Features crafts, food vendors, live music
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK
Sentinel staff
SOMERS POINT — Bayfest, the city’s most popular event, returns for its 35th anniversary April 27 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 to enjoy food and craft vendors and nonprofit environmental organizations.
Booths line both sides of the street between Pleasant and Annie avenues along Great Egg Harbor Bay, where the crowd can enjoy live music and theater performances, games and children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The festival, a popular draw for both locals and visitors, has a long history of dry weather and enjoyed a good run until COVID-19 became a pandemic just weeks before the 2020 event. It was canceled that year and in 2021 but returned in 2022.
Last year started wet but turned into a beautiful day, according to Steve Hornig, chairman of the Bayfest Committee.
He said the 10-member committee begins meeting monthly in September to organize the next year’s event, then meets bi-weekly through March and weekly through April to get all of the work done in time.
This year the committee has 100 crafters, 35 food vendors, 18 nonprofit groups and four live bands.
“One thing we added this year is grab-and-go food, pre-packaged food for people who don’t want to wait in line,” Hornig said.
This year’s bands are Somers Point Jazz Experience, Animal House, Dead Reckoning and Shore Thing Band.
There also will be various children’s activities such as face painting, sand art and pony rides, as well as raffle prizes including gift certificates from local restaurants, Bayfest merch and two bicycles.
Hornig said in addition to the Bayfest Committee and about two dozen volunteers who help at the event, hosting it requires the participation of multiple city departments, which work to keep it safe and clean for visitors.
Mayor Dennis Tapp agreed, saying the event could not be held without the police department, fire companies and public works department.
“The police block off all streets; it’s all hands on deck with everyone making sure it’s safe. The fire department’s down there with trucks for kids to look at and ambulances in case they are needed,” he said. “Public works takes care of the trash, sets up the barricades and generators. We couldn’t function without those three being there.”
Tapp, who is a member of the committee, will oversee the event for the first time as mayor after being elected in November to replace longtime mayor Jack Glasser.
“I’m excited about Bayfest. It’s really the beginning of the summer season, even though it’s in April,” Tapp said. “I think it’s going to be splendid, if the weather holds out.”
Even before his involvement in organizing the event, Tapp was a fan of the annual festival.
“Every year I go down there, walk up and down, see the crafters, get my crab cake sandwich, a bag of smoked almonds and a lemonade,” he said. “It’s a great event. Any time you can bring 25,000 people together, it’s definitely great for the town.”
He said Hornig has done a terrific job filling in for former chairman Greg Gregory.
“He picked up the ball and is running hard with it,” Tapp said.
The mayor agreed with Hornig that it takes the efforts of a small army of dedicated helpers to make the event a continued success.
“No municipality can thrive without the help of the public,” Tapp said. “You have to have volunteers and the volunteer leaders.”
Parking is never easy in the city’s Bayfront District and even more difficult during the popular event.
Hornig said the best way to get to the street festival is to park and take the free shuttle, which runs all day with stops at Dawes Avenue School, Jordan Road School and Somers Point Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 on Bethel Road.
He said vendor fees and profit from apparel sales support the following year’s event, paying for such things as port-a-potties, electric carts, entertainment and giveaways. Any money that’s left over is donated to different local organizations.
“Last year we were able to give $5,000 to the newly founded Somers Point PAL,” Hornig said, noting that in the past the Little League and street hockey organizations were beneficiaries.
“Not only are we a volunteer group, it continues to go on to Bayfest and to other nonprofits,” he said of the benefits of the event.
The Bayfest Committee is comprised of Steve Hornig (chairman), Dennis Tapp, Brianna McNair, Ashley Mathers, Shelly Blumenthal, Lynn MacEwan, Emerald Hornig, Sean McGuigian, Dierdre Cosgrove and Jared Manello.
This year’s sponsors are Clay’s Climate Control, Freedom Boat Club, Footcare Centers, Wawa, The Pointe, Pau Hana Tiki Tours, Renewal by Anderson, Hand & Stone Somers Point, Kate Schneider Engineering, The Anchorage, Point Auto Repair, ShopRite, Sparkling Cleaning Services Pro, Essential Senior Benefits, Pet Wants Egg Harbor Township, Shore True Value Hardware, The Crab Trap and Micchelli’s Pizza.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff