By Steffen Klenk
After a long, hot summer, filled with vast amounts of sunshine, beach days, cool evenings, and fireworks lighting the night sky, we have reached Labor Day Weekend. In just a few short days, the height of the tourist season will officially come to an end. However, there is still plenty to do at the South Jersey Shore this fall. Let’s look at some of the exciting events families can look forward to this coming season.
While the calendar may be changing, that doesn’t mean you have to let go of those summer vibes just yet. The Ocean City Boardwalk is still a top choice for family-friendly fun. Many of your favorite shops, attractions, amusement parks, and mini golf courses, are still open for your enjoyment. Weather permitting, be sure to pack a beach chair, blanket, and cooler for an extended beach day. And, if you decide to venture to our local beaches after Labor Day, you can leave your beach tags at home.
With cooler weather on the horizon, this coming season marks the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy some amazing festivals, such as the Downbeach Seafood Festival. This is one of the most highly anticipated dates on the calendar. Dubbed as South Jersey’s original seafood festival, attendees can enjoy two full days of live music, entertainment, children’s activities, complimentary demonstrations, sand sculpting, and… you guessed it… plenty of mouth-watering food. The entry fee is $10 in advance and just $15 at the gate. In addition, the public can sample some of the area’s best chowder in a widely popular Chowder Cook-Off, with proceeds supporting the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. The event will be held at Ski Beach in Ventnor on Sept. 9 – 10.
The following Saturday is the annual Good Old Days Festival at JFK Park in Somers Point. This end of summer tradition is filled with plenty of great food, music, and activities for all to enjoy. Among the festivities this year will be the Run to Remember 5K, honoring all the first responders lost on 9/11. Additionally, this year’s event will coincide with the Somers Point Arts Commission’s annual Art in the Park, as area artists showcase and sell their works.
Margate’s annual Fall Funfest by the Bay will be held along Amherst Ave. and the Bay on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This event boasts two fun-filled days of activities, including Funfest After Dark, and the Steve and Cookie’s Dog Show.
Mark your calendar for Ocean City’s Fall Block Party. More than 300 crafters and vendors line downtown Asbury Avenue offering unique treasures and sales. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Every year, hundreds of individuals take part in the annual John R. Elliott HERO Walk and Fun Run. The annual event is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of safe and sober designated driving, while honoring and remembering families of loved ones lost to drunk drivers. This event will take place on the Ocean City Boardwalk at 6th St. on Sun. Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. Participants are encouraged to sign up by going to herocampaign.org.
Grab your friends, lace up your running shoes, and make your way to the Trail of Two Cities 5k Run and Walk. This year’s event, held Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 a.m., is sure to be a spook-tacular time for all. Runners line up at 9th St. & Haven Ave., crossing the span of the Route 52 Causeway to Somers Point, finishing at JFK Park. Registration is open now at $25 per person. All proceeds benefit Ocean City Recreation Programs and Scholarships. Visit ocnj.us to learn more.
Autumn is the perfect time to support your local farms. Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy in Petersburg is one of my top choices, with its vast sunflower field, mazes, tractor rides, and plenty of pumpkins galore. Their annual Oktoberfest event is just around the corner and will offer even more excitement with an assortment of local brews, an Oompah band and fire pits. Mark your calendars for Sat. Oct. 14, 12 – 7 p.m.
You don’t have to look far to find South Jersey’s most thrilling haunted attraction. Take a haunted hayride or challenge yourself through a walk in the maze at Flemming’s Junkyard. Volunteers from the Sculville Volunteer Fire Company will be ready to provide the screams. Opening night is Fri. Sep. 29 from 7 – 10 p.m.
There’s nothing better than a crisp autumn evening filled with fascinating ghost stories. Each year, the Hamilton Historical Society hosts its annual Ghost Walk through the streets of Historic Mays Landing. Tour groups are led by a storyteller guide, taking you to various sites filled with local history and ghost stories. This is one of my top picks for the upcoming Halloween season and is an evening you won’t want to miss. While the date for this year’s walk has yet to be announced, tickets can only be purchased online via Eventbrite. This event is guaranteed to sell out.
Whether you are a longtime local or a seasonal resident, these are just some of our recommendations on how to spend this upcoming fall season in South Jersey. Which of these events do you like best? Do you have a recommendation on other spectacular events coming to our region? Let us know about it! Please send an email with all the details to shorelocalsteffen@gmail.com. And pick up your copy of Shore Local Newsmagazine to find out about what’s happening in South Jersey.
