SOMERS POINT — Under cloudy skies and amid cool temperatures — but no rain — Somers Point celebrated the 35th anniversary of its popular Bayfest celebration Saturday along historic Bay Avenue.
Started in 1989 to coincide with Earth Day and celebrate the city’s maritime heritage, the event brings more than 25,000 people to the city every spring to enjoy food and craft vendors and nonprofit environmental organizations.
Booths lined both sides of the street along Great Egg Harbor Bay, between Pleasant and Annie avenues, where the crowd enjoyed live music from four bands, games and children’s activities.
The festival, a popular draw for both locals and visitors, has a long history of dry weather despite its spring date and this year was no exception.
Jodie Davidson of Levittown, Pa., brought Stix2Go to the event, selling chicken, shrimp and steak kabobs. She has been taking part since 2022, when the festival resumed following the COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted last year it rained early but dried out. However, she said, the crowd was sparse.
“I’m hoping for a better turnout,” she said.
Across the way, Sarena Coles of New York was attracting customers to Goodway Bakery with her large smile and upbeat attitude.
Galloway Township resident Angelique Schunk, 24, and boyfriend Hunter Boney of Mays Landing, 23, were shopping for jewelry.
They said they like the atmosphere, the food and getting outside to enjoy the community.
“We’re just enjoying the crowd and the weekend,” Boney said.
At Fleurs Studio, sisters Kaitlyn and Lan Nguyen of Cinnaminson were selling hair weaves, paper art and knitted animals.
Ashley Mathers of Ocean City, a 2020 graduate of OCHS who works in the city finance department, serves on the Bayfest Committee and handles the crafters.
“We have about 93 crafters, all different kinds of items. We’re really excited for everyone to do well,” she said.
Marc Wasserman of Bucks County, Pa., was selling tie-dyed shirts and dresses at Dye It Up.
He said he takes part every year in Bayfest and also the weekly Farmers Market at the Ocean City Tabernacle and the spring and fall block parties.
Shoppers were taking the opportunity to buy some unique items and try to win some prizes.
Christina Cannizzaro of Mays Landing took a chance at spinning the prize wheel at Pau Hana Tiki Boat Tours, where Jennifer Toner was giving away tiki shot glasses and other promotional items.
There were fun and games for children.
On the William Morrow Beach, Noah Kelso, 2, of Egg Harbor Township, got to ride a pony as other children waited their turn.
Denny and Kelli Pruchnicki of Petersburg brought their daughter, Vayda, 2, to the festival, where she was getting her face painted like a lion.
City Council President Janice Johnston, working at the Lawson’s Pride booth, said the event was going well.
“Look at the crowd,” she said. “I wish we had a little more sun, but at least it’s dry.”
She said a lot of exciting things are taking place around the city, noting Somers Point Apartments recently got two new playgrounds compliments of Kaboom, a nonprofit organization that builds playgrounds in apartment complexes.
“They did a great job and it was all done by volunteers,” Johnston said. “It was great to see the community come together like that.”
She said that is part of the larger renovation to the entire complex, noting there are about 200 children living there.
South Jersey Yacht Sales also recently finished its new building on Bay Avenue.
“It’s amazing. The floor makes it feel like you are sitting on a tropical beach somewhere. We are pretty proud that they chose Somers Point to do that,” Johnston said, noting the city is centrally located on the East Coast and a great place for boaters to stop.
Former mayor Jack Glasser, walking the street with his wife, Diane, said it was his first time at the event without any responsibilities.
“Bayfest is great for Somers Point and the whole area,” said Glasser, who served for many years on the event committee. “This is one of the greatest festivals, along with Good Old Days and the beach concerts. It’s just a wonderful day for Somers Point.”
Among the nonprofit booths was Bill Elliott of the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers, who was passing out fliers for this summer’s mocktail challenge, the Great HEROtini, which pits area establishments against one another to create the best non-alcoholic cocktail.
The public will be encouraged to cast their vote for their favorite HEROtini through donations.
Elliott said the HERO Campaign has partnered with Uber this year.
“It’s all about promoting designated driving,” he said. “Statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration say the chances of everyone being involved in some way in an alcohol-related crash is 30 percent over their lifetime, and completely avoidable,” Elliott said.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
