Somers Point’s marquee event returns April 30 with scores of food vendors, crafters, games and performances all along Bay Avenue
SOMERS POINT — Started in 1989 to coincide with Earth Day and celebrate the city’s maritime heritage, Bayfest has become the city’s most popular event, drawing more than 30,000 people to historic Bay Avenue in late April.
Food and craft vendors and nonprofit organizations will line the street from Pleasure to Annie avenues along Great Egg Harbor Bay, where the crowd can enjoy live band and theater performances, games and children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 30.
“It’s a Somers Point tradition and we’ve missed it for the past several years,” City Council President Janice Johnston said. “Hopefully the weather will cooperate and it will bring some business into town and people can have some fun.”
About six weeks before the 2020 event, intended to build on the momentum of the largest one to date in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, forcing cancellation of the festival in 2020 and 2021.
“We’re looking forward to it because it really is the opening of the summer season for us. Everybody gets out of the house. Cabin fever is over, let’s go,” Mayor Jack Glasser said. “We have it coming back and I’m looking so forward to being out there, seeing all the people come to Somers Point.”
Councilman Joseph McCarrie said the event gives the city an opportunity to show off what it has to offer.
“For years we were that city across from Ocean City, but now we are that city with a vibrant restaurant community, we have a vibrant nightlife and we also are a year-round community,” he said. Bayfest gives people an opportunity to see us.”
Bayfest Committee Chairwoman Muire Cosgrove is taking the lead this year for the first time, but has more than two decades of experience. She is joined by Heidi Hibbs, crafters; Shelly Blumenthal, food vendors; Peter Garvey, bands and logistics; Patti Kedziora, children’s activities; Diana Raspa, city merchandise table; Dave Hieb, financials; Dierdre Andrews, environmental and nonprofit; and Jared Manello, logistics.
“A lot of these people have been doing it for a long time,” Cosgrove said. “We couldn’t do it without each other.”
One major difference this year is that while it traditionally takes more than six months of preparation, the Bayfest Committee had less than four months this time.
Cosgrove said the COVID-19 pandemic required waiting until January to begin planning rather than starting in October.
“I reached out to the mayor in January to see what the state had to say,” she said, noting Glasser told her everything appeared good to go and that she and she and the eight other members of the committee got to work.
“It went as smoothly as it usually does,” Cosgrove said. “We only faced a few obstacles.”
Another difference is that three years have passed since the last event was held, meaning contact had to be re-established with all of the outside vendors to let them know the event is back in business.
That didn’t seem to be a problem, though, Cosgrove said, noting vendors had been inquiring about the event and eager to return. She said half of them are new to the event this year.
“It’s the first big outdoor event of the season, the largest in south Jersey,” she said. “It’s always a beautiful day, people are happy to get out and see friends, stroll the streets and get out of the house after winter, especially this year.”
Cosgrove said the 2019 event was largest ever as far as vendor participation and that this year’s numbers are similar. She said so far there are 98 crafters, 30 food vendors and 28 nonprofit groups registered to attend the event.
“The number of vendors is a testament to the hard work all the individuals did to bring this off in such a short time,” McCarrie said.
Something new this year is a live theater production on the stage at the municipal beach. Cosgrove said the Riddlesbrood Players, the same troupe that performs “A Christmas Carol” during the city’s holiday Porch Performance, will be performing three shows throughout the day.
The Somers Point Historical Society will also have a bigger presence at this year’s event, with plans to display a 1930s oyster garvey it acquired from the Linwood Maritime Museum. In addition to the garvey, the museum received 11 ship models in large display cases and other artifacts. The garvey was built by Mark Sutton at a home off Shore Road in Linwood.
In addition to the Bayfest Committee, the police and public works departments will be working overtime to provide security, set up and cleanup for the event.
“We couldn’t do it without the city’s help and support,” Cosgrove said.
Glasser said the city has to shut down many streets, erect barricades and place and empty trash cans, then take it all down.
“It’s a big effort on the part of the city but the city is only too glad to do this because it’s a showcase of what we have down on our beautiful Bay Avenue,” Glasser said. “It’s worth the effort, worth the expense.”
During a well-attended egg hunt Saturday at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, Johnston said the participation is a good harbinger for the upcoming season.
“People want to be outside, socialize and have a good time. I’m very optimistic for summer,” Johnston said. “We have great entertainment coming to back to the beach, other events for kids, things in the park. We’re going to have a great summer.”
Free shuttle transportation is available all day between Somers Point Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 at 447 Bethel Road and the festival.
A drawing for two bicycles and standup paddleboard will be held, with registration at the city table. Drawing is planned for 1 p.m. and the winners must be present to collect their booty.
For more information on Bayfest, visit somerspointbayfest.org.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff