band Shell. Concert-goers are reminded to arrive early if they want to enjoy bench-seating – or bring blankets and folding chairs to spread-out on the park’s lawn.
Skimmer Festival will continue on Father’s Day, June 15, with an Antique Auto Show along the Promenade north of JFK Boulevard, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. While history-buffs and auto-enthusiasts are enjoying the scores of vehicles entered in the Auto Show, The Snake Brothers Band will fill the air with blue grass music on the Promenade at JFK Boulevard between 10:00 a.m. and 12 noon.
Also on Sunday, Free Guided Historical Trolley Tours will be offered every half-hour in front of Excursion Park from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tours will be led by members of the Sea Isle City Historical Society, who will point-out notable landmarks and explain how Sea Isle has grown over the years.
At 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Mayor Leonard Desiderio will present trophies to the winners of the Antique Auto Show. Then, each of the vehicles entered in the auto show will parade through town, bringing this year’s Skimmer Festival to a spectacular close.
For additional information about Skimmer Festival Weekend, phone (609) 263-8687 or visit www.VisitSICNJ.com .