Spring Events to Cure the Winter Blues
Patrick Gibbons, Hadley and Quinn Clark, Reese and Parker Marshall, and Hunter Clark at the Avalon Easter Egg Hunt.
This is always one of my favorite event articles to write. We’ve survived the dregs of winter, and we’re optimistic about the spring. At the slightest hint of temps above 40 degrees, we’re out in our short sleeves and flip-flops. We’re running again, we’re firing up the barbecue and we’re jumping toward summer. True, spring often slaps us with a cold gust, and we likely all catch an early spring cold from wearing our flip-flops when it’s too cold, but it’s the optimism that counts. Spring is here, which means summer is just around the corner. Warmer weather is on the horizon, and so are these great events to keep us busy!
The Easter Bunny is here and better yet, he’s here two weekends in a row! Join the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, March 24 (rain date March 25) at 1pm for a fun and traditional hunt. Kids can search for brightly colored eggs and fun prizes with the Easter Bunny himself just a few days before he fills their baskets. And right before Easter on Saturday, March 31, the Bunny will visit Avalon for a family-fun egg hunt starting at 10am. The hunt will take place in three age divisions at the 8th-12th Street recreation fields. Age groups include 1-4, 5-6 and 7-10. For more information, go to shnj.org and avalonrecreation.org.
What better way to celebrate spring and the Easter weekend than joining The Wetlands Institute for pancakes and family fun at the annual Turtle Fest on Saturday, March 31. Held from 9am to 3pm, with breakfast seatings set for 9, 10, 10:45 and 11:30am – there is a lot for the entire family to enjoy. Go on an egg hunt, enjoy arts and crafts, search for turtle hatchlings and be sure to earn turtle bucks and cash them in for prizes. The event will feature delicious fluffy pancakes, and even a live turtle feature creature program. Don’t forget to stop in the aquarium and wave hello to the institute’s octopus! Seatings for Turtle Fest fill up quickly, so call The Wetlands Institute at 609-368-1211 or visit wetlandsinstitute.org.
The Avalon Home and Land Owners Association will hold its annual Community Connections event Saturday, April 14, starting at 9:30am at Avalon Community Hall. AHLOA strives to be the voice of Avalon homeowners with events such as these that allow for residents to connect with local organizations and learn about what is happening within the community. For this year’s event, visitors can enjoy refreshments starting at 9:30am, followed by the Hot Topic presentations featuring Capt. Eric Gleason, United States Coast Guard Commanding Officer, and Jeffrey Sutherland, Cape May County Chief Prosecutor. Gleason will present on the Coast Guard’s search and rescue operations, while Sutherland will touch on the major-crime issues in the county. Following the talks, attendees can browse the various organization tables representing the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children, the Avalon Free Public Library and more. Follow AHLOA on Facebook for frequent town updates and news announcements. For more information, go to ahloa.com.
Summers at the shore are what we all dream of, and work for! Be sure to line up your summer employment this season with the Stone Harbor Job Fair on Saturday, April 14 at Coffee Talk. From 11am to 2pm, meet representatives from more than a dozen businesses, and be sure to hit the street because more than 30 town businesses are seeking summer employees. Drop your resume, boast your experience and land the perfect job to align with your perfect summer. Start polishing up those resumes and get ready to impress! Head to stoneharborbeach.com for a full list of participating businesses or follow Stone Harbor on Facebook for updates.
As we come to the end of winter, we take a look at our beautiful beaches, and the very important dune grass that protects them. These grassy barriers block wind and waves from coastal storms and allow us to enjoy these beaches year-round. The Borough of Avalon in conjunction with Clean Ocean Action encourages volunteers of all ages to join in the planting of dune grass and beach sweeps on Saturday, April 21 at 8:30am (rain date April 22). Volunteers will begin with a short orientation at Avalon Community Hall, and then embark on a day of giving back to this beachside environment. Those interested can sign up by calling Avalon Community Hall at 609-967-3066.
The Ocean Drive Marathon is set for Sunday, April 22 starting in Sea Isle City, with a route down Ocean Drive through Avalon, Stone Harbor and looping back around to end in Sea Isle. This scenic run is the perfect way to enjoy an early Sunday morning for a great cause; leading beneficiaries include Volunteers in Medicine of South Jersey, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center and various high schools throughout Cape May County. To register, go to odmarathon.org – and be sure to cheer on the participants as they run through the island!
Calling all newly engaged couples: Do we have a day planned for you! Be sure to save the date for the Windrift Bridal Fair on Sunday, April 22 from 11am to 2pm. Newly engaged couples can enjoy the beautiful views from the Windrift’s Level 2, while browsing the region’s best vendors in photography, fashion, florists, entertainment and more. As the day goes on, couples have the chance to win a plethora of great giveaways including free bouquets, free hair trials, a free trip and even a wedding-night room upgrade from the Windrift itself. With a number of industry experts there to help you plan your special day, this is a can’t-miss event! For more information and to register, go to windrifthotel.com.
Coco Blu returns as the featured fashionista for the annual Play With Jack Fashion Show set for Saturday, April 28 at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor. Shop your summer fashions while enjoying lunch and cocktails plus an extensive high-end auction and giveaways throughout the event. Proceeds will go to the Play With Jack Foundation, which was established to raise funds and awareness in an effort to fight cancer in memory of Jack Cremin. Tickets are available at $55 and can be purchased by going to playwithjackfoundation.com.
The Avalon Historical Society is launching its annual photography contest and encourages amateur photographers of all ages to join! Submit your entries (physical photos only), sized at either 5-by-7 or 8-by-10 inches to the Avalon History Center to be included in the display and for a chance to win in one of many categories. There is a $10 registration fee, which allows for an entry of up to four photos. Contest categories include Nature, Scenic, Portrait and Personality, and Avalon Places and People. Also, children 12 and under are encouraged to join the competition by submitting photos of any topic their creativity can photograph! Entries will be accepted from May 1 until 2pm May 31. Professional photographers will announce the winners following judging, and then the exhibit will be on display at the Avalon History Center through the month of June. To enter and for more information, call the Avalon History Center at 609-967-0090.
Spend a day on the golf course for a great cause with the Brendan Borek Endowed Fund through the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The organization will host its annual golf tournament on Friday, May 4 and invites golfers of all levels to participate. The tournament will take place at the renowned Stone Harbor Golf Club with registration at 10am and tee times starting at noon. Registration fee includes cart, lunch, a player’s gift, awards dinner, raffles and an auction. This full day raises funds to support pediatric cancer patients and families of Atlantic and Cape May counties, so it’s the perfect excuse to skip work and enjoy a day golfing with friends. For more information and to register, call 609-967-0100 or email bren@brendansfund.org.
Argh, me matey! Stone Harbor’s annual Spring Tide Festival & Boat Show returns on Saturday, May 5 from 11am to 5pm. From paddle boards to pontoons, this event will feature the latest in watercraft. Grab a beer from local breweries including 7 Mile, Slack Tide and Cape May Court House’s new group, the Bucket Brigade. And, of course, 96th Street will be filled with local seafood vendors featuring fresh seafood, snacks and yummy items to enjoy. Enjoy live music throughout the day and be sure to stick around for the Valhallas Pirates! This event is definitely fun for the whole family, so grab the kids and head to Stone Harbor for a great spring celebration. For more information, go to stoneharborbeach.com.
Spring is the time for planting, and with so many great opportunities to get the best for your garden, be sure to mark all of these dates in your calendar. Sales begin with the Avalon Garden Club’s annual Plant Sale on May 5 and 6. With two full days to browse and purchase (10am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday), you will get the top pick of beautiful plants that will make your garden the envy of your neighbors.
Continue by traveling south to The Wetlands Institute for its annual Native Plant Sale held May 11-13 from 9:30am to 4:30pm. This event features beautiful plants, plus in-house gardeners and experts who will help you with selecting the best plants to entice butterflies, pollinators and songbirds. For more information, go to wetlandsinstitute.org.
And finally, finish up your plant perusing with two great events on Saturday, May 12: the Stone Harbor Garden Club’s annual Plant and Bake Sale from 8am to 2pm at the 95th Street Water Tower Plaza, and the Avalon Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary Plant Sale at the Avalon Firehouse from 8am to 3pm.
If your neighbors aren’t complimenting your garden after browsing all of these flower events, then clearly they’re jealous!
Rosé all day! With spring comes wine … right? One of my favorite events from the spring is the annual Wine & Spirits Festival hosted by the Avalon Chamber of Commerce and Fred’s Avalon Liquors. On Friday, May 11 from 6:30 to 9pm, attendees will enjoy more than 200 high-end wines, spirits and beers from local and world-renowned distributors. Gourmet hors d’oeuvres are donated by the island’s finest restaurants along with a gourmet cheese presentation sponsored by Avalon Market and a fresh seafood raw bar sponsored by the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor and Oceanside Seafood. Black Dandelion is booked to entertain guests, and be sure to place your bids on more than 40 high-end silent-auction items including home décor, dining gift certificates, golf foursomes, beach items and more! This event is definitely a must-do! Tickets are on sale now for $45 online at visitavalonnj.com, or in person at the Avalon Chamber of Commerce and Fred’s Avalon and Stone Harbor liquor stores. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $50. For more information, go to visitavalonnj.com!
Someone’s junk is another person’s treasure, and this is the month to seek it with both towns offering major yard sales. The Avalon Garden Club is hosting its annual town-wide yard sale on Saturday, May 12 starting at 9am. Grab your island map listing home participants and set out for a spring day filled with shopping, bargaining and treasure hunting! Whether it’s porch furniture, beach bags, art or clothing you seek, it will surely be found at this annual event. For those interested in registering their address as a location for this event, call the Avalon Community Hall at 609-967-3066. Continue with your treasure hunting the following week on Saturday, May 19 with the Stone Harbor Garden Club’s Community Yard Sale from 8am to 2pm. Seek items including beach gear, art, home goods and more at this annual event held at the parking lot of 95th and First Avenue. Happy hunting!
Despite this chilly winter, warmer weather is coming. We know that because of the amazing natural phenomenon of the migrating shorebirds and horseshoe crab spawnings that occur throughout the spring. Join The Wetlands Institute in celebrating this amazing spectacle of nature with its annual Spring Shorebird & Horseshoe Crab Festival on May 19 and 20 from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Attendees of all ages will enjoy interactive and hands-on activities including horseshoe crab spawning surveys, reTURN the Favor walks, aquarium teaching tank and aquaculture tours, guided walks and more. Proceeds from the event support the institute’s conservation and educational programs focused on shorebirds and horseshoe crabs. Tickets are available now online at wetlandsinstitute.org or by calling 609-368-1211.
Competition and tradition come head-to-head at the annual Mayor’s Cup Bocce Tournament on Saturday, May 19. A competitive tournament, starting at 10am, will place past champions Judy Davies-Dunhour (2017 champion, mayor of Stone Harbor) against Martin Pagliughi (2016 champion, mayor of Avalon) along with a few other mayors jumping in for a chance to win the championship trophy. The public can join in on this Italian family-fun tradition starting at noon, while enjoying food catered from Circle Pizza. The tournament, hosted by the Avalon Recreation Department and sponsored by the Avalon Chamber of Commerce and the 7 Mile Business Community Association, is a true tradition of town rivalry and fun, and a great day to come out for some friendly competition. For more information and to register for the public tournament, call Avalon recreation at 609-967-3066.
The Avalon Free Public Library is kicking off Memorial Day weekend with the launch of its annual Summer Reading Program, “Libraries Rock!” Readers of all ages are invited to sign up for the program that runs May 25 through Aug. 10 and be eligible for great giveaways and prizes each week. Log books, attend family-fun programs and enjoy the services the library has to offer! Work together as a family and set a summer reading goal and some friendly competition. AFPL’s Summer Reading Program has a full calendar of events and fun reading opportunities to keep kids on track. For more information, go to avalonfreelibrary.org.
And alas, summer has arrived. I’m so excited I can almost smell it! Beach days and suntan lotion, campfires and s’mores, cocktails and happy hours, and of course the return of my all-time favorite time of year – 7 Mile Restaurant Week. The upcoming season is not going to disappoint, so be sure to keep your calendars handy and get ready for a spectacular summer. For now, try not to catch a cold, and enjoy these great spring events!
