STRATHMERE — “What if we held our own Night in Venice boat parade?” one member of the newly formed Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club asked in 1985.
“That would be a nightmare,” another replied. “A nightmare in Strathmere.”
“And the name just stuck,” SFEC President Wayne Thomas said last week.
Continuing a tradition of hosting popular community events, the local civic group will host the 40th anniversary of Nightmare in Strathmere, its spoof on a neighboring island’s famous boat parade.
“It’s our annual homage to Strathmere where we celebrate the uniqueness of Strathmere and draw attention to all the things SFEC does annually in the community and to help the environment,” Thomas said. “This year the event is particularly special since it’s our 40th year anniversary.”
The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. Prizes will be awarded at 9 p.m. at the Deauville Inn, where T-shirts, mugs and 50/50 raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Registration forms can be found at Whale Creek Marina, Sidney’s Coffee and Eats and Riordan Realty, as well as at strathmerefishing.org.
Boasting about 200 members, the club holds the event each year as summer is winding down as a fundraiser for its multiple activities.
“Everything we do is community related and environmentally responsible,” Thomas said.
Parade participants, decked out in costumes on decorated boats, muster off Twisties Tavern on the Bay and will proceed to the Deauville Inn and back twice to compete for trophies and bragging rights.
“We just try to make it fun,” Thomas said, noting it helps raise awareness of the nonprofit’s mission, which includes artificial reef deployments, a pollinator garden, dune grass planting and turtle conservation efforts.
“All that takes funds, and as a nonprofit we are looking for folks to contribute to our efforts,” Thomas said.
Other events include the youth fishing tournament, which was held Aug. 17 at Prescott Avenue beach.
“We had about 137 kids and it was a great event,” Thomas said, noting a lot of fish were caught and released and every participant got a free shirt, some fishing gear donated by local tackle shops and a hot dog luncheon.
Saturday’s Nightmare in Strathmere starts off with Surfmare in Strathmere, a costumed surfing and boogie boarding contest
Children ages 4 and older are welcome to participate for prizes, while each participant will receive a T-shirt, food and drinks. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. on Sumner Avenue beach and the contest begins at 10 a.m.
“It gets the kids out with something to do in morning and encourages parents to get involved,” Thomas said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff