Skimmer Festival draws big crowds to Sea Isle

The food was fabulous, the rides were a blast and the shopping was spectacular.

Oh, and the crowds were huge.

Skimmer Festival, Sea Isle City’s signature summertime event, kicked off its annual two-day run Saturday with hundreds of vendors lining the oceanfront Promenade, an array of amusement rides in Excursion Park and a food court offering everything from chicken tacos to cheese fries.

The oceanfront Promenade was transformed into a sprawling outdoor shopping mall of sorts that included more than 200 vendors under tents.

Shopping is always one of the main attractions at the Skimmer Festival. Thousands of shoppers strolled the Promenade to buy jewelry, clothing, handbags, artwork, crafts, novelty items and much more.

    Angelina Blanchet, right, her mother, Alisia Blanchet, and her little brother, Jean Rene, are first timers to the festival.
  

Angelina Blanchet bought some rings and was browsing the clothing racks at one of the booths.

“I’m trying not to spend some money,” Blanchet said with a laugh about her efforts to keep a lid on her spending.

Her mother, Alisia Blanchet, and her little brother, Jean Rene, were with her during her mini-shopping spree. For Blanchet and her family, residents of Northfield, it was the first 

 ime they had attended the Skimmer Festival.

“I heard it was huge, but I didn’t think it would be this big,” Angelina Blanchet said.

“It’s huge,” Alisia Blanchet added.

    Festivalgoers line up to buy grilled hot dogs at one of the vendors at the food court.
  

Angelina Blanchet was doing some shopping while taking a break from working with her father, Jean Pierre Blanchet, at the family’s Spoken Word Portrait business that was one of the vendors on the Promenade.

“I’m out here interacting with the community,” she said. “Everybody is so kind. And the weather is perfect.

The festival unfolded under gorgeous sunny skies and temperatures that climbed to the high 70s by the afternoon.

Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, the festival also includes live music, an outdoor food court and an array of free amusement rides in Excursion Park to entertain the children.

Laura Dever, of Ocean View, was watching her daughters, Brenna, 7, and Clare, 3, display their creative talents with some painting at the children’s “art bar” in Excursion  Park.

Brenna had painted a palm tree scene featuring vivid blue, green, yellow and orange hues.

“I like Florida,” Brenna said of the source of inspiration for her painting.

Brenna then looked at her mom and asked, “Are we going to Florida later this year?”

    Laura Dever enjoys the colorful artwork painted by her daughters, Clare, 3, and Brenna, 7.
  

In response to her daughter’s question, Dever told her that the family would likely take a trip to Florida late in the year, with a stop at Disney World probably on the agenda.

But for this weekend, at least, the Skimmer Festival and Sea Isle were at the top of the list for the Devers’ family fun.

“We come all of the time, every year,” Dever said of the festival. “We love the food, the music and the kids’ activities. There’s also the shopping. I bought an Eagles shirt.”

In addition to the shopping and amusement rides, the food court is another popular part of the festival. Crispy chicken, acai bowls, pork roll, grilled hot dogs, cheese fries and French fries were among the food being sold. 

Jessica Velazquez, of Runnemede, decided to try the chicken tacos for the very first 

time and was glad she did.

“I thought they sounded really good,” Velazquez said. “I never had them before. But they’re really good.” 

    Jessica Velazquez prepares to take a bite of her chicken tacos.
  

The two-day festival continues Sunday with an antique car show on the Promenade from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., there will be a parade of vintage cars through Sea Isle’s streets.

The Skimmer Festival, a staple of Father’s Day weekend every year, jump starts the  local economy as Sea Isle transitions from being a small town of about 2,100 year-round residents into a bustling vacation resort packed with tens of thousands of visitors during the summer months.

The festival’s origins date to 1963, a year after a monstrous storm devastated the Jersey Shore. At that time, Sea Isle hoped to persuade tourists that the beach resort was in recovery mode and ready to begin welcoming visitors again, so the Skimmer Festival was created. It took its name from the wide-brimmed, straw skimmer boating  hats that were popular with men during Victorian days.

    Free kiddie rides are a popular attraction in Excursion Park.